Crooked-Morgan hunting

General information

This area covers the catchments of the Crooked and Morgan valleys. These rivers flow into Lake Brunner. There are areas of open tops to about 1400 m altitude in the main valleys.

Vegetation is mainly beech/podocarp forest at lower altitude and large areas of tussock tops around Lake Morgan. The Morgan Valley has few clearings but there are several small open river flats in the mid to upper Crooked.

Access

Access to the Crooked catchment is from the Rotomanu-Bell Hill Road. You can drive a few kilometres up a rough track to the start of the Crooked Valley track. This track is overgrown and difficult to follow and it is several hours walk to Jacko Flat hut.

The Morgan tops and Lake Morgan hut are usually accessed from the Haupiri side via the Brian O’Lyn route or by helicopter. The tops are relatively easy to travel with sweeping basins and reasonable country to traverse.

The Evans River is private land and requires permission from the landowner.

Mt Alexander tops and Camp Creek Hut are accessed via the Camp Creek marked route which leaves from the Rotomanu road.

Landholders

• Access to Crooked Valley track/Evans Creek: Bruce Burgess, phone +64 3 429 0901
• Brian O’Lyn route: Gloriavale Christian Community, phone +64 3 738 0224

Maps

NZTopo50 BU20, BU21.

Dogs

Dogs are prohibited except where authorisation has been granted by DOC. People wishing to take a dog into this area must seek authorisation from the DOC office.

Huts

There are several basic huts in this area:

• Jacko Flat - 6 bunks
• Top Crooked - 4 bunks
• Lake Morgan - 6 bunks, usually accessed from the Haupiri Valley.
• Camp Creek -  6 bunks. Accessed from Rotomanu-Inchbonnie Rd. Accesses the Mt Alexander tops.

Hunting

Red deer can be found throughout the area at any time of the year and hunting during the spring and the Roar is popular. Deer may be found on the open tops in summer. This area experiences ‘spill over’ from the great East Coast herds and the central range between Haupiri and the Taramakau has historically produced some of the great New Zealand trophies to the likes of Newton McConachie and Charlie Shuttleworth.

Chamois can be found in alpine areas and although not in the densest concentrations are of good body sizes and thus present good trophy prospects.

Feral pigs can be encountered at times. 

Possums are regularly controlled by TBfree throughout the lower parts of the area adjacent to farmland.