Looking for an outfitter in New Zealand for red stag hunting.

After doing an internet search on Yahoo it seemed most of the outfits hunted in pens or what they called "Estate Hunts." I don't look down on someone who does that kind of hunting, just prefer free range myself.

I'd like to go in the next few years and I think the wife would bring a friend to tour around while I hunt.


Any Suggestions?

Thanks,

Reloader

BRIAN HARRIE...north island ...he is the best of the best.
daniel

Reloader, Most of the outfitters there offer both estate and what you consider to be true free range hunts. There are 2 sets of prices. The success rates also vary as you would imagine. First, many of these estates are huge and often not fenced as you would think. The game is often kept in areas by natural barriers so before you think all estate hunts are pens you really should take a look at each of them in turn.

I think for what you are asking any of the well known operators would be fine. Here are a few not in any particular order.
Mike and Julie Hodder-Reel Hunting
Shane Quin-Alpine Hunting
Matt Hall-Mungunui
Mike Freeman-Kiwi Safaris

I can reccomend all these folks but spell out exactly what you want when you contact them. I am sure they can set something up.

M98 I have not had the pleasure of meeting Brian Harrie where is he out of?

quote:

Originally posted by M 98:
BRIAN HARRIE...north island ...he is the best of the best.
daniel

Is Brian Harre guiding again?

Greetings John, Who is this guy? I have not met him. Also I cant talk you into Gan Gan in July can I?

Why does everyone think NZ hunting is like shooting fish in a barrel?

Sure there is hunting in an enclosure - many of those enclosures are thousands of acres in size , bigger I suspect than many of the patches of bush hunted by free-range hunters. If you want to shoot a deer in a pen that is available too, same as in any other country that has guided hunting operators . If the customer wants to shoot an animal in a small pen there will always be someone who will supply the goods .

There are many free-range guides available , some have been mentioned above . It depends on where you want to go , what time of the year and how much money you want to spend as to what you will end up with.

There are also more species than red deer here , so maybe you could hunt more than just the one deer , sika hunting would be my pick for exciting , and then there are the alpine species of tahr and chamois that arent as available anywhere else on the planet .

Any of the outfitters your search turned up will supply what you are after , and probably be able to arrange other species through other guides as well .

Mike

Brian Harre was an outfitter who operated out of Auckland through his business which I think was "Bushland Safaris". He claimed he only hunted free range. I hunted in 1993 red stag with him on private land neighbouring the ranges. It was a deal through my local deer hunting club. Took a nice even Royal twelve point stag too. Plus a 'wild' ram by chance as well.

Later he started making "Harre" rifle actions, but this business closed but M98 has said he has restarted making some actons again since.

***

Sorry I can't afford to pay for a water buffalo hunt this year, as I am hunting tuskless cow elephant in Zimbabwe. I may still end up getting some buff hunting but self-guided / hunting.

Sorry to not have you along John I guess I would have to choose the ele as well.

Muzza, I agree with you 100%. It is hard to explain that to people but once they get there they will see. Still it is their idea of hunting and that is fine.

NITRO
Brian is still guiding, but its getting less each year.....he wants to get out of it and just hunt for himself, and one or two friends each year
daniel