Chamois Hunt in New Zealand
New Zealand Chamois Hunting Options
At Trophy Hunt Bookers, we offer two distinct ways to pursue the legendary New Zealand Chamois.
Helicopter Assisted Hunt (Highly Recommended):
This is our most popular option for international hunters pursuing the Chamois. This high-adrenaline adventure maximizes your efficiency in the Southern Alps. Your pilot flies you straight into the alpine country to spot these very agile animals. Once a trophy-class Chamois is located, you are dropped off high on the mountain to execute your spot-and-stalk hunt.
Traditional Foot Hunt:
For the hunter seeking an intense physical test, this fully guided hunt requires scaling the mountains on foot. Due to the vertical terrain, hunters choosing this option must possess excellent mountain fitness and endurance.
This was an absolute experience of a lifetime for me! Our guide was incredible, highly skilled, and knew exactly how to coordinate this hunt. The helicopter-assisted hunt was a total rush from takeoff to landing. Highly, highly recommend!”
Consider a combo hunt for discount pricing and more alpine adventures.
Included
- 3 day hunt
- 5 nights lodging
- 1 X 1 guide
- Price includes 1 hunter (only one hunting group in the lodge at a time)
- Chamois trophy fee
- Field prep/caping
- Transfer trophies to the taxidermists for dip/pack/shipping
- Meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, wine, beer
- Wi-Fi at at the lodge
- Transportation to and from the airport
- Laundry if needed
Excluded
- Helicopter fee – Allow 1-2 hours for the Chamois hunt at approximately $2,000 per hour
- Due to price fluctuations, you will get a firm quote at the time of booking
- Observer is $175 per day
- Trophy fees for any additional animals taken
- Airfare to/from Nelson, New Zealand
- Gratuities
- Dip/pack/shipment of of trophies
- Before and/or after hunt lodging and touring
Additional Animals to Hunt
- Red Stag
- 380-450″ – $6,500
- 450-500″ – $10,500
- 500-550″ – $14,500
- 550-600″ – $20,500
- For bigger stags, call for current pricing and availability
- Tahr- $4,500
- Fallow Deer – $3,500
- Arapawa – $950
- Feral Goat – $950
- Merriam Turkey – $250
Accommodations
Hunting Lodge
Nestled in a secluded mountain valley, the 4.5-star hunting lodge offers ultimate privacy paired with breathtaking panoramic views. At the heart of the lodge is the expansive great room, featuring a magnificent wall of windows that frames the rugged New Zealand peaks. Relax in the comfortable seating by the crackling wood stove during crisp alpine mornings, and unwind in front of the television after a rewarding day in the field.
Private Bedroom/Bathroom
Designed exclusively for your group’s privacy, the dedicated hunter’s wing features two well-appointed bedrooms with king beds and premium, luxurious bedding. The adjacent bathroom serves as your private spa, complete with a walk-in shower, deep soaking spa bathtub, and a spacious vanity area. It is the perfect, secluded retreat to recharge between hunts.
Food
Enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner served daily in the dining area of the great room. From the homemade breads to the robust selection of meats, every meal is fresh, delicious, and expertly prepared. They will work with any dietary restrictions you may have.
Weapons for this Hunt
Average Shot Distance for Chamois Hunt
- 100-300 yards
Rifle Options
Use the Outfitter’s Rifle (Recommended)
Due to the complexity and difficulty of bringing a rifle into New Zealand, it is recommended that you use the rifle from the outfitter. I have personally used this Sako 90 Peak with a suppressor and Swarovski scope. It was an excellent rifle and is optimized for mountain hunting. There is no additional fee to use the outfitter’s rifle.
Importing Your Rifle into New Zealand
Importing a rifle into New Zealand is straightforward, but requires strict adherence to the laws. You need a Visitor’s Firearms License to use a firearm unsupervised during your visit to New Zealand. You must submit an application for this license at least four to six months prior to your arrival. Visit the Fireams Safety Authority to fill out this application.
