Sika Adventure With The Family

As Featured in NZ Hunter August/September 2024 Edition
After a busy Christmas period followed by a trip into the bush and a few lake day trips, we contemplated what we should do for Waitangi Weekend. We looked for a bach to hire at Lake Rotoiti, but most were booked out, and the ones that were available were crazy expensive for the long weekend. So we hatched a plan to take the kids back into a part of the Country where I cut my teeth learning how to hunt Sika Deer. It was not Jame or Fletcher’s first trip into the bush after Sika; both of the lads have been on many adventures, and we always try to have a minimum of one week in the scrub together in Early April.
 
Over the last five years taking our kids hunting, we have found that the benefits out-weigh any of the hard work it takes to get them there. Once you have arrived at your destination, camp is all set up and the whole family is present with no distractions; it's just perfect!
We set off the next morning for the trip, as we always do, so we asked the lads what they wanted to see or hear and where we were away. Between them, they worked out that a whio in the creek was a high priority, followed by seeing a few Sika deer. Finding bugs was also in the mix. Fletch came around fast as we pulled up to Heliskia. The wind was alot stronger than predicted so we were in for a rough flight into camp. Amie is the biggest fan of flying in any form, so she was a bit quiet. With the gear weighed we loaded the MD500 and set out for our camp for the next eight hours. As we crested the ridge out of Poronui Station, we could feel the turbulence. The lads were fine up the front but Amie in the back beside me had her eyes closed and was preparing herself for the next seven minutes. After we landed the lads and I carried the gear to camp while Amie took some time to clear her head and get her bearings again, as she was not well. The flight in was one of the roughest I’ve had in over 100 helicopter flights! We set up camp just in time for the drizzle to come down. It was consistent for the rest of the day, so the lads and I played cards while Amie slept off the flight sickness that had got considerably worse after landing.
The next day dawned with light drizzle again, so we had a leisurely breakfast and decided to wait for it to clear up, as I was carrying my new Canon camera and there was no way I was going to drown it on the first trip! We were deep in the bush so there was no rush to head anywhere at first light. Sika will be anywhere in the bush in summer, and with an abundance of feed and warm conditions, you can bump one at any time of the day, as I knew after many years of hunting the cool little creatures. Fletcher and I got restless mid-morning so we set off up the creek opposite camp to stretch our legs. We crossed the main river and sidled up the true left of what we call Water Creek for a bit until Fletch needed a toilet stop. Now, a toilet stop is nothing out of the ordinary, but this was one to remember. Fletcher returned after doing his business and I was putting my day bag on when I noticed something hanging out of his pocket. I asked, "Mate, what do you have in your pocket?" He stopped, thought for a minute where he had just come from and said, "The paper, Daddy!" I said "Wait, what? The toilet paper is on your pocket?" He said, "Yes, I didn't want to litter the bush, so I put it in my pocket after I used it”.  Haha, well, that's a first for me but very thoughtful, wasn’t it? After that discussion, I had to try my new Jet Boil to heat the sausages, as the rain cleared on up the tops for the first time since we arrived. Amie stayed in the tent and just rested up, but this morning was not a lucky one, so we made a bit of a beeline back to camp to get out of wet clothes and have a late lunch.

 

The weather finally turned a corner and started clearing up in the afternoon. The sun went for a walk in the last few hours before dark to a couple of close lookouts to see if there were any animals out. Not long after we arrived, I spotted a hind just off a clearing at the back end. As she came out of the big beech trees, she was followed by her fawn, and they slowly fed their way down the steep slope toward the clearing. I snapped a few photos while the boys watched through the binoculars. As we watched, they slowly fed towards the clearing without much concern for danger, only putting their heads up a few times. I whistled at them, trying to get their attention to get a better photo before we lost all the good light.

 

The night was a cracker and the stars were out in force. I asked The lads what they wanted to do the next day, and they said go for a swim. The plan was to head upriver for the morning, have lunch up there and head back for mid-afternoon, when it would be nice and hot for a swim. The morning dawned a cracker, and with breakfast under our belts, we crept upriver to where I had cut my teeth hunting. It was a mixture of mānuka and scrub around the river edges and big beech coming down to the river further upstream. I had been up here many times and it was a nice bit of country with good roaring in April.
 

I had not been up here for a while and the damage from the cyclone last year was evident as we followed the light trail up on the true left. We climbed a small spur and onto a terrace at the start of a big clearing, looking out over a huge slip where a large beech tree had been swept down into the creek. I said to the family that we would sit and wait a bit to see if we could find a Sika having breakfast. Sidling up to the creek, it was quick, as the grass was a little steep, but once the fences and blinds made it worth it, and the sign was abundant. We sat on the flat by 20 metres when I spied a deer on the opposite face just upstream from us. It was a young Sika spiker with his head down, feeding into the creek.

