Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Hunting in New Zealand

Anyone ever hunt in New Zealand? Thinking of going there for Christmas. Most hunting is in the spring, but I understand red deer may be hunted all year.

Anyone ever hunted in January? How about an unguided deal? I know locals hunt on their own...don't see anything about a guide being a requirement.

No opinions please, just asking for advice from those who have been.

I've been hunting in New Zealand twice and both times I went unguided. Check out Air Charter Taupo, they have a good website. They will fly you into a private block, and it's not expensive,you can hunt Red's and Sika Deer, also their is excellent trout fishing in the Mohaka River. The private block I stayed at was the Otupua, you get a hut. I think you would really love it. I haven't been to NZ for a few years but after looking at the prices I'll be back. The Reds roar in April as do the Sika, the deer may be in velvet when you go in January. When I went to NZ this place was considered one of the best bets to get a Red or Sika. These days I get my red's in Queensland Australia, but I'm sure going back to NZ for a Sika. I hope this helps.

Macawber:



Hey thanks a ton. Have you ever hunted Tahr or Chamois? Do you think that would work out okay in January? Or is the season even open?



You have me pumped pretty good.

LRNut:
Glad I could be of some help, but I'm afraid I can't help you much with the Chamois and Tahr. All I know is where else in the world can you get one except in NZ,and I believe thats year round. One thing I've heard is they can cost big bickies if your on a guided hunt, and there are some unscrupulous practices in regard to obtaining an animal for a person who has money to burn. If you decide to go with Air Charter, a good hotel with old world charm is Debrett's in Taupo.

LRNut
theres an excellent thread going on over at the accurate reloading forum on just this topic. I'm one of those that believe you have to do it the hard way if you want to get one of these animals. I've got a lot of hill climbing to do before I can go after one of those. It's a great thing to dream for, maybe next year. The header is rest of the world and the topic is chamois hunt.

I will check it out. One concern I thought about is meat. On other foreign hunts I have always had a guide who gave the meat away. That could be a problem here...

Any advice?

LRNut
shouldn't have any trouble giving the meat away, theres no law against it. When I was in the pub after the hunt I met a lot of hunters over there. They'd be glad to take it off your hands. Before I went on my hunt I enquired at the hotel where some one might like it.

I looked at that post on accurate reloading. I can't believe anyone would use a helicopter to get dropped off 100 yards from an animal. How is that an accomplishment?

Who has done the hunting? Not the shooter, if he thinks thats fair chase, he's lost the plot. A long while ago I lived in California, I was renting a house that was owned by a Hollywood film man. He tried to impress me with a photo of a tiger he shot in India, well you know where that setup came from; off a Hollywood set. People who defend people like that bloke on accurate reloading have lost the plot. I know old blokes that will climb those hills, a lot slower though, and they might not get anything, but they went about their hunting in the right manner. Hopefully that fella who got dropped off near that magnificent animal and claimed it, has woken up to himself.

Gidday. I am Kiwi living on the West Coast of the South Island. Now get this. The NZ Government has decleared that all introduced wild species are pests and as such they are to be exterminated. They have no thought to proper game management of any kind. To this end you may hunt for free on public land ( Dept of Conservation land. And practically all NZ hunters hate DoC)any game species of mammals at anytime during the day at anytime of the year.Doc is responcible for the totally indiscriminate laying of 1080 poison by hand, bait traps and by air. They are targeting the Aussie possum, which is hunted by ANY method you like,including the car, but because they are after deer as well 1080 kills them. The Government has been highjacked by eco terrorists that live in a total fantasy world.

You maythink by reading this that our paridise is lost. It isn't. NZ is still a stunning country to hunt, fish and live in and I LOVE it dearly. We have our issues to try and sort out. But so does every body.

You may have a guide guide you on private land for a fee on a fare chase basis. Or you can book into a 'game park' and shoot your animal in a paddock. Yuck. Or you can go for free. But it is a lot harder to get an animal without a guide if you are on a limited time. We also havw pigs, goats, hare, and bunnies. Chamios and thar require a high fitness level as most are very high up in Dec-Feb when you are thinking of coming. Gob smacking beautiful country. But be warned. Our weather is very changeable and we have been known to have all 4 seasons in one day. Our clothing manufacturers for the outdoors are beyond world class and if you think you might need something but have bought it with you you can buy it here. I look at Cabelas catalogue and wonder why you need so much stuff !

