Thread: Te Tapui scenic reserve hunting (asking for experiences)

Hi guys

I've got family up in the Te Miro area and have easy access to the block via private land and am looking for your experiences while hunting up there.

I've been on the Te Miro block with a permit a few times and encountered fallow on all occasions (no shots taken) but have no idea what the Te Tapui block is like in regard to bush density and how rugged the walking is. I'm very experienced with shooting in general, But haven't spent much time hunting in the bush and even less time alone.

How's the reception up there for GPS tracking on phone?
Is it easy and safe to trek around alone?
Is there any goat population or just fallow?
Dense enough for bow hunting?

Cheers
Macca

even with private access i do not think you are allowed in the block without a permit.

Originally Posted by superdiver

even with private access i do not think you are allowed in the block without a permit.

I'm aware of the permit procedure, But I just mentioned private access since it makes it easier for me to get in an out on the edge of the farm.

GPS reception and bow hunting all good there. As previously mentioned you still need a permit from DOC to hunt there. Most weekends are busy but weekdays are less booked. Had a mate take a fallow with his bow a couple of weeks ago in Te Tapui B block but he didn't mention anything about goats being present.

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I've been there a couple of times. I don't bow hunt but I think the bush is dense enough in most areas I have been in. No goats but we did find some very old pig sign, I suspect someone released a few but have been wiped out. Phone reception is pretty patchy, my GPS doesn't have any issues at all. No issues hunting alone, probably one of the safer spots simply due to its size, though I do carry a PLB (which I already had for jetski fishing). The loop track gets a lot of use by trampers. General opinion seems to be to hunt the fringes of the farmland.

I have only been in te miro and te tapui once each and both are patchy thick in places with lots of supplejack. Lots of peacocks, pheasants, cats and hares to spook. Only saw one very small animal about 20m from the fenceline.

Originally Posted by Cigar

General opinion seems to be to hunt the fringes of the farmland.

Yeah there was a couple of herds that used to come down from Te Miro onto their previous farm (groups of 3 - 15) but they've moved to a new block around the corner which is closer to block A and B. I'm pretty sure they back up onto the edge of block A near where it joins to block b, But there is one neighbors paddock between them (though he's fine with crossing).

Te Miro area from what I've been told so far is a gentleman's agreement area where the farmers don't shoot or spook the herds on the farmland until the herd size gets too big, and then they cull them off for meat. However i have no idea what the population is like in Block A/B, but Te Miro block was pretty quiet even with running into small groups And one stag at his pad.

i have looked into going there in the past but never been lucky enough to get DOC on the phone and arrange a permit.
Mate of mine went into one years ago and said it was shit and thick but I cannot remember which one.
Does not surprise me though, thick stuff on farm edge is fallow heaven.

Yup been in there quite a few times as its nicely close to the big smoke and a nice day to sit away in the bush somewhere without worrying about others bumping into you...

It's actually Maori land now being handed back a couple of years ago to the Hauraki tribe but DOC run the permits for it. And have had a few in there mainly early morning sunbathing on the eastern side of TT A in the edges of bracken and long grass before I gave them a haircut . in the section up the top RHS of the map. Observe the no shooting zones tho. Also have run into a few cattle beasts in there too that have hoped the fence into the bush to remain in the bush out of the frost I guess and perceived better food. In the arvo if westerly wind I've always come back through from the top north end of that of that block in the arvo and sit there and glass the edges before wandering through and up and over the top onto the track back to the car

Yup best time to go is now through into spring on that side. Plenty of feral cats as mentioned that DOC are keen for you to give a one way trip to. Quite a few Pheasants and other noisemakers too. Bit of a waste to go there in summer as the whole place is like walking on cornflakes even in the likes of dive boots or brothel creepers.

TTB: is a lot more close bush and supplejack on the hill as you'd expect got a couple down in the Punga to the right and where the waterways are (usual story) when its been blowing from the West. Sit and watch the edges and there's a few clearings if you know where to go to sit on ... take a warm jacket to sit in you could be waiting a while but they are in there.

The gentlemanly agreement took 40-50 out of there a couple of years ago, I think Kim Jon told me about that? so I'd expect numbers slowly increasing again.

I'll see if I can find the email address for the lady that used to give me the permits was pretty much a once a month trip for me until I found another spot I preferred over by @7mmwsm place... and another over Honokiwi way the later I could hunt the morning for Fallow and Goats & fish the afternoon too!

Thanks for the heads up Carpe. I know Te Miro block can be pretty thick with supplejack but I was hoping the other blocks wouldn't be. I'm actually located in auckland myself, But I've looked at the local places to shoot and they seem pretty barren from over shooting (aside from great barrier) and I'm not experienced enough to go that far out.

Once I pick up this AR (last time I went it was a lever action Rossi .44) and get a lay of a farm to see what it's like then I'll defo get a permit to just hide in the bush for a weekend to get away from the missus and enjoy the sounds of NZ wildlife to see what story could come of the trip.

If you keep driving for 20-30 mins you are in the kaimais... The Cambridge deer are pretty well controlled on private land and finding a deer on the mountain is not that common, you will have better luck hunting the edges at first and last day lite, if you have private access look after it and be mindful of wandering into the neighbours.

Have walked into deer two out of the 3 times I've been in Te Tapui A, yet to get one on the ground, both within the bush itself. There are areas of extremely challenging dense bush but had little trouble with this last time as knew where i was going. GPS works well however can have you pointing in the wrong direction at times, phones do not.

Is a great bush to be amongst even if you aren't successful.