It is incredibly difficult country. Some ‘easier’ areas (eg along the South Coast Track) are flatter and safer. There are both pigs and deer there. In NZ they have these excellent DOC (‘Dept of Conservation’) huts all over the place (roughly a solid day’s walk apart with a pack; all have a helipad) which make […]
Venery is one of my passions. This is one of my all-time favourite photos. This was Eddie Herrick circa 1934 in his eponymous creek in Wet Jacket Arm, Dusky Sound, Fiordland NZ with his bull moose. In a moose hunting career in Fiordland which involved Eddie hunting there for nearly three months a year for
New (2020) Sighting Below: Some time back I was contacted by a young journalist, Charlie Mitchell from Stuff, New Zealand. I helped him out as much as I could from my experiences. Over the last two days I have been thrilled to read and see what he has put together of the continued existence of
O, the enchantments of Fiordland: Time and again I have been drawn back to this lush green Eden questing after one of these surviving prehistoric giants, which though sundered from their ancient homeland in the vast boreal forests of the North, still linger there today. For me it is a tale which began when I
Ken & Marg Tustin have been hunting these beasts in Fiordland’s forests since the 1970’s. The creatures are enormously elusive. Of course there are lots of browse, prints, droppings but so far they have managed to come up with a single cast antler, two positive DNA samples and a couple of (unfortunately) poor quality photos
Loch Marie to Kintail is another long section much like coming up from Supper Cove. It takes me 7-8 hours, but I am not a racer. Much of the trip is walking along pleasant river flats. Some of the clearings are so big you have to look out for the (large) triangles on the other
Back from our 10 days mainly in Fiordland NZ marred somewhat by Della dislocating her shoulder in a fall from a rock. This led to the best helicopter ride ever, not enjoyed as much as it might have been however. We encountered this rock face about a quarter hour up the track from Supper Cove
Moose frolic in garden sprinkler: A tip for Fiordland moose hunters: I think this short clip well illustrates the need moose have to cool down in warmer weather. In a Fiordland summer, it is really too warm for the average moose (given the absence of cool lakes in which they could browse underwater plants). They
If I ever catch a moose in Fiordland I may do this with it: http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/archives/27719-Moose-Team.html
A gear list mayhap more appropriate for well-trod trails, safer places than where I prefer to venture – I dream yet of Herrick Creek and this wonderful photo – but less than 2.5 kg all up shows where savings may yet be made: http://gossamergear.com/wp/sub-5-pound-baseweight-backpacking More about Fiordland Moose Hunting here: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/eddie-herrick-moose-hunting-at-dusky-sound/ & here http://www.theultralighthiker.com/moose-hunting/ &
