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hey all, I might be heading down south for uni next year and was wondering what gear id need/ wanna take if i was to do hunting in the colder months while im down there. Im a north island bush hunter so I dont know much about super cold and alpine areas so I am wanting some direction on what i would need as i know for sure thermals and stubbie shorts wont cut it.
cheers
You’ll get use to it pretty quick. A good rain jacket and over trousers, down jacket, binos, long Johns.
Wind/water proof layers, good gloves, beanie, sturdy boots, binoculars, insulation layers,a pair of trekking poles goes along well for big open alpine stuff, if you’re capable of shooting a few hundred metres it will help you be successful more often than not
Fitness the hills down here are a hell of a lot bigger.
Stubbies and thermals work just fine plenty of us wear them including me.
...Strong legs and a flexible neck to look straight upwards towards those Thar containing tops:omg:
the only real difference....and this is been historically the same... you replace heavy woolie swannie with a light windbreaking nylon parka.....
lace up gummies will still cut the mustard unless you intend to spend lots of time up in rock n shale...they work but get plurry hot quickly and not so good for support.
Some decent waterproof boots is one thing I didn't have when I moved south from CNI. I found I didn't get out much in colder weather before upgrading my boots.
get a rifle that can shoot up hill mate , those north island ones like creedmoors , 708's and stuff just end up making holes in the dirt :P
Post of the week right here :) :) :)Quote:
Originally Posted by HILLBILLYHUNTERS
passport, current visa and up to date covid vaccination pass....
dont worry mate I use a 7 mighty magnum but I probably upgrade the scope from a 10x to something like 14xQuote:
Originally Posted by HILLBILLYHUNTERS
Gear that I started to use a lot more in the South compared to the North:
- Trekking pole (Not practical in many North Island bush bashing situations)
- Binoculars (More game are found by glassing rather than stalking)
- Range finder (Shots are typically at longer ranges)
- Foam roll (For sitting on over extended period of time while glassing)
Three seasons are pretty much the same as north island. Dont buy too much before you get down there.
Always take sunglasses on a string if there might be snow.
Always carry a spare pair of socks with you on the hill. Have plastic bags over your socks inside your boots if they are wet.
Pay some attention to your gloves. Inner thin polypro tnatcwill get wet pushing through bush and dcrub. Thicker perhaps polarflece for real warmth. Outer wind and snow proof mitts.
You will need knee length snow gaiters if you havent already got them.
A 70 -80 cm ice axe is the most useful much better than leki poles imho.
Dont get crampons or rigid boots until youve done an alpine instruction course ( which you may never need to do). Lace up buller gumboots wil get you a ling way. Theyyre waterproof, easy to dry and have good tread. But get some insoles for them. You could be walking for 4 hours on fist sized rocks and feet get a pummeling.
Boots - up north I used lightweight Solomon boots but down here they’re ok over the warmer months but don’t last long up on the mountains as they take more of a punishment. A solid leather boot works well as they handle the punishment better and also keep your feet dry over the colder months, you DO NOT want to get your boots wet over winter!
Gaiters - not only do they keep out the rocks, crap, snow but also give some protection against matagouri, spear grass which you’ll learn to hate.
Warm clothes - a good down jacket, macpac halo is great, good thermals, rain gear which I bought a set of ex army rain coat and leggings from an ex army store which fold down to nothing are solid pieces of gear for bigger all $$$
Sleeping bag - over winter you need a good -10 bag
Ice axe / crampons - nice items to have BUT they can also get you into a world of hurt as you can soon think your Edmund Hillary and get you into country you can’t get yourself out of. Sometimes it’s just easy to go up, up and up some more but not so when it comes to coming down. It you want to get into serious alpine then do an alpine course.
Walking pole - highly recommended as they help with your knees but also balance when walking off the hills.
Optics - you need to see the animals and your going to spend ALOT of time sitting behind a pair of binoculars so a good 10x is a must, a good quality spotter also helps assess an animal which saves you time and energy by not pursuing it due to it not being a shooter. A good range finder is also a must as it’s often hard to judge distances even when shooting across a valley.
