Ruahine's hunt

Hey team ,

Going for my first wander in the Ruahines (embarrassing considering I have lived in the bay for so long) tomorrow with a mate that is fresh as to hunting and wouldn't mind having a reasonable chance of spotting something for him to have a poke at if everything lines up.
I have plenty of private land to hunt but I really can't be assed driving a couple of hours each way for a day hunt and I believe it would be a better way for him to cut his teeth on some public land and learn some skills before he gets lucky enough to hunt some private land.
He has been hunting the Kawekas for quite a few months but hasn't been having much joy so i thought we might go and see if we can chase some reds as I believe they can be a bit easier (I know some will possibly disagree!)

Have always wanted to poke around the Ruahines but we all know how busy life gets and how fast time slips away!

Anyone got any spots that they wouldn't mind pointing me towards?
Not after your own honey hole or anything but just somewhere that will be a nice walk with the chances of seeing some deer.

Cheers

@BRADS hook em up.

There's deer everywhere in the Rua's. You just got to pick your weather and get up before the deer. Food and sun. All you need to find. The deer will come to you.

Agree, pick a road end and go, they are everywhere

@hebe might be able to point you in the right direction @madmaori

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Originally Posted by bigbear

@hebe might be able to point you in the right direction @madmaori

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As mentioned in other comments, theres deer everywhere in there. It might seem like exaggeration but its true. Get up highish and glass into the leatherwood edges and any slips or clearings that look to catch a bit of sun. Failing that, a bush hunt in the top third under the leatherwood belt should probably see you right.

South of Gold Creek is where the higher numbers are in my experience.

Don’t think there is going to be a lot of sun tomorrow!

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Originally Posted by Sauer

Don’t think there is going to be a lot of sun tomorrow!

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Yep its shit up there now.Most creeks will be running high.Windy as f too. Good luck @madmaori

Snow up the Tamaki
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Originally Posted by kiwijames

There's deer everywhere in the Rua's. You just got to pick your weather and get up before the deer. Food and sun. All you need to find. The deer will come to you.

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Yeah as James said the Ruahines are rotten with deer at the moment, just walk a bit further than the average person and you'll soon see plenty.
Seem to be seeing a few pigs about now as well.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

Cheers for the info everyone , very much appreciated!
Didn't end up making it on the weekend as the weather looked absolute trash , will be heading in there in the next window that I have.

Cheers Brad

Trash up there today too.
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Didn't walk far today.
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Originally Posted by Dundee

Trash up there today too.
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Didn't walk far today.
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Geez that is fair pumping!

Shoot as many hinds as you can. Ruahines is loaded with deer, particularly the southern end

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Originally Posted by stagstalker

Shoot as many hinds as you can. Ruahines is loaded with deer, particularly the southern end

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There’s a few in the north too. Like he says, make sure you shoot a few. They need culling.

https://youtu.be/6KXiQdW-YeY

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Originally Posted by craigc

There’s a few in the north too. Like he says, make sure you shoot a few. They need culling.

https://youtu.be/6KXiQdW-YeY

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Yup that whole range all the way through Mangaweka and Hikurangi is crawling. Was further North in December and saw 20+ in the few weather windows we got (was in for 7 days and probably got 1.5 days out of the cloud). Shot a few but would have shot a lot more if we got the weather to go chasing them with a bit more earnest.
Possibly heading back in to a similar area September to a lower altitude in one of the valleys, assume I'll have good success hunting the north facing slips and upper head-water feed-belts even that time of year. Deer might be a bit skinny though, although in December the deer we shot were in quite good nick.

How low is the snow on the Hills behind Mangaweka at the moment? i'm guessing theirs a bit around now yeah? are hoping to head that way end of month if not flooded and frozen over... thanking you in advance for any reports, cheers.

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Originally Posted by Double_massive

How low is the snow on the Hills behind Mangaweka at the moment? i'm guessing theirs a bit around now yeah? are hoping to head that way end of month if not flooded and frozen over... thanking you in advance for any reports, cheers.

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There's nothing, maybe right on the high points but cant see them through the cloud.

@wsm junkie Thank you for the report mate!

Looking from the Takapau plains yesterday morning there was a good coating of snow on the Ruahines!!