Hunting

Red Stag

Fallow Buck

Himalayan Tahr

Chamois

Wild Boar

Wild Ram

The Red Stag is by far the most sought after big game animal in New Zealand. The best time to target stags is during the rut. During this period the stags are very vocal, roaring to show their dominace and to challenge any rivals trying to take their hinds.

The rut runs from mid March to late April but they can be hunted anytime when the stags are in hard antler, February to September.

We have several hunting areas to allow good trophy management and to ensure the trophy stags aren't over harvested.

Fallow deer are another sought after deer species in New Zealand. Their palmated antlers and capes coming in various colours make for a very unique trophy. The most common colours are black, ginger with white spots and white.

The best time to hunt fallow bucks is during their rut in April and May. The bucks are quite vocal during this time, grunting sometimes non stop throughout the day. They hold their antlers for slightly longer than the red stags so can be hunted from February to October.

New Zealand holds the only free ranging heard of Himalayan Tahr outside of their native range. When you first lay eyes on a big bull you will understand why people call them the king of the mountain. They live in the alpine areas of the South Island so the scenic backdrop of the hunt is an added bonus. The Bulls grow up to 3 times the size of the nannys and sport a lion like mane which many say is as much of a trophy as the horns.

Tahr can be hunted all year round but to get the impressive cape you must hunt them between April and September when they are in their winter coat. The tahr rut is at its peak in June when the big bulls can often be seen standing on a rocky outcrop, mane puffed up, watching their harem.

Chamois are one of the more challenging big game species to hunt, with excellent eye sight and their lightning fast speed. Chamois hold their distict, black eye stripes and white face throughout the year but their coat changes from a thick black winter coat to a smooth tan summer coat.

During the rut, May and June, the bucks become less cunning and sometimes get up to some strange antics, flipping, spinning and chasing each other around at full speed. They have even been known to occasionally run straight up to hunters to get a closer look.

The cunning wild boar is a great addition to any hunt. They can be hunted by spot and stalk but the most popular method is with the dogs. Pig hunting with dogs is a kiwi tradition and one of the biggest adrenalin rushes you can get. Our specialist pack of dogs are well trained to sniff out and bail up the big boars.

Wild boars are well spread thought most of the country and can be hunted at any time of the year.

Wild goats can be hunted year round and the horns of a trophy billy can have a spread of up to 40+ inches. They come in a wide range of colours and can often be found in large mobs.

Wild Goat

The wild sheep of the North Otago region have been roaming the hills since the early 1900's and are one of the few original herds in New Zealand. There are both white and black colourations in our area with the black rams often sporting the white blaze down thier face. Our intense trophy management has given us one of the best quality free range trophy herds of wild sheep in the country.

Wild Rams can be hunted at any time of the year and their curled horns make an impressive trophy.

Waterfowl, Fishing and Small Game

We also offer hunting waterfowl which include mallard, canada geese and the native paradise duck. These can only be shot during duck shooting season which starts on the first weekend of May and a license is required.

Freshwater fishing for salmon, brown and rainbow trout can be arranged in season which is generally October to April in most rivers and all year in the high country lakes and canals of the Upper Waitaki Valley, licence required. Salt water fishing can be done year round without a license and our lodge is on the doorstep of some of the best saltwaer fishing in our region.

Small game hunting including rabbit, hare, possum and wallaby is available and can be a fun activity that many enjoy adding to their New Zealand hunting experience.