Thread: Hunt timing question

I live in Australia and I run my own business, and getting away from work can be a challenge. I was thinking about doing a hunt somewhere in the Canterbury region over the Christmas to new year week when we shut down at work. I am planning to stay in huts so I dont have to haul too much stuff with me on the flight over. But I am wondering how busy it is likely to be at that time of the year. In Australia at that time of the year, any worthwhile camp site tends to be inundated with campers at that time of the year. Now Im rethinking it it makes sense to go there at that time of the year.

How busy are thing likely to be on public land at that time of year?

It will be busy as everyone around the country also has their designated annual leave, but if you can get away from the huts or tracks, even just up a side valley, you'll have plenty of big open mountains to do your thing and get away from it all.

Also, plenty of animals around at that time in the mountains. I'd go for it

I think you have answered your own question. You could book hut through DOC but not sure if that would work either.more n more people means more pressure on resources....but if flying to hut well away from roadends and took cheap tent,just in case....could be worthwhile.

Lots of country side around Canterbury that holds game in summer, but best not to rely on huts, or close to huts, over the Xmas break. Lightweight tent, park up a few km's from any hut, hunt real early or rather late, and spend the middle of the day looking for a fish or 2.

Tent from warehouse won't cost you a hundy...Christmas time is mid summer so warm.

Christmas time over here, just as in Aus, all the public huts will be heaving. Unless you get to a hut before midday, every bed will be taken. Get a tent when you arrive, then the world will be your oyster

Summertime sleep under a fly

Camping setup need only add another half kg or so if you were already bringing a sleeping bag - just add an inflatable pad and a lightweight fly

For about the last 10 years, I usually do a tramp in the Tararua ranges that starts near the end of one year and finishes the next. No busier than at any other time, and often quieter than usual. Only on one occasion was a hut busier than usual and it was a road end hut on the 31st. I imagine not many families get together for Christmas at the non road end huts, but I wouldn't know for sure, haven't actually gone to check.

Takeaway headline, is that if you walk past the first hut you see, the second one will be no busier than at any other time and more likely quieter. If the opposite proves to be the case, it's an anomaly that could happen regardless of when you plan to take your trip.

Thanks guys. You have confirmed a lot of what I was thinking.

Just wondering - if I moved the trip back to late January, is it likely to have quieted down in the bush by then?

No, maybe worse. Jan is the height of summer.

My first trip was with my wife many years ago. Steel and alloy framed H frame canvas packs, japara tent, sleeping bags, stove, cooking gear etc. Two rifles, one a boat anchor Finnbear 270, plus ammo. So not light weight by todays standards.

Probable also had carry on, but I am not one of the many who exceed limits with carry on.

Did my homework and had no problems with luggage or rifles or getting around with them in a hire car after arrival. Haven't done it under current firearms regs.

I have made the journey for hunting many time and ALWAYS use AirNZ, even when I have had to juggle timing to fit with AirNZ flight times.

Originally Posted by RifleTuner

Thanks guys. You have confirmed a lot of what I was thinking.

Just wondering - if I moved the trip back to late January, is it likely to have quieted down in the bush by then?

Many folks will be at lakes camping. The bush itself may be quieter as lots of folks will only be hunting the open stuff shooting stags in velvet etc etc. if your prepared to camp out in a tent,no worries.be aware,we don't have spiders n snakes but the sandflies carry victims away for feasting on later in some locations and wasps can be very nasty in beech forest,if hunting over summer I wear overalls and gaiters for wasp protection of my legs when pushing through fern.

We usually do a trip in the hills over the new year and more often then not it is less people then you would usually encounter

Originally Posted by RifleTuner

Thanks guys. You have confirmed a lot of what I was thinking.

Just wondering - if I moved the trip back to late January, is it likely to have quieted down in the bush by then?

Just do it over the Christmas break, as long as you don’t go to road end huts, your chances of finding a bed will be no lower than at any other time of year.

Even though we are all on holiday, it’s not a traditional time for Kiwis to go bush.

Meat goes off quicker in summer. So u wanna be handy to a chiller....