new zealand at it's finest...Success Guaranteed! - 150% Hunting Success in past 2 years!
Every hunter was successful in bagging their trophy animals while hunting during their hunting trip to New Zealand. A lot of hunters visiting New Zealand took advantage of the great hunting while on their hunting trip and shot more than what they booked for.
This hunt is based out of the small of the East Coast town of Ashburton located one hour’s drive south of Christchurch on the beautiful South Island. Christchurch is the largest city on South Island with a population of over 400,000. Your New Zealand hunting trip will take you into the beautiful Southern Alps where guided hunts for all New Zealand big game species.
Our NZ Hunting packages offer travelling hunters free range and estate game park hunting, catering for the fittest athlete to the physically challenged to ensure your New Zealand hunting trip is successful and memorable.
New Zealand also heralds a reputation as being an outdoor sportspersons paradise with the country literally crawling with animals to hunt. From New Zealand's unusual possum to the majestic trophy New Zealand red deer stag, we offer a wide range of New Zealand Big Game to hunt and excellent trout fishing for avid outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.
Our New Zealand hunting concession covers thousands of acres combining private picturesque ranchland and New Zealand's native public national parks. The New Zealand ranches we hunt big game on vary in diversity from pasture covered medium terrain to tussock clad alpine rock outcrops of the southern alps, the ideal habitat for New Zealand Red Stag and big game. The private ranches we hunt on farm sheep, cattle and deer and offer the non-hunting companion the opportunity to experience New Zealand farm life first hand.
New Zealand hunting methods vary on hunters’ ability, fitness level and game species targeted. During mating seasons some animals can be called in to the hunter. This is known as the "roar" or "rut" when the stag or bull fills the valleys and ravines with its blood curling roar, very similar to an elk's bugle. This method is commonly used for New Zealand red stag, New Zealand sika stag, New Zealand elk (wapiti) and New Zealand fallow buck and makes for an adrenalin filled hunt not to be missed. Hunting is by helicopter, spot and stalk, hiking on foot, ATV motor bike and four wheel drive pickup.
New Zealand hunters are increasingly becoming interested in bow hunting with more hunters taking up the sport. We welcome bow hunters with many trophies already bagged with this outfit.
Access to the hunting area from the accommodation is by foot, truck, ATV motorbike and in some cases helicopter.
For the angling enthusiast, our New Zealand rivers are filled with rainbow and brown trout are only a short drive away. Visit the many rivers and lakes in the area that are world renowned for the sport. All guides used are members of the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association.
New Zealand Climate
Temperatures vary between the two main islands of New Zealand. The north island of New Zealand tends to experience a warmer climate compare to the southern region. In the summer months (December to February) temperatures on the east coast of the South Island range from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. From March to the end of April temperatures range from 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit with nights getting a cool with the occasional frost.
Best time for Hunting New Zealand
There are no seasons or tags to purchase when hunting in New Zealand. Remembering that New Zealand’s seasons are opposite to the northern hemisphere, that is, our Autumn (Fall) is from March to May, the main time for New Zealand hunting commences in late February. Mating season is the best time to hunt New Zealand's big game and this varies slightly between species. New Zealand's winter months can be quite productive shooting on grassland. Hungry animals follow the grass and can often be found in paddocks (pastures) closed off to save feed for farm animals. Early spring when new growth starts can also be very productive. All New Zealand antlered animals cast their antlers around late August early September so hunting in summer months are restricted to meat hunting.
Hunting New Zealand Red Stag
The New Zealand's red stag roar or rut commences in March and runs towards the end of June. The end of March early April is the prime time. New Zealand Red stags are encouraged to roar by the weather, in season hinds, challenging stags and some say the moon. New Zealand Red stags can still be heard roaring in the middle of June. New Zealand Red stags cast their hard antler around August and grow velvet until around late January early February. By then the velvet is stripped off to make way for the new season's hard antler. The New Zealand red stag can have a body (carcass) weight of up to 450 pounds.
