Situated on the lush North Island coast line, this is a small family business that has been outfitting hunts full time for 26 years. They own and lease several properties managed for trophy hunting totaling over 25,000 acres of pristine free ranging and estate country. From their lodge they can hunt 6 different deer species. The species that you can hunt are Red Stag, Fallow Deer, Elk, Sika Deer, Rusa Deer, and Sambar Deer. You can also pursue Arapawa Ram, Pacific Goat, Wild boar and Waterfowl. The Pacific Ocean gives way to lush bush clad mountains alive with game. Not many places can you be trophy hunting in the mountains with ocean views in sight! The thick Manuka trees allow Stags to stain their antlers dark black with white ivory tips. You can hunt with your choice of rifle, bow or muzzle loader. They primarily hunt spot & stalk and their Ranch is well tracked to access with Polaris Rangers. They also have many permanent ground blinds in high frequency areas where hunters will have many opportunities at all species with bow or rifle.
This particular profile is to outline hunting for Red Stag as the primary species. Introduced from Europe between 1851 and the early 1900's red deer are ideally suited to the climate and habitat. The lush environment and high quality food sources along with quality management have produced outstanding trophies that give New Zealand such a high reputation among global trophy hunting enthusiasts. With their careful game management they guarantee you will see an abundance of Stags every day from spikers through to trophy class 300-500 SCI and the occasional 500+ on your New Zealand Red Stag hunt. You will have the opportunity to look over many trophy stags before pulling the trigger on the Stag of your dreams. Your expert guide can tell you which class each stag will score in but if it scores better than expected you won’t be charged any additional fees. They have monster stags over 600 SCI available as well if this is something you're after!
As you know there are many outfitters in New Zealand to choose from. This outfitter said that what sets them apart from the rest is their easy going family atmosphere. You will arrive as a client and leave as a friend! Their location means they can hunt all the New Zealand deer species and they are only a 2 hour flight from the Southern Alps for Tahr and Chamois. They go out of their way to make non-hunting guests time enjoyable and eventful with free local sight seeing and day tours. They are not a ‘high volume’ operation with many hunters in camp at once, they think you deserve their full attention so they make sure your trip is the ‘hunt of a lifetime’. They guarantee a high level of service from beginning to end, with outstanding trophy quality and hunting.
On their Red Stag hunts they provide a HUNT SATISFACTION GUARANTEE - They guarantee you will see an incredible abundance of game and have the opportunity to find the 'style' of trophy you are looking for, whether you are hunting with Bow, Rifle or Muzzle Loader. They also feel strongly that their operation is of high quality from start to finish and you will not be disappointed in the service, facilities or the guides. Their repeat business and referrals is testament to that. Just to show their confidence in what they provide they make a HUNT GUARANTEE - Hunting their North Island Estate they guarantee you will see an abundant selection of trophy quality animals, and if you don't harvest the trophy you came for they will refund you the full hunt package cost.
They hunt Red Stag from early February to early August. Stags start stripping their velvet in late January and are still in bachelor groups until the end of February. The "Roar" (rut) starts in early March and goes through until early May. The stags get very aggressive during the rut and will be active throughout the day. In May at the tail end of the roar the stags start to re group to try and put condition back on after loosing up to 30% of their body weight. They hunt right through until early August when the big boys start to shed their antlers. They take big trophies right through out the season and there is always an abundance of mature deer on the property with their management system in place never over shooting their trophies.
Hunters can pursue their game with rifle, bow or muzzle loader throughout the season. They have many bow hunters each season with a high success rate. They do some spot and stalk but mainly use ground blinds at wallows, game trails and meadows where we see many stags. If your there during the peak of the roar your guide may even roar a stag right into you! Shots are usually 30 to 40 yards but practice out to 60 just in case. Rifle and muzzle loader hunts are mainly spot and stalk making use of good quality binoculars and spotting scopes. This is the most effective way to find big stags and shots are often across gullies and valleys from 80 up to 250 yards but we have had some 'good shots' take trophies at 500+ yards.
