Sika Hunting

Im taking my Brother into the Waipakihi Hut this weekend for a Hike/Hunt.
I'm trying to sus out what to do in terms of where the deer are likely to be.
I've been reading up on what the japs will be doing at this time of the year, from what i've read the stags should be moving around more to get to their rutting pads, but whats the best plan of attack?.
Will they be on the river flats or crossing over the ridges, should i be getting up before daylight to glass guts and gullys or will they genearlly be holed up in the bush through out the day

Any advice is appriciated

RR

I have shot a half a dozen or so within 1 km of the car park. I assume it would still be as good.
Got a few reds in there as well.
How far up is the hut? I have never been to it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. So please forgive my sausage fingers!!!

What way are you going in? Over the hill (there are 2 ways) or up the river?

River flats in the mornings and evenings will still be good. Moist gully heads. Tops bush fringe. The stags will still be feeding up and still be quite settled in their feed areas. I think.

We're heading in via the Umukarikari track (Over the range)

Should i aim for north facing slopes or southern consodering the temperaters we've been having?
We've only got 1 days full hunting so i'd like to give myself the best possible chance

To be honest its a hell of a long way for just one full days hunting, will take 4-5hours to the hut over the Umakarikari range. You would be better off camping somewhere along the way.

this time of the year, with this heat look in the cool bush,along creeks, but really deer are where you find them.:P

they will be all over the show at the moment. Stags will be moving about in all directions, spikers will be wandering lost and hinds will be used to movement in there area. Keep moving, and cover the ground you should hit them. In the heat of the mid day they will be in the shady shitty bush!