Hunting New Zealand Elk Wapiti
There is only a small remnant of free-range New Zealand Wapiti or Elk herd remaining in Southwest Fiordland national park. The origins of this herd were a gift from the country of the United States of America. The animals introduced to New Zealand were from the Roosevelt herd. These have over time cross bred with the New Zealand red deer producing more hybrids and reducing the number or pure New Zealand Elk. Measures have been undertaken to reduce the influence of red deer in this heard with encouraging results. Hunting New Zealand Elk or Wapiti in New Zealand is managed under a ballot system. Their mating season is similar to the red deer. Some quality Wapiti (Elk) have been harvested in New Zealand.
Hunting New Zealand Sika Deer
The only herd of free range New Zealand Sika Deer is located in the central North Island region. We have several areas of free range or game park trophy New Zealand Sika. Access to some of these areas is by helicopter or raft. The sika rut commences mid to late April and runs into late May with it common to still respond to hunter's calls in the middle of winter. Antlers are also cast around August and not hard until February.
Hunting New Zealand Fallow Deer
Late April is the mating month. Fallow deer like the open spaces for grazing and will often be seen in the same spot day after day, as long as they are not disturbed. A very nice eating meat with the buck carrying a unique palmated antler. Similar to the New Zealand red stag, antlers are cast in Spring and not hard until late Summer.
Hunting New Zealand Tahr & Chamois
Can be hunted all year round although these animals carry a better coat, for which they are known for, during the colder winter months. Hunt by foot or helicopter free range or on one of our many hunting estates. Mating is from late April when the New Zealand Tahr bulls team up with the nannies and kids. The Tahr bulls will leave these groups in August and form male hermit groups up until April the following year. Found only in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. The Himalayan Tahr has been listed as an endangered species and New Zealand is the only place they can legally be hunted.
Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) Himalayan tahr are large goat-like animals, native to the central Himalayan ranges of India and Nepal. In New Zealand tahr can be found in the central Southern Alps between about the Rakaia and Whitcombe valleys in the north to about Lake Hawea in the south.
Tahr and chamois were introduced to this country in the early days of European settlement for sport – to create a hunting resource for residents and tourists. Both animals have found the Southern Alps of the South Island ideal habitat and are only found on the South Island of New Zealand.
Himalayan tahr were first released in New Zealand at Aoraki/Mount Cook and Franz Josef areas between 1904 and 1913 to provide tourists with opportunities for trophy hunting. They spread from Aoraki/Mount Cook to establish a breeding population of 50,000 animals and caused severe damage over about 7000km2 of the Southern Alps. Numbers were reduced to around 3 – 4000 in the 1970s with the advent of commercial meat recovery.
The male tahr’s summer coat is a reddish-brown, females a medium brown, both turning dark brown in winter. The bull tahr has an impressive mane of long hair around the neck and shoulders.
The bull tahr has an impressive mane of long hair around the neck and shoulders. Tahr are popular with recreational and tourist hunters; their horns – and sometimes the male’s striking mane – are sought-after trophies. Tahr are generally found in the alpine grassland zone, where they graze on snow tussocks, alpine herbs and sub-alpine shrub land plants.
Tahr and chamois are remarkably fast and agile in steep and rugged terrain. Their hooves are specially designed for surefootedness, with a combination of hard and soft surfaces to give excellent grip.
Both tahr and chamois are classified as pests in New Zealand. They also hold significant commercial and recreational appeal, for recreational and tourist hunting. Hunting wild animals like tahr and chamois has been a significant part of New Zealand’s culture for more than 100 years.
Tahr are generally found in the alpine grassland zone, where they graze on snow tussocks, alpine herbs and sub-alpine shrubland plants. Tahr are social animals and form easily recognisable groups; Adult females, yearlings and kids gather together; mature males over 4 years form bachelor groups; while younger males hang out together in separate, smaller groups. Males mix in with the females in their range over the winter breeding season but during the summer months they often travel long distances away from the female groups.