New Zealand – Land of the giant red deer

Located in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island, this outfitter offers the hunting vacation of a life-time.  This is an ideal option for the hunter who wants to bring along the non-hunting spouse and family to enjoy the best of what New Zealand has to offer.  Not only is the hunting fantastic for GIANT red stag, tahr, chamois, elk, fallow deer, etc., but the non-hunting activities in the area are endless.

The properties you’ll be hunting are huge, two of the largest in New Zealand, and are loaded with game. Some of the largest red stag, some in excess of 600″ roam these properties. Thanks to decades of carefully focused game management the quality of the red stag on these properties is unbeatable. Few trophies are as eye-catching as a red stag with mass, great width and strong scoring points. The hunting is done by spot and stalk, accessing the properties in side by sides, glassing the hillsides in search of your trophy.  There’s excellent cover and plenty of draws and gullies. This environment delivers all the excitement of hunting in raw, untamed terrain.

Elk hunting in New Zealand has developed to the point where it now equals the best areas in the U.S.A. for trophy quality animals. Massive Elk Bulls scoring in the high 300’s (and the odd 400+) are not uncommon. New Zealand elk hunting provides a viable and an economic alternative to the U.S.A. The original animals were a gift from President Roosevelt and were released into Fiordland in the southwestern part of the South Island of New Zealand. The original herd of 20 Elk quickly multiplied and produced outstanding bull elk hunting trophies from the mountainous Southern Alps, in areas of dense temperate rainforest and heavy rainfall.

High up in the picturesque Southern Alps lives one of New Zealand’s premier big game trophies, the Himalayan tahr. Bull tahr begin grouping up with nannies in May and will stay with these groups until the end of August. Tahr hunting can be a very physically challenging experience which takes the hunter high into the pristine valleys of the Southern Alps. However, with the right hunting guide, this can become a very satisfying and successful challenge, with a magnificent trophy as the ultimate prize.

The chamois is an alpine gem. It pays to be in good physical condition to climb and hike after them. Helicopters can be used to elevate you high into the Chamois alpine territory, where we hunt them in open free-range mountainous terrain. Male and female chamois have similar markings and both have horns, making it difficult to distinguish one from the other in a group. Chamois can be inquisitive but when they run you will always remember the sight of them moving at great speed, bounding through rugged, almost vertical terrain with their heads held high! Foot hunts, helicopter assisted, or multi-day spike camp hunts for the chamois and tahr can also be arranged.  They are also often hunted together and found in the same type of terrain.

A brand new deluxe lodge provides an ideally relaxing and peaceful country environment. Surrounded by the beauty of the Southern Alps, it’s the perfect spot to kick back and relax after a big day in the field. The first class accommodation has all the comforts of home, and much more. You’ll enjoy roaring fires, luxurious beds, modern facilities and excellent New Zealand cuisine using locally-sourced produce. From here tours can be organized as day trips or arranged on either side of your hunt. Non-hunting companions can also use the lodge as a base to explore the many tourist activities the region has on offer.