Thread: Lake Sumner Red Deer

Hello again everyone,

I am the American from Hawaii coming in April for the roar. I’ve been doing a lot of reading and watching YouTube videos to decide on a good area. I first thought about Arthurs Pass national Park Poulter River but when I contacted the park personnel they were discouraging saying the WARO boys were hitting the tops. Therefore I’m looking toward Lake Sumner recreational hunting area to get away from WARO. I have decided to probably ride my mountain bike from Lake Taylor to Loch Katrine, lift my bike over the locked gate and continue riding to the Hurunui river, cross the swing bridge and continue up to Mackenzie Creek. Hide the bike on DOC land and start climbing. The topo maps show a nice flat topped 1200 m high ridge to the east of Mackenzie Creek for a fly camp spot that looks promising. Possibly go up to the Nelson Tops. DOC says permission from Lakes Station is not necessary for foot travel but I would like to get biking access permission. I can not find contact info for Lakes Station. Can anyone send me contact info?

Another option I considered is the Nina river easy ridge up toward Mt. Norma.

A third spot is the Lewis tops.

Any advice or observations would be appreciated.

I plan to pack out all the meat. I plan to buy a freezer for my friend Jason Millichamp. Let me know if you want any free meat.

Usually plenty of deer in the head of the McKenzie and Nelson tops generally;its supposed to be Recreational Hunting Area so no aerial hunting (theoretically). Bit of a grunt the way you propose but if you've got time and fitness you'll do alright.

Sounds like you are prepared to put in the effort, you should get a bike load no worries! Deer are in the bush there and on the tops you will find the spot where they are if you spend the time.
(someone please correct me if I'm wrong) But I think it's fine to take your bike in there (I have) the gate is locked to stop dickheads in vehicles driving all over the place and having a great old time and making a mess of the beautiful place.

Biking access is fine, heaps of people going through on bikes. Lake Sumner can get pretty busy/popular during the roar.

I was there a couple of weeks ago. The locked gate has gaps between it and the fences on both sides the right hand side will fit mountain bike and pedestrians. The left hand side will take a trail/farm bike no problems. Saw one of each use it within five minutes.

Yip not a bad plan.

As others have said, due to it being a RHA where the choppers aren’t meant to hunt, it’s pretty popular so I’d be wearing some bright blaze in there during the roar and treat every deer “Roar” as a possible hunter until proven otherwise, you don’t need permission to bike through, just lift your bike over the locked gate. Is Jason any relation to Ross?

To all who offered advice.