New Zealand Hunting Advice

[Nature Boy]

Hi people,

I want to hunt in NZ asap. I've been to SCI, etc. and looked at quite a few outfitters. I want Stag and then not sure what else (any thoughts on other species would be appreciated)? My understanding from looking at a bunch of these groups is that most have fenced areas albeit some very large areas. I would prefer as free range as possible. I do not care too much about a huge animal, I mainly want to do this for the experience of hunting there.

Thanks

 

[stug]

All the big NZ red stags you see are bred specifically for trophy hunting.
Some guides will do a true free range/no fence hunt, but don't expect one of the monster stags. Some hunts will be on private land and will have a better trophy quality than a public land hunt.
Venison is worth about NZ$11 a kg at the moment so lots of wild deer are being shot from choppers for meat. They deliberate target the big stags in late summer before the roar, as a result the bigger free range public land stage are harder to find.
Hunting on public land in NZ is free, you need a permit to carry a firearm but it is free to get. There are no seasons and no limits. A DIY hunt is possible, but don't expect much.

 

[Nature Boy]

All the big NZ red stags you see are bred specifically for trophy hunting.
Some guides will do a true free range/no fence hunt, but don't expect one of the monster stags. Some hunts will be on private land and will have a better trophy quality than a public land hunt.
Venison is worth about NZ$11 a kg at the moment so lots of wild deer are being shot from choppers for meat. They deliberate target the big stags in late summer before the roar, as a result the bigger free range public land stage are harder to find.
Hunting on public land in NZ is free, you need a permit to carry a firearm but it is free to get. There are no seasons and no limits. A DIY hunt is possible, but don't expect much.

Thanks for the feedback. Do you have any outfitters you really like?

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I booked a hunt for April 2019 with Peter Chamberlain and Kiwi Wilderness Safaris (http://www.nzwildhunt.com/) based on a hunting report by @Bhfs300

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/red-stag-hunt-in-new-zealand.28674/

 

[Bhfs300]

I booked a hunt for April 2019 with Peter Chamberlain and Kiwi Wilderness Safaris (http://www.nzwildhunt.com/) based on a hunting report by @Bhfs300

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/red-stag-hunt-in-new-zealand.28674/

You should have a great hunt what all are you going to hunt?

Tom

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

You should have a great hunt what all are you going to hunt?

Tom

Red stag and then tahr.

 

[stug]

Thanks for the feedback. Do you have any outfitters you really like?

Sorry no, as a local I don't use outfitters. The overseas guys will probably have a better idea. One I have seen that will give you the real Kiwi experience is the guide in this video

 

[Bhfs300]

Hi people,

I want to hunt in NZ asap. I've been to SCI, etc. and looked at quite a few outfitters. I want Stag and then not sure what else (any thoughts on other species would be appreciated)? My understanding from looking at a bunch of these groups is that most have fenced areas albeit some very large areas. I would prefer as free range as possible. I do not care too much about a huge animal, I mainly want to do this for the experience of hunting there.

Thanks

Hi
If you look at Peter’s website he has bronze and silver stag hunts that are free range hunts and you are in public land and hunting what is there. You could look at this thread and it would tell you about that option.
https://www.africahunting.com/threa...chamberlain-at-kiwi-wilderness-safaris.36141/
I was a teacher and was looking for the best price I could find I looked at Kiwi Wilderness Safari and it looked great! Read my thread I couldn’t have got a better hunt, other than the cyclone!

 

[JPbowhunter]

It depends what you're after, those freak reds are to a red hunter what a 350" whitetail hunter is to a free range whitetail hunter.
On my last diy tahr hunt our friend along with us had some friends with a deer farm in nz. We visited and he showed us this 500" plus stag in a 5 acre paddock that was awaiting a guide to pick up and drop into his hf but "large" property. Who knows what that poor bugger paid for a deer thatd lived it's life being fed out of a bucket. Nothing against it if it's your thing but i do believe people should know what they're hunting.

I haven't hunted reds in nz, because we have decent ones here but I've seen a few stags while hunting other species. Best was a 30" ten point stag. For a truly wild public land animal it's not bad. But you can find better especially if you're willing to put in some hard yards.

I'm going for chamois next year and diy it'll cost me around $1000 door to door, and I can bring the meat back which is a big thing for me.

Hard yards hunting does things on a lower budget and joseph peter (i think his name is) seems like a hard working guy.

I've no interest in scoring but a general rule of thumb is if guides talk about score in SCI it's probably not a fair dinkum hunt. We use Douglas in Aus and NZ.

 

[Nature Boy]

Hi
If you look at Peter’s website he has bronze and silver stag hunts that are free range hunts and you are in public land and hunting what is there. You could look at this thread and it would tell you about that option.
https://www.africahunting.com/threa...chamberlain-at-kiwi-wilderness-safaris.36141/
I was a teacher and was looking for the best price I could find I looked at Kiwi Wilderness Safari and it looked great! Read my thread I couldn’t have got a better hunt, other than the cyclone!

