Back from New Zealand

[sheephunterab]

Just got back from an incredible hunt in New Zealand and thought I'd share a few pics. What an incredible experience!

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[The Hermit]

HUGE Stag!!! Beauty!

[sheephunterab]

Here's a few more pics.

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[Pioneerman]

Wow you got some great animals. That stag looks incredible. Are those some sort of squirrel you are holding up, they sure look fat if they are.

[sheephunterab]

They are Tasmanian bush possums....New Zealand is overrun with them. There is a quite a trapping industry for them. They mix their fur with Merino wool for an incredibly soft material. They often call it New Zealand mink.

Ya, I was thrilled with the stag. For a free-range stag, he's about as big as they get.

[BiG Boar]

It sure is an amazing country! Congrats on a great trip. I think my Tahr hunt was one of the best hunts I have ever done. Spectacular country.

[Blair]

Nice trip you must have had. What's with the sheep? Are they feral or some kind of wild sheep introduced from somewhere else?

[sheephunterab]

It's an arapowa ram. They are basically feral sheep that are many generations removed from their domestic cousins. The farmers really hate them because they try to breed their domestic merino sheep and merinos with any colour than white are very undesireable. They live fairly high in the hills are are extremely spooky. Vanessa shot this one at 379 yards.

[proguide66]

Looks like an epic trip for sure! " free range" ? were you on private land? I hunted the south island with locals on EXTENSIVE public land and never saw a living thing due to the heli shooters cleaning off the mountains from one coast to the next.I as well spoke with a heli 'guide' who had flown 2 customers "all day" and only spotted one tar.
After getting my 'education' on hunting NZ it was clear you will not get a quality animals unless on private land/ranches.

[ROEBUCK]

Looks like an epic trip for sure! " free range" ? were you on private land? I hunted the south island with locals on EXTENSIVE public land and never saw a living thing due to the heli shooters cleaning off the mountains from one coast to the next.I as well spoke with a heli 'guide' who had flown 2 customers "all day" and only spotted one tar.
After getting my 'education' on hunting NZ it was clear you will not get a quality animals unless on private land/ranches.
A bit like hunting plains game in south africa!

[spear]

IIRC New Zealand Residents can turn in possum pelts for 7.50 each, I spent some time on a ranch on Taranaki with a friend who would shoot them almost nightly.
What is the body of water behind your stag?
Looks like you guys had a great succesfull trip, thanks for the pics

[kennyj]

Some beauty animals. Looks like an awesome trip. Thanks for posting.
kenny

[sheephunterab]

Yes it was a free-range hunt but on private property. We hunted some very large sheep stations.

It looks as though there may be some new laws coming regarding the use of helicopters soon. I know it sure is a contencious issue, especially with resident hunters. We did everything on foot but that seems to be the exception to the rule these days.

[BromBones]

Pretty country!

[gibblewabble]

One day I hope I will get a chance to do some hunting in another country but it will have to wait till the munchkins are gone. Nice looking animals good job.

[springpin]

That Tahr is sweet, if I ever went down to hunt,that's the animal I would be most interested in.

[deer nut]

Man, they've introduced everything there! It's like a regular petting zoo! :wink:

Any comments/ tips on guides or was it self-guided? What kind of elevation range were you hunting?

A trip like that is definitely on my "bucket list"! Looks like great hunt - thanks for sharing.

[OutWest]

Looks like an awesome trip! I travelled from the North to the South of New Zealand last year and it is an incredible Country. Spectacular landscape.

[sheephunterab]

Any comments/ tips on guides or was it self-guided? What kind of elevation range were you hunting?



We were on a guided hunt. We were hunting from about 3,000-6,000 feet for the most part. Best tip I can offer is make a list of the exact type of hunt you want and then find an outfitter that can provide it. Last year at the SCI convention there were 42 New Zealand outfitters but by being very specific about the type of hunt we wanted, we were able to narrow it down to about four. After that it came down to personalities. Prices are fairly comparable across New Zealand. Our main criteria were free-range, no helicopters, good opportunity for quality tahr and chamois, spot and stalk style hunting and a small, personal outfit.

[ianwuzhere]

wowzers! Looks like u guys did some serious hunting. Ive always loved the look of them big stag bullz-one of the animals id love to harvest! NOW even more,grr. Awesome pix- looks like an amazing trip- the back ground pix looks like u guys not only had wicked hunts but the views too!!
-Thanx for postin!! Now ill go to bed thinkin about New Zealand-well the way i think it is anyhow hehe....
Cheerz!

