Thread: Looking for some guidance on hunting in Remutaka Forest (new hunter)

Hi everyone,

I’m a software engineer who’s been told by gp to get more walking in after too much desk sitting 😅. My wife often drags me out for hiking, and a few years ago she got into archery. Recently she’s been keen to have some more exciting experiences — like hunting goats.

We went to the Remutaka Summit today, walking from the carpark up to the trig and back, but didn’t see any goats at all. We’ve been hiking there about every 2–3 weeks, usually around the same route, but still haven’t spotted any.

As total beginners to hunting in this area, we’d love to get some guidance or advice — such as good times of day, areas to look, or any tips on where goats usually hang around in the Remutaka Forest Park.

Thanks a lot for any help!

The spur that runs SE from the summit leading to the train tunnel has goats. I often see them near the tunnel from the train. There is a game trail you can drop down into behind the trig.

Also take it from me, the spur that runs SW from the summit yielded me my first goat but it was a brutal bush bash I would never do again, and I got lucky. SE is better.

Also check out that flattish area ESE of the summit. Looks good on paper.

If you're on the other side of the hill, there are goats in the Cross Creek hills. The only hitch there is you have to get 200m away from the Rail Trail before you're allowed to hunt, and the scrub can be thick..

Practice goat calls. They can investigate that strange goat that's calling in the distance.

If you don't already, get the NZ Maps app. It will help you identify the hunting permit areas.

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I came across a mob there once trailbiking up from the twin bridges aka the pylon tracks

Also there's nothing stopping you getting on your cycles and riding up the incline track and going in from there

A good time can be on dusk so keep a headtorch handy for getting out

Originally Posted by Eat Meater

The spur that runs SE from the summit leading to the train tunnel has goats. I often see them near the tunnel from the train. There is a game trail you can drop down into behind the trig.

Also take it from me, the spur that runs SW from the summit yielded me my first goat but it was a brutal bush bash I would never do again, and I got lucky. SE is better.

Also check out that flattish area ESE of the summit. Looks good on paper.

If you're on the other side of the hill, there are goats in the Cross Creek hills. The only hitch there is you have to get 200m away from the Rail Trail before you're allowed to hunt, and the scrub can be thick..

Practice goat calls. They can investigate that strange goat that's calling in the distance.

If you don't already, get the NZ Maps app. It will help you identify the hunting permit areas.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Thank you for the reply. its very useful. We arrived at the trig today. We found two trails at the top. One was almost at the chair at the top of the mountain, but the bushes were too thick, and my wife's face and compound bow would get scratched, so we didn't go on it. The other trail went past the trig and went straight. it looked like it was along the ridge, but we didn't know how to get down. We ate breakfast on the chairs and then came back. It was very foggy. I will have a look at ESE of the summit. Thanks.

Originally Posted by 308

I came across a mob there once trailbiking up from the twin bridges aka the pylon tracks

Also there's nothing stopping you getting on your cycles and riding up the incline track and going in from there

A good time can be on dusk so keep a headtorch handy for getting out

Thank you so much. I'll see if I can find a nice weekend to cycle from here along the Remutaka Rail Trail. Cycling is a great idea.

Originally Posted by Robin777

Thank you for the reply. its very useful. We arrived at the trig today. We found two trails at the top. One was almost at the chair at the top of the mountain, but the bushes were too thick, and my wife's face and compound bow would get scratched, so we didn't go on it. The other trail went past the trig and went straight. it looked like it was along the ridge, but we didn't know how to get down. We ate breakfast on the chairs and then came back. It was very foggy. I will have a look at ESE of the summit. Thanks.

Try dropping down directly behind the trig. I accidentally found the trail retrieving my hat. It opens up pretty soon. Backwards helps.

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Keep driving out to ocean beach and head up the big creek in the corner of the bay.
Head up wairongomai stream for a walk also.
I saw a deer the other week in corner creek while I was putting my wetsuit on

Go in from catch pool stream carpark through to the Orongaronga river junction with the creek. If I headed north up the river and hunted up the creeks and guts etc on the eastern faces or the tops I saw more goats than deer. There is/was (10 years ago now) a handy doc hut u can book.

If I crossed the river and headed south along the 4wd track and then hunted up (there was a restricted area I kept out of) I shot deer up there but saw very few goats if any. There were terraces just above the track that had a lot of sign and wallows during the roar.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...a-forest-park/

Scratches on people and equipment are part and parcel of hunting. It usually happens during the excitement when you have a more exiting experience.

Park at Ocean Beach and walk around to the Mukamuka valley. (Contact Wharekauhau for permission) Your other option is to park at Catchpool on a Saturday morning and walk to the Mukamuka via the Orongorongo. Note with the second option, it would be prudent to take enough food to last until Sunday afternoon. Booking a hut or taking a tent for the Saturday night is worth thinking about too. Happy to expand on details if you think any of this looks like an option for you.

Originally Posted by Scortched earth

Keep driving out to ocean beach and head up the big creek in the corner of the bay.
Head up wairongomai stream for a walk also.
I saw a deer the other week in corner creek while I was putting my wetsuit on

Thank you for your help. We passed by Waiorongomai Hut last year, but we were too busy getting there. I'll go for a walk there again on a nice weekend.

Originally Posted by Bol Tackshin

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...a-forest-park/
Attachment 286797

Thanks for your help. I just saw this. So there are lots of animals in the blue area. we will go there to join the fun, We only need one goat. Haha. Thanks!

Originally Posted by longshot

Scratches on people and equipment are part and parcel of hunting. It usually happens during the excitement when you have a more exiting experience.

Park at Ocean Beach and walk around to the Mukamuka valley. (Contact Wharekauhau for permission) Your other option is to park at Catchpool on a Saturday morning and walk to the Mukamuka via the Orongorongo. Note with the second option, it would be prudent to take enough food to last until Sunday afternoon. Booking a hut or taking a tent for the Saturday night is worth thinking about too. Happy to expand on details if you think any of this looks like an option for you.

Thank you for your help. I agree with you. Scratches and signs of wear are inevitable on gear — they’re part of the memories, in a way. Women tend to care more about these things, but I don’t. My wife prefers the second option: enjoy the hike, and it would be even better if we could get a goat. It's okay if we don't. just enjoy the hiking. A weekend hike outdoors, followed by finding a bench to sit down and have something to eat—that would be wonderful. thanks

Originally Posted by longshot

Scratches on people and equipment are part and parcel of hunting. It usually happens during the excitement when you have a more exiting experience.

Park at Ocean Beach and walk around to the Mukamuka valley. (Contact Wharekauhau for permission) Your other option is to park at Catchpool on a Saturday morning and walk to the Mukamuka via the Orongorongo. Note with the second option, it would be prudent to take enough food to last until Sunday afternoon. Booking a hut or taking a tent for the Saturday night is worth thinking about too. Happy to expand on details if you think any of this looks like an option for you.

This is very good advice. For training I used to run up (from the Coast) and down (from South Saddle) the Mukamuka Stream/Valley A LOT, and every time I saw HEAPS of goats.

No there will not be a lot of goats in the Turere and Whakanui. And the bush is faurly thick. You need open areas with a little bit of cover for bowhunting goats

Its True, a compound bow is the most awkward thing to carry in the bush. Light but horrible in shape if you use stabilisrs, an attached quiver and sights.

The walks up the Orongorongo and Mukamuka will be easy hoig but quite tiring and not much fun for a desk worker who has been told by his doctor to take up walking. But sometimes there are a fair number of goats there. Take binoculars.

Take care; it can be steep and dangerous up there.