Hunting options in New Zealand?

[npaden]

So my son has decided that he would like to go to New Zealand as a senior trip (graduating from high school in May).

I had offered up a fully Guided Brooks Range caribou hunt and a Ibex hunt in Tajikistan as my suggestions but he felt that both of those were too heavy on the effort and not enough on the fun. Originally we were just looking at being regular tourists in New Zealand and looking at different vacation packages, but the more I read, the more sense it made to just book everything on our own and make our own vacation package and that is when I thought about adding in a hunt while we were there.

I'm not that interested in a high fence stag hunt on small acreage, but he might be. From what I've read the "estate" hunts can get pretty pricey. The free range hunts would be WAY cheaper but obviously more difficult and the chances of shooting something big are pretty low. Are there any other options? Like a private land hunt that isn't fenced? I guess we could hunt a large high fence place and just not pay the big bucks and go for some type of a cull?

Any other must do things if we go? It would be me and my wife as well as my son for probably something in the 7 to 10 day range. Probably looking at mid to late June. Thoughts were to fly into Auckland and spend a few days there and then go down to the south island for probably most of the time. He's a Lord of the Rings fan so have to check out some of those things I guess.

Thanks for any input. Nathan

 

[rogerthat]

Have you considered retroactive adoption? I was valedictorian of my class and got a 4.0. I shoveled pig chit for free for my dad my senior year

 

[brymoore]

Have you considered retroactive adoption? I was valedictorian of my class and got a 4.0. I shoveled pig chit for free for my dad my senior year

I was thinking the same thing. My parents bought me a large travel bag when I graduated high school. It was an obvious hint to get out of the house.

 

[npaden]

Trust me, my senior trip was maybe to McDonalds for an ice cream. I don't think I even got a suitcase. Being the youngest of 11 children, my parents had the get out of the house deal down pat.

With him being an only child and having him later in life we can spoil him a bit, just trying not to spoil him too bad.

 

[SC Living Outdoors]

Send me a PM.

 

[Dsnow9]

I went to nz for ten days when I graduated highschool. My recommendation would be to go longer if you can. Bungee jumping was a blast but I didn’t get to go hunting when I was there. We were only on the South Island and felt rushed most of the time seeing the places we wanted to see.

 

[LousyResident]

Trust me, my senior trip was maybe to McDonalds for an ice cream. I don't think I even got a suitcase. Being the youngest of 11 children, my parents had the get out of the house deal down pat.

With him being an only child and having him later in life we can spoil him a bit, just trying not to spoil him too bad.

Then stop taking him on trips some of us grown adults only dream about lol.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

I went to nz for ten days when I graduated highschool. My recommendation would be to go longer if you can. Bungee jumping was a blast but I didn’t get to go hunting when I was there. We were only on the South Island and felt rushed most of the time seeing the places we wanted to see.

This. I went last winter for ~10 days and could have easily spent another 10. I didn't hunt, but would love to go back. I wouldn't over look the fishing either.

 

[Dsnow9]

This. I went last winter for ~10 days and could have easily spent another 10. I didn't hunt, but would love to go back. I wouldn't over look the fishing either.

Yep exactly. My international tree climbing championships will be in NZ this fall. If I qualify again I will likely try to take the family for 3 or so weeks. Even if that means missing the majority of the hunting season here. Well worth it! But I will try to hunt if we go that long.

 

[Kiwi]

Firstly you'll have a great time in NZ. I've taken my high school son twice to hunt WY and it was awesome. I'll send you a PM with recommendations.

 

[buffybr]

I started wanting to go to New Zealand when I was a kid in the '60s and reading Joe Brooks' accounts of the fishing there. Over the years my fishing interests faded to my big game hunting interests and in 2014 my GF and I finally went to the south island of NZ.

We had a great trip! I booked our trip for the end of March/beginning of April to correspond the Red Stag roar. Because this would probably be a once in a lifetime trip for both of us, that I wanted a Stag that would stand out in my Trophy Room along with several other animals, and that my GF likes the outdoors but is not a hunter, I booked my hunt with Gary Herbert. He has a beautiful lodge, a great staff, large hunting areas and heliocopter access to the high country. We booked the first week with Gary, then I rented a car to drive on the wrong side of the road for two weeks and we toured the South Island.

The only drawback of our trip was that April was the start of their rainy season, and we weren't able to do some of the tourist things that we had planned.

I should also mention that NZ has different and more strict gun laws than we have here at home. Like unless you are actually out hunting, your rifle must be locked in a safe. You can't leave it in your locked car and go into a resturant for dinner. Luckily, Gary offered to keep my rifle locked in his safe for the two weeks that we played tourist, and he offered to let us stay (free of charge) in his lodge our last night, fed us dinner and breakfast the next morning, and his staff washed our laundry. Thanks again, Gary!

 

[Bluffgruff]

Brooks Range caribou is the experience most likely to go away before he can earn enough money to pay for it himself. But last I saw, looking at over $10k per hunter fully guided, close to $20k with all the bells and whistles.