Thread: Hunting the Akatarawas

Hey Guys

I'm pretty new to big game hunting, yet to take my first animal
I've been hunting the Aka's from the Kapiti side and am just wondering if anyone has any tips on finding deer in there

I've tracked up a ridge and saw 1 pig, couldn't get a clear shot. Have wandered up a few gulleys/rivers and saw nothing, is there certain elevation the deer usually stick to?
or am I better off driving further north into the tararuas

Cheers

Welcome aboard. Someone down there will have an answer for you.

be handy to know what you saw in the way of sign - saw nothing - do you mean saw no deer or saw no sign and no deer - no deer sign i.e prints droppings means no bloody deer -but sign around but see no deer means hunting technique just needs fine tuning

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

be handy to know what you saw in the way of sign - saw nothing - do you mean saw no deer or saw no sign and no deer - no deer sign i.e prints droppings means no bloody deer -but sign around but see no deer means hunting technique just needs fine tuning

I saw some tracks around where I saw the pig, and have seen a fair few plants that looked like they'd been nibbled on but no droppings or anything obvious

hey mate
I hunt karapoti from the upper Hutt side its bloody hard hunting in the Akas
If I was you I would be heading into hydro valley at first light or dusk and slowly walk around the grass
do you have a quad?

not much deer in the akatarawas bro, they are there but not many. id be heading into Waiotauru Hut, and towards renata hut. the roads been blocked to it for a while but walking access is possible. Id imagain the deer populaiton has boomed in there. Theres plenty of deer hanging around rikeorangi also, even on the locals famrs. weve shot a few on there, all reds though. id prob travel a touch further and head into the the linkes of mangahao area, behind shannon etc. or further up and hit ruahines alongt pihongina valley.

Originally Posted by Larskramer

not much deer in the akatarawas bro, they are there but not many. id be heading into Waiotauru Hut, and towards renata hut. the roads been blocked to it for a while but walking access is possible. Id imagain the deer populaiton has boomed in there. Theres plenty of deer hanging around rikeorangi also, even on the locals famrs. weve shot a few on there, all reds though. id prob travel a touch further and head into the the linkes of mangahao area, behind shannon etc. or further up and hit ruahines alongt pihongina valley.

Yeah I had a feeling it was that way, mint I've been down there a few times in the past in my truck I know the track pretty well but I haven't hunted it I'll check it out. That's good to know too I've been eyeing up rikeorangi as well

I've been up the Mangahao road a few times I know the area, I've noticed there's what looks like some large ish clearings just past the 3rd dam/basin thing so I've been thinking of heading up there for a few evenings


Appreciate the advice a lot, from all of you guys!!

Used to hunt in there in the 70's. Was always a hard hunt. Vegetation and topography is pretty much a nightmare. There's soo much better terrain and opportunities further North.

Hours spent hunting (Incl your driving time!) will be more productive further North, even as far as the Southern Ruahines.

Originally Posted by XR500

Used to hunt in there in the 70's. Was always a hard hunt. Vegetation and topography is pretty much a nightmare. There's soo much better terrain and opportunities further North.

Hours spent hunting (Incl your driving time!) will be more productive further North, even as far as the Southern Ruahines.

Yeah I thought the terrain was pretty harsh it ain't easy going, lucky i like bush wacking i guess. Head north is the plan, sounds like the akatarawas are junk

Exactly what others have said. I would rather drive for 2 hours to avoid that shit and hunt less often. Even driving up the Whariti Rd and hitting the track for 30 mins and then turning down a western ridge will get you a deer easily enough. Find a good posse where you can see onto grassy slips. Don't lose too much elevation. Sit down and start glassing through your binos. If nothing, change locations. Do the same. Sitting on sharp spurs off main ridges where you can look into 2 catchment by not shifting far is a good plan. Best time will be 6pm and later at the moment. Take a GPS and good torch because you will be walking home in the dark. Good idea to have a mate with you for the first excursions.

Keep at it and stay on this forum. Its a great information source.

https://nz.geoview.info/whariti_road,180968776w

Originally Posted by Tahr

Exactly what others have said. I would rather drive for 2 hours to avoid that shit and hunt less often. Even driving up the Whariti Rd and hitting the track for 30 mins and then turning down a western ridge will get you a deer easily enough. Find a good posse where you can see onto grassy slips. Don't lose too much elevation. Sit down and start glassing through your binos. If nothing, change locations. Do the same. Sitting on sharp spurs off main ridges where you can look into 2 catchment by not shifting far is a good plan. Best time will be 6pm and later at the moment. Take a GPS and good torch because you will be walking home in the dark. Good idea to have a mate with you for the first excursions.

Keep at it and stay on this forum. Its a great information source.

https://nz.geoview.info/whariti_road,180968776w

Yeah sounds like I'll be avoiding the aka's from now on and just driving further, that's algood it's worth it if I can find a bloody deer! Appreciate the tips, I'm assuming the deer like catching the afternoon sun and that's why they're on the west side right? I'm pretty new to this. Appreciate the advice a lot thanks

Originally Posted by choppypython

Yeah sounds like I'll be avoiding the aka's from now on and just driving further, that's algood it's worth it if I can find a bloody deer! Appreciate the tips, I'm assuming the deer like catching the afternoon sun and that's why they're on the west side right? I'm pretty new to this. Appreciate the advice a lot thanks

No. I mentioned the west side because off that particular track its easier to get into good look out spots by dropping to the West than the East off the main ridge which the track is on.

In terns of warmth and sun and where the deer will be Northerly facing faces and aspect is best. That means you will be on the shady side looking into it. Just a general guideline.

Okay sweet thanks for that

I / we have been in there numerous times, motor bike riding and four wheel drive trips and shot the odd animal.
But just do what the others have said....Just head north to much better easier deer country.

Been there, done that, many moons ago. Surprised you did not get run over by motor bikes or baled up by pig dogs. It's a playground for these types, hence what deer are there are really good at hiding in the thicker regenerating bush.