PSA/Confession

Got back an hour and a half ago from a pre roar reconnoitre gone wrong.

Was meant to try fly camping for the first time but it started to rain so off to the mangamuka hut I go. Got there just before it rained heavily luckily.

Saw what I think are wallows and rutting pads and beds. Saw lots of fresh sign but no deer. (Probably moving too fast, too noisy with the wind all over the place).

It all went wrong when I decided to try my luck stalking my way out and hopefully try to come across an animal of some description.

After a while I figured it was getting too late so head back to the track. I missed it twice going east and then west so decided to go west and just bush bash my way out.

It was very steep. Way too dodgy for my liking but I eventually had gone too far to turn back.

Slipped and fell 6 times a few metres down and luckily landed on my bum or feet with nothing broken. Honestly don't know how I managed it.

In hindsight I should have just say tight and called for search and rescue but I trudged on as the GPS said I was only 100 metres away from the farm land.

Longest 100 metres of my life. My secateurs broke so couldn't chop the supple jack.

Scope and my body took a beating. So will need to see if it's busted.

Saw lots of glow worms which was cool. And found a deer trail which was surprising.

So yes. I was silly. Stupid even. And lucky to be without serious injury. I don't plan on making the mistake a second time



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Some pictures of the trip while it was all goods.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d2e8dc945e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ed5faf274c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7fba88c834.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...007da9108b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...34ce96832d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1cc988b451.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...62d439cd8e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cc688f5716.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0d90bb544f.jpg

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Some one had vandalized the hut sadly.

And a screen shot of where I came out. I was simply 100 metres from the actual track! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...26a55c80f6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c5cce26197.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5f5c79c386.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...85858f79bf.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7c36cee4cf.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...52e1d78f96.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f4f1bfcb16.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2c85ddf550.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...871515e820.jpg

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Unusually glad to see civilizationhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e26a8bf6b8.jpg

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It’s a neat spot that one, shame about the hut. The third to last photo in the second post looks to be a deer bed.

Lucky alright mate. Good steep learning curve for you though. Is that your navigation set up? Phone with no maps?

Now you see the importance of having good gear good on you for still getting out there would of learnt a lot as well

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Originally Posted by tanqueray

It’s a neat spot that one, shame about the hut. The third to last photo in the second post looks to be a deer bed.

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Its not as busy as wairere falls that's for sure but still lots of sign.

Thanks. Hopefully might see one asleep one day!

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Originally Posted by Gibo

Lucky alright mate. Good steep learning curve for you though. Is that your navigation set up? Phone with no maps?

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Phone had cached Topo maps too. But I found that the Google maps was quicker with the GPS.

Nah. I have a Garmin Oregon 600 too.

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Originally Posted by northdude

Now you see the importance of having good gear good on you for still getting out there would of learnt a lot as well

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Yup. And following the tracks hahah.

Yup. Not going to be as silly next time.

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Good effort mate, god knows I've made some epic fuck ups also in the bush.
Sometimes it's the only way to learn and remember the lesson.
You got out under your own steam , lived to hunt another day.

bro you did all good, got out in your own steam sweet as glad you didnt call snr! just bed down for the night if you need too, wrap up in some ferns day light changes everything
bush can be spooky at night though haha

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Originally Posted by viper

Good effort mate, god knows I've made some epic fuck ups also in the bush.
Sometimes it's the only way to learn and remember the lesson.
You got out under your own steam , lived to hunt another day.

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Do tell....

It is the only way when self taught I reckon. Internet and books can only do so much.

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Originally Posted by Blisters

bro you did all good, got out in your own steam sweet as glad you didnt call snr! just bed down for the night if you need too, wrap up in some ferns day light changes everything
bush can be spooky at night though haha

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Thanks bro.

It would have been embarrassing. 100 metres from civilization lol.

I probably should have done that. All sorts of normal sounds get a bit freaky after dark.

There was this bloody possum or deer making a racket on the fire wood box and whenever I went to investigate it ran away! Kept me up for ages.

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Most blokes wouldn’t fess up to what you ended up doing and they”d just keep quiet and probably just lie about what happened. So its bloody good to hear your experience as a reminder especially to the youngsters. I live just on the other side of the range and a little to the north from where you were and I know what that must have felt like cos its mongrel country in there alright. Couple of years ago I was going up a stupidly steep spur, not far from where you were but on the east side of the range. Both feet slipped right out from under me, happened so fast and as I was carrying the rifle in both hands I didn’t have time to put put an arm to break my fall and I headbutted a staunch tree root slap bang in the middle of the forehead. Knocked myself clean out. Lucky for me I had a mate following up the spur a couple of minutes behind and he found me face down in the mud. After getting me up and going again I didn’t hear the end of it for weeks. I was bloody lucky I didn’t loose my teeth or land on my nose I guess, that would have hurt. Thanks for posting.

