New Zealand?!?!?

[Craw3773]

Just found out we're going to New Zealand in January. I'm beyond excited. My sister in law lives in Christchurch, and tickets are booked.

I've been given a green light to spend some money on a hunt. I've got about $3,500 to work with, and don't know if I should try to roll my own or book a guide.

What do you guys think?

[Mudslinger]

Guide. Not sure of any land you could hunt on your own. $3500 will probably get you a sheep or fallow, not sure about a stag, might not be enough. I did get a 325" stage for 3500 trophy fee but that was in 2006!

[ken]

Another challenge you will have is most outfitters operate March-September as January is the middle of their summer.

[CEO]

I've read about quite a few people doing DIY hunts there. Seems a lot of research and planning is needed so it may be your best bet to go guided if you're leaving in January.

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[jbw899]

There are several online articles that discuss planning a diy hunt in NZ, definitely possible. Some suggest getting a helicopter in and out. As pointed out above you're going in their summer so may not find hard horned deer/stag. Id try to move your trip to February or March if possible.

[Joel]

You could hunt tahr or chamois if you can find an outfitter that operates in January.


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[Craw3773]

The nephew/neice is being born in January, so it's a no-go on moving the trip. I'm hesitant to book with an outfitter in the off season without knowing anything about them.

[Phillip Fields]

Go fishing instead.

[kenforu]

Www.legacyoutdooradventures.com talk to Floyd he can help you enjoy your trip

[Spearchunker]

I agree Phillip. Go fish.

3500 will not go far over there. The Stag taxi to boil and ship home is $1500. The fee back home is a few hundred to pick up from a USDA approved facility. To even try to do solo will be almost impossible to qtr and clean and pack out with no help.

7k min for 300" plus after all cost involved include tips.

If your brave...you can buy suppressors over the counter. My outfitter said US guys do it all the time and attached as a bow accessory and fly home..I was not brave...

Sean

[Ohio Darin]

That time of year will be chamois or tahr but know they will be in their summer coats. Could also do rams or walliby. Fallow and stag will be in velvet and not fully formed. I personally would just spend a grand or 2 and hire a helicopter pilot as your guide to do a heli-assist hunt. Most of the mountain hunting is public land. Just research some airports near Christ Church. Helicopters are all over the islands. I know Wanaka has some of the best heli pilots in the world. Research DIY NZ hunts. Trophy fees with a guide plus their daily rate will most likely be beyond your budget. Getting your rifle there is pretty easy - just apply 6 weeks or so before leaving. Fishing with some pub hopping may be the better route. A lot of streams right along the road (and next to pubs) that you can fish. Good luck and have fun.

[JTeLarkin08]

Guide. Not sure of any land you could hunt on your own. $3500 will probably get you a sheep or fallow, not sure about a stag, might not be enough. I did get a 325" stage for 3500 trophy fee but that was in 2006!

There is a TON of public land you can hunt on you own in New Zealand. You dont even have to have a hunting license most places over there. I am going over with a buddy who is from New Zealand in May.. Were hunting public land DIY