Hunting No Mans Road, Northern Ruahine

[@steveb2739]

I like your videos for all the reasons others have told you, but this one is very special to me. I used to cull the Eastern Ruahines for the Forestry back in, I think 1974-75. This really takes me back. I feel very lucky to be able to say I made some friends back then that are still friends today. We had two Base Camps. One was on the wrong side of a washed-out bridge on the Makaroro River. That always made going to town a bit tricky. We had hot water and a shower in that building, so we could wash the stink off and try to wow the girls in town. The only problem was having to strip down and carry our "good" clothes across the river, then dance about a bit to get dry enough to pull the pants on. Then off to Waipuk to have a few drinks and try to get lucky. If there are any kids in the area from that time who don't know who their Dads are. Not us. We never got lucky. None of us. Not once. Ever. It took a whole lot more practice to talk to girls... I've been living in the US since '77, so this has been a real treat. Thank you for your efforts.

[@Muzz308]

Haha thats a great yarn Steve, Im sure you are just being modest about your hunting success in Waipuk though. Thank You for the comment, hope all is well over in the US.

[@mikedwan4830]

Bro gotta be honest, I would watch your vids even if they weren't successful hunts, your videos are a bloody damn sight better than some of the other guys out there

[@Muzz308]

Cheers Mike, I’ll try not to let it go to my head 😅 Much appreciated. There’s some bloody good stuff from other kiwi hunters on KZbin, but I’m trying to keep my videos at the just for fun/educational phase more than trying to be the next Steve Rinella.

[@mikedwan4830]

@@Muzz308 Fair comment bro, Well keep up the good work 🤘🏼

[@mick.albert8763]

Yes I use cull there in the 70s as well Ruahine hut is new by the looks the old one long gone a good area was what they called the seconds back on to Bill Hill station it was a bit of a bone of contention if you got spotted the by the farmer. Hi Steve Breen saw you comment here in Rockhampton Qld Australia where I now live and Retired. Mick . Albert still love think of the life back then .

[@pt4036]

i have fond memories of that place which i visited many times ,theres a track down the spur opposite the hut door which i headed down to check out two stags roaring in the head of the creek, i dropped off the spur to get into the creek and had to cross a shingle slide and part way over everything turn to shit( marbles )and before i knew it i had catapulted head first over the side into the creek,it was nigh on snowing and had plenty of warm clothing on and mitten gloves,i woke minutes later(dazed) to the realisation of what had taken place, visibly shaken i slowly got to my feet i had done a complete 180* flip and looked up to where i had come from. i looked around still dazed to see my treasured rifle sitting on top of the only bush on the side of the creek,still in one piece, then the realisation hit me that something else was wrong with my left hand, i removed my mitten glove to see that my thumb was completely bend back and the bone was sticking out, my left hand had helped break the fall and save me from further serious injury. I put the glove back on and grabbed my rifle and head down the creek looking for a way back up to the track, once on the track i fired off 3 shots which by pure luck my two mates heard just as they were leaving the hut for a hunt, i was greeted 1/2 hr later on the track by my mates wondering what was up until i showed them my thumb and told them what happened. We finally got back, packed up and i had to ride my motor bike out, partially with one hand trying to hold the handle bar and having to kick the bike into gear without the aid of the clutch, headed to hastings to the hospital, Trying times.

[@Muzz308]

Shit mate that’s full on. Bloody good story, hope the thumb has come right.

[@pt4036]

@@Muzz308 happened mid eighties, it was bloody painfull thats for sure

[@58dunc]

Happy New year Muz. Good video and good looking country. Thanks for the effort mate. Take it it easy.

[@chrispyskiwiadventures3583]

Mean trip bro. Good call on the stag🤙🤙

[@TX-dy4ef]

Beards a bit longer since I saw you last mate, good to see you're still sharing the adventures.

[@stevegarland9063]

Great trip there, very enjoyable. Cheers

[@OHINERATA]

Great vid. And some good country 👍

[@stagslayer3002]

Good stuff! shit that was a decent stag! haven,t been up there for a few years, still a nice spot, look forward to the next vids mate cheers

[@HamishSutherland]

Hunting with your Weber, how good bro! 👍

[@warwickgibbs6303]

Too fussy bro!!! 😁 Cheers for the vid!!! 🍻😎

[@tonysilverfox2828]

Another nice video, get Jeff to do a tech talk on his hybrid sometime, what cal is it.

[@jhowardhunts]

Shot bro! Mean mission

[@Rustyrat236]

What bullbars that on the hilux?👌

[@Muzz308]

It’s one of those MCC Rockabar bull bars mate, not to expensive and easy enough to bolt on 👍🏻

[@Rustyrat236]

@@Muzz308 cheers man

[@greghughson7450]

Nice one Muz, did you try and get access to the two Maori blocks at the top of no mans road? Big open tops up there!

[@Muzz308]

Hey Greg, no I didn’t even look into it, looks real good on the map. The Trampers who were also up there had organised access through those blocks but I’m unsure who they went through.

[@greghughson7450]

@@Muzz308 the contact is on the doc site, fella from Taihape. Always wanted to go up there but the ballot through big hill station is a bit of a hurdle, I imagine the private blocks with no aerial hunting, no poison drops & no recreational hunter pressure would be a sight to behold!

[@dougdrinkwater1119]

@@greghughson7450 mate I was in at no mans and white hut on the private block late 2020 , turns out they 1080 early 2020, which surprised me! Was still a few deer around but no more than the rest of ruahines

[@greghughson7450]

@@dougdrinkwater1119 oh that’s a bugger!

[@chrxnohhxoxo3255]

Do u only shoot 308

[@Muzz308]

Mostly but not only. .308 is my go to all rounder, it’s a caliber that is suited to most Nz big game hunts. Personally Ive shot more 7.62x51 (.308) during my military career than I’ll ever shoot again, so it makes sense to stick with what I know. Its not the most ballistically efficient caliber but I know how it flys, most of the time.

[@simonmorris4556]

Wats your hat mate

[@ReubenFellows]

Do you have to apply for the ballot even if you arent hunting?

[@Muzz308]

Yeah, the permit is just for access through the station. Doc issues permits to 2 hunting partys and 1 recreational party each week. Station closes for lambing etc though.