I will do that. Thanks much for the great info! That seems like a good option.

 

[Nature Boy]

It depends what you're after, those freak reds are to a red hunter what a 350" whitetail hunter is to a free range whitetail hunter.
On my last diy tahr hunt our friend along with us had some friends with a deer farm in nz. We visited and he showed us this 500" plus stag in a 5 acre paddock that was awaiting a guide to pick up and drop into his hf but "large" property. Who knows what that poor bugger paid for a deer thatd lived it's life being fed out of a bucket. Nothing against it if it's your thing but i do believe people should know what they're hunting.

I haven't hunted reds in nz, because we have decent ones here but I've seen a few stags while hunting other species. Best was a 30" ten point stag. For a truly wild public land animal it's not bad. But you can find better especially if you're willing to put in some hard yards.

I'm going for chamois next year and diy it'll cost me around $1000 door to door, and I can bring the meat back which is a big thing for me.

Hard yards hunting does things on a lower budget and joseph peter (i think his name is) seems like a hard working guy.

I've no interest in scoring but a general rule of thumb is if guides talk about score in SCI it's probably not a fair dinkum hunt. We use Douglas in Aus and NZ.

Yeah, not interested in a canned hunt of a farm animal. Also, not really interested in SCI records unless they happen by chance and are fair chase, etc. I take it you are in Australia? Who is Douglas? thanks

 

[JPbowhunter]

Yeah, not interested in a canned hunt of a farm animal. Also, not really interested in SCI records unless they happen by chance and are fair chase, etc. I take it you are in Australia? Who is Douglas? thanks

Yeah im an aussie, so your flights will be more expensive but the rest of the costs will be the same.

Norm Douglas, but the Douglas scoring system is what we use in aus and nz. More just a remark that if you see guides talking sci its likely to be a hunt tailored for internationals.

 

[cpr0312]

Look at also taking a tahr or chamois, or both!!

Have a look at Jim Gibson(New Zealand Safaris) awesome guy with lots of great land to hunt on. He has free range opportunities as well as being one of the few where you dont need a helicopter to get to the tahr/chamois. I hunted there in 2015 for stag/tahr/fallow. My only regret is doing fallow instead of chamois. Feel free to PM if you like

 

[johnnyblues]

I hunted NZ twice once on the south island and my last hunt on the north island. I hunted with Shane Quinn of Alpine hunting NZ. His property is 20,000 acres with no internal fences. I shot a very good stag with him. 423 SCI I believe don't really remember. I would definitely suggest if your traveling all that way and if your budget permit's to add Tahr and Chamois to your hunt. Fabulous scenery and a great hunt and trophy. Let us know what you do and please feel free to PM if you have any questions.

 

[Nature Boy]

Yeah im an aussie, so your flights will be more expensive but the rest of the costs will be the same.

Norm Douglas, but the Douglas scoring system is what we use in aus and nz. More just a remark that if you see guides talking sci its likely to be a hunt tailored for internationals.

Ha ha, okay. Had no idea on the local scoring system history. Personally, I would rather do a more free range style regardless of the animal size. Those genetic mutations are not my goal.

 

[Buckdog]

Look at avatar yes I have hunted NZ and yes the stag is over 500. I hunted with Richard Burdon who owns glen dene which is a huge station aka ranch he offers both high fence and free range. NZ is really kinda like south Africa pay to play game. You need to know that the tahr and chamois are on the south island and I would hunt the south island if I were you so you could hunt all species they. also have wild sheep and goats on the south island and awesome fishing and duck hunting. you can walk, climb, ride a quad or use a heli in NZ just tell Richard how you want to hunt. check out his website he basically owns all of lake Wanaka and the mountains around it and his cousin owns the rest.

 

[gillettehunter]

Here is my post about my hunt with Peter Chamberlin
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/new-zealand-my-new-zealand-hunt.16500/#post-132187
Had a great time. He offers free range hunts if thats what you want. Great guy to hunt with. He used to be a commercial meat hunter so he knows a lot of country. I'd hunt with him again given the opportunity.
Bruce

 

[Nature Boy]

Here is my post about my hunt with Peter Chamberlin
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/new-zealand-my-new-zealand-hunt.16500/#post-132187
Had a great time. He offers free range hunts if thats what you want. Great guy to hunt with. He used to be a commercial meat hunter so he knows a lot of country. I'd hunt with him again given the opportunity.
Bruce

Thanks Bruce. By the way, are you in Gillette, WY?

 

[stug]

Just remember that Kiwis only use Helicopters to access the hunting area. We don't shoot animals from the helicopter ( only the cullers/game recovery guys do that). Using the helicopter to haze/drive the game is against most Kiwis hunting ethics.
The guiding industry sells this as Aerially Assisted Trophy Hunting, hunting groups are trying to get it stopped.

 

[gillettehunter]

Yes I have lived in Gillette for over 30 yrs.
Bruce