[blueboy]

Wow ,you guys had a great trip by the looks of things congrats

[MOG]

Wow that is one hell of a Tahr, is that Lillybank by any chance? If so did you see any of the Godley albino Tahr while you were up that way?

Regards and well done!

MOG

[Mik]

Some great animals. Looks like you had a fun time, congrats. Beauty of a stag, is that considered a non-typical? or is it a different breed than the ones in Australia?

[sheephunterab]

Wow that is one hell of a Tahr, is that Lillybank by any chance? If so did you see any of the Godley albino Tahr while you were up that way?

Regards and well done!

MOG

Thanks! Ya, we saw some really good tahr and managed to get a couple dandies. No. This is up the Dobson Valley on Glen Lyon.

[sheephunterab]

Some great animals. Looks like you had a fun time, congrats. Beauty of a stag, is that considered a non-typical? or is it a different breed than the ones in Australia?

No, this is fairly typical of a red stag. I really wanted one with that classic crown on top and was thrilled with this guy. There has been so much interbreeding between stags and elk that it's not always easy to find that classic configuration any more. I'm pretty sure it's the same as the ones in Aus.

[sheephunterab]

Finally getting around to sorting out our photos. Here's a few more.

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[sheephunterab]

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[sheephunterab]

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[MOG]

Mate,

Well done again, I love NZ it is totally amazing and the animals are just fantastic.

That pic with the stag is epic!

When are you going back?

Regards,

MOG

[sheephunterab]

Thanks! Ya, the stag couldn't have died in a prettier place.

I'd go back today if I could but there are a few more countries on the bucket list before booking a return trip to New Zealand. I think Australia is on the horizon for 2012 but I definitely want to go back for chamois and a fallow deer. The waterfowl opportunities are very appealing too and what's a trip to New Zealand without a wallaby hunt...lol So much to do and so little time and money!

[rafike]

What a great hunt, what type of rifle scope combo did you use and what is a hunt like that worth.

[sheephunterab]

I was shooting a custom built Rocky Mountain Rifle in 270WSM. I had a Zeiss 4.5-15x44 Conquest with Rapid Z800 reticle on top.

All their prices are here http://flyfishhunt.co.nz/rifle-and-bow-prices/ but you can package the hunts to save some money.

[monasheemountainman]

Looks like an epic trip for sure! " free range" ? were you on private land? I hunted the south island with locals on EXTENSIVE public land and never saw a living thing due to the heli shooters cleaning off the mountains from one coast to the next.I as well spoke with a heli 'guide' who had flown 2 customers "all day" and only spotted one tar.
After getting my 'education' on hunting NZ it was clear you will not get a quality animals unless on private land/ranches.

Not true there is lots of game on the south island on public land. You just need someone who really knows the land

[Timberman]

Sheephunterab, Thanks for sharing, Awesome!!!!

[Duckman]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. I would be really interested inhearing about your (obviously successful) turkey hunt. Do they use calls and decoys down there or is that spot and stalk too?

[greenhorn]

That stag is a real lunker, incredible mass! Nice job and thanks for sharing!!

[happyhunter]

I love the stag and the fallow deer, their antlers are just incredible!

[sheephunterab]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. I would be really interested inhearing about your (obviously successful) turkey hunt. Do they use calls and decoys down there or is that spot and stalk too?



With no predators and virtually zero hunting pressure, turkeys are pretty dumb in New Zealand. Our outfitter insisted that we make them fly before shooting as there was no sport in it otherwise...lol After seeing them, I'd have to agree.

[Ruger4]

Spectacular scenery and congrats on a great collection !!

While visiting family in Austria next year I've been fortunate enough to put together a chamois and mouflon hunt next August, I may pm for some chamois info !!

[sheephunterab]

Spectacular scenery and congrats on a great collection !!

While visiting family in Austria next year I've been fortunate enough to put together a chamois and mouflon hunt next August, I may pm for some chamois info !!

Sure, be happy to share what I know.

[forest walker]

Do you find the animals skittish over there at all? The chamois from what I have seen in video can be but I was wondering about your experience on the animals there?

[sheephunterab]

Yes and no. With no predators they certainly aren't on the constant high alert many of ours are but if they see you or get your scent, it's pretty well game over. It was definitely some real hunting.