New Zealand?

[Flingblade]

Anyone have experience to share hunting in New Zealand?  I saw an article yesterday that talked about hunting in New Zealand and it left me wanting to find out more.  It was about a diy hunt where no outfitter was used.  It said there are no seasons and no tags or licenses are required and customs will allow meat to be brought back from NZ.  I like diy hunts for budget reasons but I lose interest pretty quick if I can't at least bring back the prime cuts of meat.  This has caused me to scratch many overseas destinations off my list.  The author recommended hiring a helicopter to quickly get you into the back country mountains but other than that it was backpack hunting.  I thought maybe this is a hunt I should add to my bucket list.     

[ozy clint]

better sit down with a

2011-2015- http://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=164098.msg2822386#msg2822386

2016- http://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=102422.0

was there again in 2018 but just realised i didn't post any story about that.

planned to go this year but covid wrecked those plans.

[Flingblade]

Great stories and pics!!  Thanks for the links!  Seems like a lot of rain where you hunted.  I've heard there are boars in the low country.  Have you ever hunted the low country there?  I think I'm going to have to try to make a trip at some point and see if I can find my own "Golden Gully"! 

[Silent footed]

There is a longbow hunter in New Zealand who hunts from a raft. I watched an awesome video of him harvesting a goat. So that's a third possibility. Much cheaper than renting a helicopter, and less strenuous than backpacking. I'd love to do it myself.

[McDave]

I have the same ethic about bringing back meat, but if I were hunting in New Zealand, I might have to look for another alternative.  Given the logistics and cost, I would probably try to locate someone there who would like to have the meat.  Everybody has their own ethics, of course, but it would satisfy mine if I at least knew the meat wasn't going to waste.

[flyonline]

Can't comment on the hunting, but there is plenty to see and do otherwise - if you need an excuse to go and take the other half along. I lived there for 5 years and loved it, very orientated to helping tourists. Some world class fishing of all kinds if you're into that too, plus the wines, food, seafood, sights, art, etc. etc. Plus there is/was a thriving wild game meat industry so plenty of opportunity to sample different kinds so you might be able to get it to someone who can process it.

Check out Matt Winters youtube channel if you haven't come across it already.

https://www.youtube.com/user/MountainBreez

And Josh James Kiwi Bushman (the video mentioned above about rafting is his)

https://www.youtube.com/c/JoshJamesKiwiBushman00/videos

[Silent footed]

Yes that's the guy I was talking about. Couldn't remember his name.

[Flingblade]

I had not seen those videos.  Thanks for the links.  Looks like beautiful and diverse country.  I just priced flights and it looks like they run around $2500.  Still not a bad deal considering the whole trip can probably be done for less than $3500.

[ozy clint]

Being allowed to go there is the hurdle now.

[shankspony]

Im a New Zealander, and can give you help if you need it. And showing how randomly small the world is, Ozy Clint and I bumped into each other one day in the bush.

So issues at the moment are number 1, our Govt is not letting in any tourists due to the Covid thing. That will change at some point, but best guess would be 12 months or more.

And two, if you are set on a Tahr hunt, then you should know the Crazy green govt we have here is actively involved right now in exterminating all Tahr from much of their territory. Including the areas In Clints report. I dont think they will get them all, but it is going to become a low percentage success hunt. One that was all ready hard enough.


There are lots of places to hunt other game though. If you are after alpine animals I would consider Chamois as a fantastic hunt. Or red deer. But do not expect to see the massive trophies marketed to American hunters. They are not representative of reality. Yes we have plenty of wild pigs- similar breeding to much of what I see on here from the states. Wild goat, fallow deer plus a few others. 

[mj seratt]

Don Thomas has hunted there and written about it. You might contact him through TBM.  Anytime I've reached out to him, he has graciously and promptly responded.

Murray

[ozy clint]

shankspony- has there been any talk about the tahr situation on the fishnhunt forum? i can't find much there about it.

hopefully the situation there changes soon. you need a different govt without that Eugenie Sage in it!

[shankspony]

No, Facebook is where most of the organised debate and fight back has been taking place as all the professional hunting organisations are linking up there. If you have FB, go to the Tahr foundation page. But I warn you Clint, it will make you cry.

[Terry Green]

Been there...twice.....

Beautiful.

[shankspony]

Well if you ever get back Terry, there is a bed and some hunting at my place.

[ozy clint]

i'm not on FB

[Flingblade]

 Thanks shankspony!  I'll keep your name on file and be in touch if the travel bans are lifted and I get close to making the trip.  I wouldn't be after trophies, just a big adventure in a place I've never been.   Sad what is being done to the tahr.  The chamois or red deer would be fun and imo wild pigs are fun no matter where ya are!  I think I remember reading some of Don Thomas's writings on New Zealand.  I'll have to look back through my old TBM's and see if I can find them.