My wife and I recently (May 2026) enjoyed an incredible trip to a hunting preserve on the South Island of New Zealand. After touring this beautiful country with its majestic mountains, crystal-clear rivers, and lakes, we experienced a relaxing yet exciting hunt for these impressive red stag. It is the perfect hunt to share with a significant other, whether they hunt or not.
The hills on this property allow you to get into a prime position to evaluate many red stags before deciding which animal to pursue. Once you choose your stag, your guide will carefully lead you into a comfortable shooting distance. After creeping into position—usually prone with a front bipod and a rear shooting bag—your guide will get a final range distance and dial in the zero-stop scope so you can take a relaxed, steady shot.
We hunted for a week, and in addition to the Red Stag, we took Himalayan Tahr, Chamois (via helicopter), Fallow Deer, Arapawa Sheep, and Feral Goat. Hunting from a helicopter was a thrilling way to experience the rugged mountains up close. Watching how fast the Chamois navigate the steep, rocky terrain was an awesome experience. Believe me when I say the mountains are far more rugged and beautiful when you are right on top of them, rather than viewing them from the valley floor.
When hunting from a helicopter, the saying “safety first”, really comes into play. Realize you are in an aircraft without a door on the hunter’s side, which is a bit intimidating at first, or at least it was for me. However, instead of a door, you are strapped in with 2 seat belts, if that makes you feel any better! I guess you could say, “it is like you’re hunting and riding an amusement park ride at the same time”. The pilot and your guide go over the safety precautions, and how to get the short-barreled gun into shooting position at least 3 times, or until both you and they are confident of your comprehension and ability.
In New Zealand the most frequent method for a helicopter assisted hunt, is to drop the hunter and guide off in the mountains for a stalk once a trophy-sized animal is spotted. However, there are a few operators that allow shooting from the aircraft itself. Either way, a helicopter assisted hunt is a must do for serious global hunters who like to experience it all.
Ultimately, combining sightseeing and hunting in New Zealand makes for the absolute perfect vacation!