 

I let the team know I had seen an animal, and they came forward, stopping five metres behind me and sitting down. The spiker dropped slowly into the creek and then he was nowhere to be seen! As I peered over the top into the creek looking for him, I couldn’t see below us as the pepperwood was too thick. I noticed a deer trail coming up out of the creek right below us and he thought that with our luck, he would pop out only five metres away to find us sitting right in the open! After a few steps he spotted me walking up the trail, about to run right into us. I slowly flicked the camera on and let off a few hurried shots while he stood still for two seconds, then he was gone back into the creek. He ran back up the trail on the other side; I gave a mew and he pulled up beside a big beech tree, giving me a few vital seconds to snap a good photo before he carried on up the big face opposite, slightly more educated. I looked back at Amie and the lads, and they were all smiling. They had not seen him on the other side of the creek but when he came up the trail just below us on our side, they had seen him lift his head looking at me before spinning and departing. It was a very cool experience for all four of us.

The bird life was everywhere after the rain the previous day. We captured a few bird photos while heading back towards the main river, before turning right and heading up further to an old deer trap for our intended lunch stop. As we crossed the next side creek, I quickly stepped on the rocks to avoid getting my feet wet. Not that wet feet bothered me at all, but more to see if the lads could cross the same way. James was first and followed my path perfectly. Next was little Fletcher. He didn’t quite hit the rocks at the right pace and ended up on his back in the creek. His mother fished out the little fella, while his Dad and brother were too busy crying and laughing. Fletcher was a bit mad at us for laughing but he came right after a while. Sorry, Fletch!

Even under the cover of the big bush, the heat was noticeable as we moved upriver, making sure to stop a few times to rehydrate the little men and load them up with snacks. When making trips deep into the bush with young kids and to keep it enjoyable, you need to keep them interested, and don’t slog too far all at once. Make sure you stop for breaks, load them up with water and food, and ask them to lead the way when you can so they don’t feel like they are being dragged on a huge walk in the middle of nowhere.

As we approached the location of the deer trap, we carefully maneuvered through the shallow gullies until we reached the hidden clearing. I spotted a young Sika spiker scanning himself in the first open area and quickly snapped him before he could leave the scene.
We found shade on the clearing and unloaded the treats for lunch, while relaxing a bit for a well-earned rest. The clearing that the deer trap was on is man-made surrounded by deer fencing that has mostly fallen to the ground. It has a tiny creek flowing through the middle of it. They used to land a helicopter in another clearing very close by back in the 70’s when the price for live deer was at its height, catching the deer with nets by hand before loading them to the chopper and out to the buyers. Subsequently, this area has been a great place to see deer over the years, as it has some grass, sun and easy stalking, and is right in the middle of the big beech trees.

We moved from the trap down to the main river and let the kids muck around on the logs while we enjoyed the sun, before slowly moving downriver toward camp. Along the way, we noticed how many big dragonflies were around the creek. In all my years of hunting, I've never seen so many, with literally hundreds seen over the next few days. We also came across a few big fungi that the kids found fascinating, before arriving back at camp, stripping down and getting ready for a dip in the nearby creek. The water was a tad cold, but as it was so bloody hot, it was a very refreshing swim and the lads loved it. That night we listened to the moreporks while we played cards, and after the kids were asleep, Amie and I talked about how good it is with no outside distractions for the kids, no internet or phones and no worries!

Our last full day arrived and we decided to head downriver to bigger clearings. We slowly meandered down the creek, and it was not long before we realised that it was substantially hotter than the day before. I got a weather report on my In-reach when we stopped for a break and it was predicted to reach 30 degrees. It was already feeling well into the 20's and it was only mid-morning. I let the lads lead for a while, as they have done this plenty on previous trips, with a changeover of the leader every 20 minutes to avoid arguments. They have to navigate the tricky bits by themselves and can ask for directions if need be. They know they need to be observant and look ahead of them at all times for signs of the trail and the easy way to head, while only going as fast as the slowest person in the party. Being the leader, you are responsible for the people behind you at all times. They soak up these learnings and are becoming very good in the bush, and are a pleasure to take on trips like this. I was not introduced to hunting until my uncle took me into Clements Mill Road for the first time when I was about 13 years old. Hopefully, they will be taking their mates for hunts by 16.

Stopping at times to make rock bridges across creeks or make a hut is mandatory to keep kids interested. They love looking back and showing their mates the photos, as they will also do in the years to come. We weaved our way down the river, and as we broke out into the more open areas the sun was starting to get up. We searched the open manuka and clearing edges for a while but nothing was seen. Maybe the deer were off having lunch in the shade too? We pulled out the sandwiches and found a bit of shade to hide in. The sky was sapphire blue, and everywhere we looked, it was paradise. Where else would you want to be on a day like this? 

We concluded the lunch feast enjoying the pockets of shade in the river, and set off back up river, taking time as we crossed it to get well wet. It was a pleasure to be splashed by the kids for once. We had come unlucky not to see any deer on the way down as there were plenty of small clearings along the river loaded with fresh sign; maybe they heard the elephants coming?

The mercury on the temperature gauge reached 31 by late afternoon, so we had a relaxing one sitting in the shade of the big manuka back at camp. We were due for a 10am flight out the next morning. That night, we sat chilling out with a cold drink and reminiscing on a very cool few days of family time, time you simply can't replace.

    Living the bush life is healthy for everyone. Make a plan of what you want for the kids then a loose plan of how to make sure they see the New Zealand bush, as there are always too many other reasons not to go.
     

     

     

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