Hunt Massive Red Stag in New Zealand
Hunt New Zealand for a massive 380-450″ Red Stag in the dramatic landscapes of the South Island. New Zealand Red Stag hunting is renowned for producing world-record trophies. Your hunt for these magnificent stags begins on foot just minutes from the picturesque lodge.
I’ve personally hunted with this outfitter, and recommend them very highly. From the guide’s deep expertise to the absolutely exceptional quality of the trophies, every detail exceeded my expectations. If you are searching for a true top-tier Red Stag hunting experience, look no further!
Consider a combo hunt for discount pricing and more alpine adventures.
Included
- 3 day hunt
- 5 nights lodging
- 1 guide per hunting group (only one group in the lodge at a time)
- Price includes 1 hunter
- Red Stag 380-450″ trophy fee
- Field prep/caping
- Transfer of trophy to the taxidermist
- Lodging, meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, wine, and beer
- Wi-Fi at at the lodge
- Laundry if needed
- Transportation to and from the airport
Excluded
- Trophy fees for any additional animals taken
- Observer is $175 per day
- Gratuities
- Dip/pack/shipment of of trophies
- Taxidermy
- Airfare to/from Nelson, New Zealand
- Before and/or after hunt lodging and touring
Additional Animals to Hunt
- Red Stag Upgrade:
- 450-500″ – Additional $4,000
- 500-550″ – Additional $8,000
- 550-600″ – Additional $14,000
- For bigger stags, call for current pricing and availability
- Tahr – $4,500 (plus helicopter time)
- Chamois – $3,500 (plus helicopter time)
- Allow 1-2 hours per animal for helicopter time at about $2,000 an hour (firm quote at the time of booking)
- Fallow Deer (230″+) – $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
- Average shot distance on the Red Stage hunt is 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 their Sako 90 Peak in .308 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 and ammunition.
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.
Rifle Calibers for the Red Stag Hunt
- .270 Winchester: A classic, time-tested round that shoots flat and easily handles both Fallow Deer 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
The New Zealand Red Stag hunting season runs from March through mid-July. The highly anticipated Red Stag “roar” can be experienced between March 20 and April 20, delivering an incredibly thrilling hunt. However, late-season hunting is equally rewarding, offering superior visibility and frequent encounters with mature bulls.
Hunting Environment
This hunt takes place in New Zealand’s fall and winter. March and April bring mild autumn weather with average March highs in the upper 60’s and April highs around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 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), 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. 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 you want.
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