Anyways. I hope this helps.
LindsayNZ
www.colonials.co.nz
P.S.
It is spring here in NZ at the momment and we are expecting to get the young animals soon. Ones that aren't wise in the ways of the world. Hunters shoot deer in velvet, hinds in fawn, at anytime. And I'm off to bed now. Up early tommorow for a hunt. About 10 minutes away.

Thanks for the post Lindsay. What I would really like to do is hunt Chamois and Tahr on my own. I have hunted red deer in Scotland, and even though they are smaller, that was good enough.

My spouse and I climbed Kilimanjaro two years ago (19,300 feet), so I suspect we are in good enough condition. How much time should we allow to hunt, and how high would be hunting in January?

Thanks.

gday Lindsay, yeh your gov. sucks hope you can elect a decent govt. over there. When will people wake up to them. They think that anything that is not native should be exterminated. What in the hell are they? Yep ferals! ha ha!

LRNut. The Southern Alps shouldn't be taken lightly. Tahr live in some real inhospitable high country in Jan. although you might find some lower down. Ask at the Mount Cook Dept of Conservation when you pick up your free hunting permit. You should be prepared for alpine conditions and I would recommend a guide for them. Chamios are found lower down on both sides of the Alps. Both are found only in the South Island. New Zealand's back country is quite ruggard. Be prepared. When you intend to come is right slap bang in the middle of our tourist season as well so be prepared for that. Oh, yeah. Bring your trout fishing equipment. You will need a licence for that( NZ80$ I think.

Try this web site: www.fishnhunt.co.nz
It might have some interesting stuff on it. The 'Issues" chat board is worth a look as well.

Lindsay Thompson
www.colonials.co.nz

Thanks Lindsay. Just got back from a week in Colorado. We climbed a 14,300 ft mountain and it kicked my butt. Last year I did a 50 mile hike which included summiting a 14,260 ft peak with my full pack (a lot harder than using a base camp) and that was relatively painless. Now I am worried I am turning into a mid-40s fat pig...

We did see a bunch of bighorn sheep and I potted a few marmots, which was fun.

LRNut
try this site for an interesting tahr hunt story.

http://www.deerstalker.com/hunting_the_himalayan_tahr.htm

Hey Lindsay:

Where do you like in New Zealand? Heading to Auckland tonight and then to Rotura. Be there a week for business.

LrNut, Lindsays in the South Island on the West coast, Auckland is a Sydney wannabee and Rotorua is the Tourist Capital of New Zealand, try and hire a Rental for a day and travel around Lake Taupo, will give you an idea of N.Z hunting conditions, if you get to Wellington give me a call could do a day trip for a deer <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> J.Curtin Argyle grove Upper Hutt.

Yup, I live on the West Coast. About as rugged and thick as bush as you will get anywhere. If you get to Hokitika give me a call. I will show you around. Might even get a shot. I'm off in the morning into some country I haven't had a look at. Silly season at the momment. (Spring)Yearlings are about. And piggies too. The .25-06 is cleaned and ready to go............. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Drop me a line Kiwi Hunta.

A former co-worker of mine lives in Lower Hutt. Or at least did a couple years back. I spent a long weekend west of there in Paraparam.....whatever <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Do you ever shoot at the Trentham range Kiwi Hunta ?

As for Auckland trying to be like Sydney - it has a long way to go. When I was last there (2000?) they still rolled up the sidewalks at 5:00 on Sundays, and 9:00 most other nights. Wellington seemed much more cosmopolitan.

A girl I was sweet on when I was there working always referred to �Rota-Vegas�

I have only spent a week or so on the South Island, skiing at Mt Hutt, as Queenstown was barren of snow that year. I would really like to spend another couple months dedicated to traveling and adventure in NZ.

Are you a real �Southern Man� Lindsay? Wearing shorts in 10 degrees of frost and all that? I still have a can of Speights Old Dark that I brought back as a souvenir.

Regards,
Scott

Hey Guys:


In Roturua now.


Everyone hunts here...or at least they seem to. That sulfur smell is damn wierd. Don't know if I will get time off, but will be back for sure later.