This outfitter is also a full service operation! They provide full in house travel and flight arrangements - (they have access to competitive pricing through their Air New Zealand Corporate account). They are one of the few outfitters with an in-house expediting service. This means your trophies are cared for the way they should be and shipped within a matter of weeks after your hunt. They offer pre/post-hunt tours with a mountain hunters tour guide or a full New Zealand hunt/tour. Their Tahr and Chamois hunts are fully inclusive of all helicopter time, internal flights and all accommodation. Free use of quality firearms and ammunition
NORTH ISLAND
Their North Island game area offers a large area of wilderness covered in pockets of bush, timber hill sides with large clearings and a challenging and very exciting hunt! Monster Red Stags will be seen roaring and fighting anywhere and everywhere! They have good tracking and access with Polaris Rangers. Our area offers a lot of cover for the animals to retreat into making the hunting challenging and fair chase. On the North Island, situated just 3 miles from the pacific ocean, and surrounded by hunting country, they offer accommodations out of their ranch house. Couples enjoy the privacy of their own secluded cottages with queen beds, cable TV and en-suite facilities. They welcome all groups whether it’s hunters only, husband and wife teams, family groups and friends. They serve up delicious fresh local cuisine, including lobster and seafood, your wild game, their ranch lamb and beef with quality local wine and beer. You won’t go hungry or thirsty! Enjoy a laid back family atmosphere and plenty of laughs. Kick back in the evening at their fully stocked rustic hunters bar and dining room, watch footage from your days hunt on the big screen, and tell the tales of adventure. Depending on what you’re hunting, just 1 hour from the ranch house is their 16,000 acre property with their rustic 3-bedroom house just 200 yards off the ocean. With breathtaking views it makes a great getaway for a night or two and some more great hunting and adventures. The North Island is a lot more temperate than the South, rarely do they ever get to freezing temperatures, and when you hunt Tahr and Chamois in the South Island with them you get a stunning scenic flight from their estate across the Cook Straight and down the mighty Southern Alps to Fox Glacier all included in the hunt! What a way to see New Zealand’s breathtaking beauty!
SOUTH ISLAND
They also have large public and private concessions on the South Island in the Southern Alps for Tahr and Chamois which is only a 2 hour scenic flight away. From the moment you touch down in New Zealand they take care of everything so you have a seamless experience from start to finish. All you have to do is take in the amazing scenery and enjoy the ‘kiwi’ experience they will share with you. Most all of their hunting is on the North Island, unless you are hunting Tahr and Chamois. It is very common to hunt Stag and Deer on the North Island, and then jump over to the South Island to hunt Tahr and Chamois. This is very easy to do and should definitely be considered if these species on your agenda. When hunting Tahr and Chamois they have their exclusive area for these hunts located on the South Island. The South Island can be a lot colder than the North so hunters need to have adequate gear for the Southern Alps. There is plenty to do for the non-hunters or hunters waiting for a break in the weather. Lake Matheson is a photographers dream with crystal clear mirror image of the mountains behind. Walk old mining shafts lit with glow worms, soak at the mineral hot tubs, take a heli flight up to the Fox or Frans glacier, or just sample some of the local beers at the local bar. At this location, from the dining room, guests have a spectacular view of the mountains and Mt Cook, which is the highest peak in New Zealand sitting at 12,218 ft.
Their lodge is located only 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by hunting country. New Zealand’s unique landscape and scenery makes it a destination non-hunters will enjoy as much as the hunters! Some local attractions include boutique vineyards and wine tasting, hot air ballooning, shopping, golfing, scenic hiking, sheep farm experience, Maori culture and coastal seal viewing. They keep a laid back family atmosphere making sure to have fun along the way! For a high quality professional New Zealand hunting experience with a hands on outfitters that can do everything you want, they invite you to join them for an unforgettable adventure!Non-hunting companions will find New Zealand a relaxing and beautiful country to visit. They offer non-hunters daily sight seeing and touring complimentary! They welcome all groups whether it’s hunters only, husband and wife teams, family groups and friends.
HUNTING SEASONS:
Hunting season begins at the start of February with the Red Stags and Elk stripping their velvet followed by the Sika and Fallow. The bulk of their trophy hunting takes place between early March and the end of July, which is fall/winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Ram, Goat and Boar can be hunted year round. Fishing can be had throughout the season while trout fishing is best February/March.
RUT SEASON BY SPECIES:
- Red Stag/Elk/Fallow/Sika Rut: March/April
- Rusa/Sambar Rut: July/August
- Tahr Rut: May/June/July
- Chamois Rut: May
HUNTING PERIODS:
- Red Stag: February-End July
- Elk: February-End July
- Fallow: Mid February-End July
- Tahr: March-September
- Chamois: March-September
- Sika: Mid February-End July
- Sambar: May-October
- Rusa: May-October
- Waterfowl/Black Swan: May-June
- Turkey (all year) - best October
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