New Zealand Red Stag and Fallow Deer Hunt
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.
You will also venture into the surrounding mountain terrain to hunt world-class Fallow Deer. This is a premier opportunity to pursue exceptional SCI Gold Fallow bucks exceeding 230 inches, including highly sought-after chocolate-phased variations.
Book this spectacular hunt from March through mid-July. See the “Hunting Season” below for further information.
Having hunted with this outfitter personally, I recommend them very highly. Both the guide expertise and the trophy quality were absolutely exceptional. If you are looking for a top-tier hunt, this is it!
Included
- 4 day hunt
- 1 guide per hunting group (only one group in the lodge at a time)
- Price includes 1 hunter and 1 free observer
- Red Stag 380-450″ trophy fee
- Fallow Deer 230″+ (SCI Gold) trophy fee
- Lodging, meals, drinks, and snacks during the hunt
- Wi-Fi at at the lodge
- Transportation to and from the airport
Excluded
- Trophy fees for any additional animals taken
- 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 hour per animal for helicopter time at about $2,000 an hour (firm quote at the time of booking)
- Arapawa – $950
- Feral Goat – $950
- Merriam Turkey – $250
Accommodations
Nestled in a secluded mountain valley, the 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.
Weapons for this Hunt
Rifle hunt — Due to the 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, and it was an excellent rifle.
- Average shot distance on the Red Stage hunt is 100-300 yards
- Average shot distance for the Fallow Deer is 100-300 yards
Hunting Season
The New Zealand Red Stag and Fallow Deer 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. For those targeting fallow deer, action remains excellent all season long.
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. 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.