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Originally Posted by Flyblown

Most blokes wouldn’t fess up to what you ended up doing and they”d just keep quiet and probably just lie about what happened. So its bloody good to hear your experience as a reminder especially to the youngsters. I live just on the other side of the range and a little to the north from where you were and I know what that must have felt like cos its mongrel country in there alright. Couple of years ago I was going up a stupidly steep spur, not far from where you were but on the east side of the range. Both feet slipped right out from under me, happened so fast and as I was carrying the rifle in both hands I didn’t have time to put put an arm to break my fall and I headbutted a staunch tree root slap bang in the middle of the forehead. Knocked myself clean out. Lucky for me I had a mate following up the spur a couple of minutes behind and he found me face down in the mud. After getting me up and going again I didn’t hear the end of it for weeks. I was bloody lucky I didn’t loose my teeth or land on my nose I guess, that would have hurt. Thanks for posting.

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I figured someone could learn from my mistake. Or remind people to be careful.

You're lucky you're mate was there. Can you drown in mud?

That would've been a permanent reminder ha.

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I always carry one of these https://www.gearshop.co.nz/products/...iAAEgJ2IvD_BwE in case I have to spend a night out, better to have a cold night out than hurt yourself. Find somewhere sheltered out of any wind/rain out all your gear on & wait it out.

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Originally Posted by outdoorlad

I always carry one of these https://www.gearshop.co.nz/products/...iAAEgJ2IvD_BwE in case I have to spend a night out, better to have a cold night out than hurt yourself. Find somewhere sheltered out of any wind/rain out all your gear on & wait it out.

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As well as a similar product to that I also carry a British Army IPK which I’ve had to use twice due to high river levels and unable to get out before dark, works very well.

a good rain coat,polarfleece hat,gloves and a long polarfleece neck warmer/crawford stay in my daybag..... if you can stay semi warm and semi dry you can wait out the night .my family know not to press panic button till mid-day after Im due out.
Ive never been lost but have been temporarly navigationaly embarrassed on a few occasions,have spent the night out a few times...the trick is simple...recognise its going to happen and stop in plenty of time to make yourself as comfortable as possible while you still have daylight to do it.
keep heading out and sooner or later you will join the dots.

Nothing like experience. It sucks being lost n I do it all the time still that’s why I stick to reasonably ‘safe’ bits of bush...I figure if I get bushed I’ll walk in a straight line n get out...it’s working out how straight your line is the key..


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That's where a compass comes in handy

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Originally Posted by tiroatedson

Nothing like experience. It sucks being lost n I do it all the time still that’s why I stick to reasonably ‘safe’ bits of bush...I figure if I get bushed I’ll walk in a straight line n get out...it’s working out how straight your line is the key..


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I knew where is was but the map I had didn't have the track on it. So I will bring 2 sets of spare batteries and get the GPS to track me and update it.

I figured the same just I chose a steep and shit straight line.

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Originally Posted by northdude

That's where a compass comes in handy

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I had a compass.

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look at it like this..... you got a bit disorientated,a bit tired n sore and more than a bit frustrated by the crappy bush,trick is to LEARN FROM IT ,next time be slightly better prepared,carry good gear for just in case,get your self organised earlier in the day and most important...dont panic.
you found your way out...they say Thomas Edison took 2000 odd attempts to get an electric light bulb to work...he is said to say "I didnt fail just found 1999 ways that didnt work"
thats a pretty darn good way of looking at things.

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Originally Posted by Russian 22.

I knew where is was but the map I had didn't have the track on it. So I will bring 2 sets of spare batteries and get the GPS to track me and update it.

I figured the same just I chose a steep and shit straight line.

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Um rule one for the Waikato side of the Kaimais.....it's all a Shit steep straight line:XD::thumbsup:

Took me all day to come down off the top of Mt Ngatamahineraua:O_O: it had only taken me two hours from my car to get to the top:wtfsmilie: didn't do that one again.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

look at it like this..... you got a bit disorientated,a bit tired n sore and more than a bit frustrated by the crappy bush,trick is to LEARN FROM IT ,next time be slightly better prepared,carry good gear for just in case,get your self organised earlier in the day and most important...dont panic.
you found your way out...they say Thomas Edison took 2000 odd attempts to get an electric light bulb to work...he is said to say "I didnt fail just found 1999 ways that didnt work"
thats a pretty darn good way of looking at things.

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I am certainly planning to plan the trips better rather than what ever seems like a good idea on the day.

It is certainly a good way of looking at it.

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

Um rule one for the Waikato side of the Kaimais.....it's all a Shit steep straight line:XD:[emoji106]

Took me all day to come down off the top of Mt Ngatamahineraua:O_O: it had only taken me two hours from my car to get to the top:wtfsmilie: didn't do that one again.

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Haha thanks for that timely reminder. Not going to forget that in a jiffy.

Hahah How'd you manage that.?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Russian 22.

I am certainly planning to plan the trips better rather than what ever seems like a good idea on the day.

It is certainly a good way of looking at it.



Haha thanks for that timely reminder. Not going to forget that in a jiffy.

Hahah How'd you manage that.?

