Raetahi area Hunting grounds?

I'm new to deer hunting, only just starting out. But I've been offered access to a house in Raetahi over spring/summer and I am keen to get out there do some hunting in the surrounding area. I have virtually no local knowledge of the area and I wonder if anyone could give me some pointers about where to head and what sort of approach to take? As I said, I'm just getting into deer hunting so I'm pretty inexperienced, but also I'm not too picky about what I bag, just keen to get something. I have a 7mm-08 just to give you an idea of what sort of range/power I'm dealing with. Any tips would be much appreciated, cheers.

Head to upper returuke neilsons reserve used to be loaded with goats. Thats were I would start just concentrate on the goats and you may stumble on a deer or pig. Up behind lake hawkes a bloody good spot to if you can get access.

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Cheers CreepingDeath

Good area.
Plenty of red and fallow deer. Tons of goats and pigs.
Just be aware that due to the nature of the underlying rock in the Whanganui catchment, it can be pretty steep dropping into streams and sometimes near impossible getting out.
The Spot X book or the DOC Wanganui hunting booklet (on the DoC website) are good guides. Both publications have which species are present etc.
Also note that there is no hunting in the main Wanganui catchment over the summer due to other recreational users.

hey neilsons reserve is ok but you have to get across the returuke river take care with that or you will end up in the FONGONUI as eel bait

Yep.and watch the weather coz.shes a bitch with some.rain on it

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Okay so, generally speaking, it is better to head into Wanganui bush rather than heading NE/E into the bush on the lower reaches of Mt. Ruapehu?

And dogmatrix, I can't seem to find the DOC Wanganui hunting booklet online, could you link it to me? Or do they only have it in print at the visitor's centre?

Cheers

deer are closer than you think. try erua forest as well pretty thick cut over stuff but deer are in there. there are a few tracks in there early morn, late arvo may see one. try walking down fishers track in behind nat park and cut in. watch out for mountain bikers tho, and get a permit. plenty of places have a yarn to the local doc guys they are quite helpful now and again.

If I was staying in Raetihi I'd be heading up the mountain and hunt those open tops. Or head around the other side into tongaririo state forest. Not far away and great hunting.

Cheers for the tips guys.

Kudu, regarding hunting the open tops, whats the strategy with that? Should I be hunting the bushline where it starts to thin, looking for grazers on the verges or what?

Would I be wrong to think hunting the open tops would be easier for an inexperienced hunter, such as myself, than stalking the bush? I'm relatively confident in my bush skills (I've spent a decent time tramping over the past years) but I'm new to the likes of identifying sign and actually stalking the animal, so would that make distance shooting out in the open a better move for me?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phillipgr

Okay so, generally speaking, it is better to head into Wanganui bush rather than heading NE/E into the bush on the lower reaches of Mt. Ruapehu?

And dogmatrix, I can't seem to find the DOC Wanganui hunting booklet online, could you link it to me? Or do they only have it in print at the visitor's centre?

Cheers

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Hi mate, it used to be a compilation of all the seperate pages from here and the linked maps:

Where to hunt: Whanganui hunting

You can do it yourself by printing each web page and the maps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phillipgr

Would I be wrong to think hunting the open tops would be easier for an inexperienced hunter, such as myself, than stalking the bush? I'm relatively confident in my bush skills (I've spent a decent time tramping over the past years) but I'm new to the likes of identifying sign and actually stalking the animal, so would that make distance shooting out in the open a better move for me?

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You don't want to hunt the bush in National Park itself (ie on the sides of the volcanoes), its horrible stuff.
Hunt the bush edge at dawn and dusk around New Years, as spring/summer comes a bit later that high up.

Cheers dogmatix, I reckon that's what I'll do. Hunt the bushline where it clears on Ruapehu.