You will need several things when completing the application. Gather all of the items you will need before starting your application. You must declare what ammunition you intend to bring at this time. Plan to bring two packets of ammunition, preferably what your gun is sighted in with. If you book your hunt with Trophy Hunt Bookers, the outfitter’s firearms license number, name, address, and email address will be supplied to you.
Visit this page to read about which rifles are allowed into New Zealand.
The Ultimate Chamois Calibers
- 6.5 Creedmoor / 6.5 PRC: Built for the mountains. These rounds deliver a flat trajectory, minimal recoil, and high ballistics that slice through unpredictable alpine crosswinds.
- .243 Winchester: This is the gold standard for dedicated Chamois hunting. Fast, accurate, and flat-shooting, it offers exceptional performance at medium-to-long ranges.
- 7mm-08 / .308 Winchester: This is a versatile New Zealand classic. These local favorites provide inherent accuracy and the knockdown power needed if your hunt includes larger game.
Multi-Species Hunt Calibers
- .270 Winchester: A classic, time-tested round that shoots flat and easily handles both Chamois and large Red Stags.
- 7mm Remington Magnum / .300 Winchester Magnum: The ultimate big game hunting rifles. They carry massive energy at extended ranges, making them perfect for targeting heavier animals that need serious knock-down power.
Hunting Season
May through mid-July is the prime window to hunt New Zealand Chamois as their winter coats are at their absolute prime.
Hunting Environment
This hunt takes place at the end of Fall and well into the New Zealand winter. Temperatures in May average in the mid-50’s for highs and around 40 degrees for the low. In July the average highs are in the upper 40’s dropping to the lower 30’s at night. Heavy morning frosts are common leaving ice on the ground well into the morning.
Travel Details
Flights to New Zealand
You will fly in to Auckland (AKL) on the North Island, collect your baggage on arrival, and go through customs. Nonstop flights from the US to Auckland operate out of:
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- New York (JFK)
- Houston (IAH)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
- Honolulu (HNL)
You will then take a 1 hour 35 minute domestic flight to Nelson (NSN). Air New Zealand operates nonstop flights between Auckland and Nelson multiple times a day at reasonable prices. Upon arrival in Nelson, the outfitter will meet you at the airport and drive you approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to the lodge.
We are happy to help you with travel arrangements if desired.
New Zealand Entry Requirements
- Approximately 1 month before departure:
You must download the NZeTA app and apply for travel entry into New Zealand. It is an easy process that will take about 10 minutes. This should be done about a month before departure. You will receive an email that your application was approved and it will show as approved in the app. You may need to show this when entering New Zealand, but usually it is automatically linked to your passport number.
- Within 24 hours of departure:
You should download the NZTD app. This is the New Zealand Traveller Declaration that you need to fill out and submit within 24 hours of departure. This will be needed to go through customs in Auckland. This is again about a 10 minute process. If you don’t do this, you will be asked to fill out a paper form that may make the Customs process take slightly longer.
New Zealand Travel Tip
New Zealand tries to protect their country from invasive pests, seeds, and soil-borne diseases. Therefore, you should take care to wash your hunting boots before bringing them to New Zealand. If you don’t do this, they will inspect your boots at Customs and clean your boots for you if needed.
Deposit
A deposit of 50% is required to book the hunt. The deposit can be paid by sending a personal check, wire transfer, or credit card (with 3.75% credit card fee). The remaining balance will be due at the hunting lodge when the hunt is complete. You can pay the balance in US cash or with a credit card (with 3.5% credit card fee).
Cancellation Policy
All initial booking deposits are non-refundable. However, we understand that unexpected events can happen. If you cancel your hunt, your deposit will not be lost. We will hold your deposit on file and allow you to reschedule your hunt for the following year. Please contact us immediately to choose your new dates for the next season, subject to current availability.
