Having taken TrackersNZs suggestion from the fanny forum to heart , here are some scenery photos from a central North island fallow hunt that resulted in four very wet hunters , no deer , but a nice way to spend a weekend .



Access to this area is over this interesting swing bridge , 250 metres long and not in great repair . Taking quads over was a new experience - seeing the river fifty feet below through the big gaps in the deck , and then seeing that the netting on the sides is missing in a few places really inspires confidence - one of the guys hates heights too so that made it even more fun...



This is typical fallow country in this area , steep scub covered hills , some heavier bush but hard climbing wherever you go .
Fortunately the access track wasnt too bad , although in one steep boghole we had to have all four of us pushing and pulling the quads to get through the hole .



More of the countryside. Fallow frequent the high up clearings and will be out most of the day if it is sunny . We glassed five der on one such clearing , three dark spikers , a menel huns and a light bron spotty hind. Unfortunately they were literally inaccessable to us so were left for another day .



This is the view from the back end of the property , backing on tho heavy forest with a river boundary. Supposedly red deer live back here although we didnt see any sign . Some very fresh pig rooting was seen on the lower flats , and as we sheltered under a sprawly totara tree we shot a couple of rabbits that were dumb enough to stick around.

All in all a wet day , but as a first visit to an area we can get back to in the future it was worth the effort .

Sorry Tim , no dead animal pictures , but no drivel , crap , rubbish , or off-topic stuff either .

How are the Fallow down your way Muzza?I'm going to Woodhill tomorrow we got one buck permit and one doe permit should be a good day

TP , currently we have access to more deer than time to hunt them...sad really.

On this trip we saw a spiker on the riverbank as we drove in , and the group on the high clearing , as well as lots of sign . Fallow numbers here are reasonably high it seems .

Good luck tomorrow , post some pics if you have any luck ...

Muzza,
Thanks for the pictures!!!
Great hunting grounds !!
L

Is this private country or public?

The bridge looks quite substantial for a private farm.

No trophy stags around, does the herd get hammered too much?

Its all private farmland , and gets a bit of a flogging by the local pighunters. I have no doubt there are some good heads in there , but being free range there is a lot of territory to hide in . Old deer dont get to be old by sunning themselves on exposed faces in the middle of the day ....
And there is a vast area of this sort of country, tens of thousands of hectares.

The bridge would have been very costly to build , but isnt in the best state of repair at present . Apparently it isnt uncommon for sheep to fall of through the sides.... doesnt get used for vehicles other than motorcycles and quads tho .

Did I mention the hundreds of feral geese that live on and around the river...

Here's some more scenery (hunting) on the edge of Foirdland NZ
This deer



was shoot about 600 yards from here



Ten minutes away from the boat, which made for some happy hunters!

Cheers

Gidday Muzza,

Are you up the Wanganui river there. Looks kinda familiar. Good country and nice easy hunting.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Muzza

Thanks for the reply. Would never have imagined sheep crossing that bridge.

Wirehunt

Fjordland has to be one of the most wild places still to hunt on this planet.