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Well the up part was easy. Had access over a farm and up a main ridge. The stupid move was "oh I'm at the top what's over this side:O_O:"
Couple of times I only had one limb on the ground and it wasn't always a leg. 600 meters in five hours was enough :O_O: to teach you how to walk through supplejack :ORLY::wtfsmilie: cool spot where I dropped off though started off looking so promising stag sign everywhere.
Would have stopped with the vertical and gone with the horizontal. But in hindsight I'd have bluffed out most probably. Speaking of which if your ever have access above the tunnel be very carful there's some nasty bluffs in there. One of which I feel off. Which was OK till the hind I was carrying hit me in the back, broke a rib...mine not hers. Oh one last thing not sure but if it's urban myth but I hear that some places up there your compass won't work so well due to the rock formations. Also northern faces have more of the supplejack than the rest. Enjoy:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

Well the up part was easy. Had access over a farm and up a main ridge. The stupid move was "oh I'm at the top what's over this side:O_O:"
Couple of times I only had one limb on the ground and it wasn't always a leg. 600 meters in five hours was enough :O_O: to teach you how to walk through supplejack :ORLY::wtfsmilie: cool spot where I dropped off though started off looking so promising stag sign everywhere.
Would have stopped with the vertical and gone with the horizontal. But in hindsight I'd have bluffed out most probably. Speaking of which if your ever have access above the tunnel be very carful there's some nasty bluffs in there. One of which I feel off. Which was OK till the hind I was carrying hit me in the back, broke a rib...mine not hers. Oh one last thing not sure but if it's urban myth but I hear that some places up there your compass won't work so well due to the rock formations. Also northern faces have more of the supplejack than the rest. Enjoy:D

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Thanks for the advice about the bluffs.

I learnt the hard way about the north faces haha

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There's some good country in the back of where the old Gordon base used to be. If you can get access. Knock on a few doors there. But again be very careful of the bluffs. Some most is very tight bush but if you work it side ways instead of up and down it can be very productive. Fasters deerstalk was about 1 hour from leaving the car 30 of that was getting to the bush line.
You just need to take notice of the zone where there in. I used to also take a lot of notes on sign also time of year. Once you suss that it will start producing for you.
I had one ridge I called the larder it was that good.

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

There's some good country in the back of where the old Gordon base used to be. If you can get access. Knock on a few doors there. But again be very careful of the bluffs. Some most is very tight bush but if you work it side ways instead of up and down it can be very productive. Fasters deerstalk was about 1 hour from leaving the car 30 of that was getting to the bush line.
You just need to take notice of the zone where there in. I used to also take a lot of notes on sign also time of year. Once you suss that it will start producing for you.
I had one ridge I called the larder it was that good.

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Is that near te aroha?

That's a good idea. Writing down what I'm seeing at each time of year.

How come you gave it up for dank dingy UK.?

It's very near where you posted your map shot.

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

It's very near where you posted your map shot.

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Well I have more exploring to do!

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:thumbsup: don't we all!

Taking unknown 'shortcuts' can lead to unexpected time consuming extended bush bashing, backtracking to avoid bluffs, big deep swampy mud, deep stream cuts etc. But anyways I mark these on my gps as shit areas to avoid. At times I will go an explore areas that I have walk past for many years (never took a look in before) but knowing what could be instore, be prepared to backtrack. and as expected it had been shitty going. Been surprised at times of the areas I have walked right past holding deer right under my nose when going to slips and clearings. Speaking of nose, if you suspect you see a deer bed get down and sniff it, a strong sent indicates one is in the area.

I always record my track on the gps and mark way points. Every now and then when having a rest pull out your paper map you printed off beforehand and mark on it where you had been as a backup and it also gives you the big picture of the area. Compass is fine if you know exactly where you are in the first place, some places one cannot get a visual/known reference point and as you found out estimating of travelling distance is difficult esp when panic may set in.

The last deer I came across in their beds was a few years ago with my son trying to bag his first bush stalked animal. Having seen nothing all morning and he was getting tired walking uphill and downhill and needed a rest. I said we will take a 'shortcut' by me cutting a path thru the supplejack down to the river, wait here and I will come back when done. Left him with my pack and the one rifle we had. 50 metres down and along a narrow ledge behind some dense ferns two velvet heads pop up, I was still cutting away at vines when this happened making hell of a racket, eyeballed the nearest deer who returned the favour (could of poked it with my finger, that's how close it was) As it was just getting up I turned instantly and ran back to my boy instantly thinking crap crap crap Murphy's at it again, no gun and my son is going to miss out again and reinforce his belief that there is no such thing as deer in doc bush. Anyway he heard me running up (as he was napping) then saw me with arms waving and pointing in general direction mouthing wildly "stag...stag...stag" Up he woke, grabbed rifle and off we went, within minutes we where at the spot, up went the rifle and soon there was a spiker on the deck. It had not moved more than 5 metres and that was the distance he shot it at, on the other hand the bigger stag I had also seen had buggered off and left the spiker wondering what the hell? As quick as that, he got his first bush deer and has been keen as ever since.

I took a shortcut in the Kaimai's once. Took just over an hour to get to and deal to a hind via nice game trail. Took 4 hours and a LOT of cursing and scrambling to get out :D

Once you get older you realise that a shortcut is the longest and sometimes the most expensive way to do something