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Hi i live in hamilton area and wanting to go for a wallaby shoot but have never hunted Rotorua area and have no idea where to start.
any help would be appreciated with pointing me in right direction or if someone has a farm or land that I could come over for a day hunt on that would be even better .
DOC have a map of hunting areas including which species are present here:
Are Wallabies up there now?.
Check with DOC re access as they close most areas during tourist season - about Feb sometime from memory. Having lived at Hamurana for several years I sought to hook up with cullers - no luck due to H & S regs. One private farm almost opposite airport offers accommodation in a hut up the back of his block, but charges approx $90 p.n. Per shooter.
I suggest parking at end of Lake Ōkareka road and walking the shared Mountainbike track to Okataina. Cut into the bush on left hand side and parallel the fence line of the fence line bordering farmland, heading towards tallest point. I’ve shot them in there. Best at first and last light, but no spotlighting allowed. There are a few deer and pigs present too.
If you have a boat, try hot water beach area across Lake Tarawera, but check legality as very popular with campers. Another spot is anywhere off the road to Lake Ōkataina from Rotorua-Whakatane road.
The critters are basically oversized possums and not like the larger South Island Bennetts variety. Tails and back legs can be casseroled.
You’ve gotta use a Centrefire unless special permission to use rimfire is granted; highly unlikely. .223 makes their eyes water.
Warning: if you do walk the track from end of Okareka towards Okataina road, don’t hunt the farm edge on the right hand (Eastern) side as Paddy, the owner of that farm has a peculiar way of dealing with encroachers. The only warning you’ll get is a funny eye roll before he reacts adversely.
Give the bio-security team a call at the regional council (Rotorua), they maybe able to point you in the right direction. Approaching landowners is an also option, if you reinforce that you will close all gates remove all carcasses etc, because they don't want stoats, pigs or cats hanging around their property either. Try asking the local deer stalkers branch as well.
Land access is one of the biggest issues for Wallaby control in the BOP.
Their always has being but the seem to be doing their thing and multiplying of lateQuote:
Originally Posted by Twodiffs
My parents live there and their dog will typically catch and kill a wallaby most days they walk in the Whaka forests. It's a bit of a machine but it outlines how many there are there now
I'm also fairy certain the wallaby in Rotorua is a much smaller one than what you get down south.
Talk to a guy Wilkie at DOC Rotorua. He is very helpful.
I can add nothing to the good advice given above. I've seen wallabies every time I've been in the bush around Rotorua.
https://i.ibb.co/PwBj2rq/IMG-1131-2.jpg
Is that the farm between the Millars Rd end of the track and the lake?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ingrid 51
As others have said best way to get a wallaby is to take your dogs for a walk in Whakarewarewa forest around change of light.
Mine have got plenty and getting private access is next to impossible.
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve123
i went down a couple of years back. place we stayed was a couple acres between one of the lakes and a gravel road. probably got 6 just on dusk.
but without private land access it's a pain.
they go on about how bad they are but it's hard to get access.
Z
Agree, he'll probably get one or two in the bush, but for big numbers, you need access to private land.
That looks like a very handy little rifle.Quote:
Originally Posted by MB
A lot of the land around the lakes is Iwi or Hapu trust owned with multiple beneficiaries. Who ever manages it would have a devil of a time getting answers so probably easier to say no.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZQLewis
Hey Ingrid, can you please give me details of the farm name or a contact number? I'm really keen to get onto some good wallaby numbers. Have bumped the odd one in Okataina/Okareka before tourist season but found it quite hard work during DOC daylight hunting hours. Thanks.
It is omaniafarm.co.nzQuote:
Originally Posted by Lost n confused
The owners are Tony and Joanna Carr.
I'll just drop in here that Tony and Joanna are awesome people and their hut is really nice too. I reckon it's worth what he charges.
You'll need a decent 4WD to get to it though, the property is quite steep in places.
Thanks guys. I sent him an email and got a call back very promptly. Just sorting out dates to book in a trip, will let you know how I get on.
Also, I went for a night walk (unarmed) last weekend in Okareka to get a bead on animal numbers for when season opens next weekend and bumped into wallabies on the main track. So frustrating staying in the DOC time guidelines!
I took my wife and boys up a few weeks ago and shot some possums but only saw one wallaby. Using torches and making lots of noise probably didn't help, but otherwise it was great night out. Thanks for the heads up on this place. We will be going back again.