Give it a year or two of hunting and you’ll soon see what you reds, what works for you and what doesn’t but by far just get out and go hunting as that’s often our biggest challenge… getting out ��
Long legs the rivers are a helluva lot colder on your under carriage! But seriously @Sevenths has it covered
Don't forget some prosthetic fingers and toes in case you need to stop for supplies or fuel.Quote:
Originally Posted by HILLBILLYHUNTERS
The one rifle to rule them all, 300wsm
says the fella who,since I ve known him has slayed many animals with...now let me thinkQuote:
Originally Posted by SmokeyJason
264magic....a 6.5 pill in a .204 ruger case..two different rifles
22 terminater...basically a 222magnum
223
.308
300wsm
stick n string too
man of many talents is our boy smokey LMFAO
I am gearing up too, and I am thinking to buy a U.S Army boots for a try in SI. Water proof, 8 inches high can support me for extra miles, and it `s cheaper, only cost about 350 dollars, but modern hiking shoes will need $600 +. I do `t think I will need a range finder, I would like to trade that weight for my SLR camera and a tripod for quality photos and videos.
Do I need a water filter? What I saw those waters there, it `s pretty clean, but diarrhea could be very dangerous for one man alone out there. I have experience of drinking waters from rivers, springs or rocky streams, so far I am good, even I get sensitive stomach.
Permit
Water is usually ok to drink if it's from a spring or clear running stream/river.Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Rabbit
If the water is running off areas where animals are grazing or an area that gets lots of people through it you may want to boil,filter or treat it with tablets before drinking.
$6-800 for boots...fuckmesideways Batman..do the plurry things walk themselves up the hill????Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Rabbit
my ashleys are less than $200 and john bull make great boots for not a lot more than that.... find out what your doing and get some miles under your belt before leaping into hugely expensive footwear you may not like and probably wont need.....
Would be worth having a look at the uni tramping club. Be it Otago or Canterbury. During uni, most of us got about the hills in long johns under stubbies. If it was going to be truly shit then fleece pants with waterproof over leggings. Or stay at home that weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by matthewhall2912
There's no game animals down here :D seriously though, just use the same gear you use up north, good comfy boots will be your friend and good wind and water proof outer layer(top and bottom) will be invaluable.
As Joe_90 said i usualy get round in shorts (with thermals when its cooler) A PLB is a must
Sense of humour
Ha Ha :yaeh am not durnk: My boots they are all about 300 dollars, and I really like to find something cost effective. One pair of my Garmount only used for two years in NZ, the wet environment, rocks tore it apart.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
@Black Rabbit if your interested in getting a pair of brand new Lowe Ranger boots then send me a PM and I’ll send you the link to an overseas website… I recently bought in a pair which cost me $330 all up landed. H&F sell the same boots for $800 :wtfsmilie:
If you wouldn't mind sending it on to me as well be very grateful cheers. LQuote:
Originally Posted by Seventenths
Thanks. I still have two pair of boots in NZ. Yeah, like Torpedo7 in Auckland, all the boots I like was $600 +, not to mention those latest version.Quote:
Originally Posted by Seventenths
Good Bino's , big country down here so you will be glassing a lot to locate animals, sometimes from quite long distances.
My gear doesn’t really change when I trip south. The only exception would be ice axe and crampons if I go down for rutting/winter Tahr. You will work out any adjustments you need to make once you get into it.
some ten power binos and site your rifle in for 200m
learn to shoot up and down hill and what effect it has on your trajectory
I clean missed a tahr up a hill first time seeing one
get ready for hearing how you come from the pig island
Ha, those were just to get a sample, I've killed with a 6.5Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
260
270
222
303 first deer an 8 pointer
32/20
There might be 1 or two more but it middle of the night and
Was going to develop the 300wsm for rabbit to wapiti but covid changed the world.