I see red stag hunts advertised all the time with freakishly large racks loaded with points. I have been told these are "estate" animals, what exactly does that mean? Are they confined to a fenced area and fed a high protein diet? How do the regular, public stag compare to the ones in the advertisements. Can anyone post some pictures of regular free range Red Stags they have seen or shot? Thanks

Alex

This Stag was taken on private land on the North Island but was wild and free ranging.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
This Stag was taken on private land on the North Island but was wild and free ranging.

What a beauty, I would love to get something like that. It looks (to my amateur eyes) to be a perfect representation of a red stag, dark main beams and ivory tips with the crown on top. Thanks for sharing.

Most all of those stags you see with a tree on each side of their head are farm-raised. They are bred for their velvet antler , and when they get to the stage in life where their velvet production is starting to decline - the "good" ones get sold off to the trophy ranches to be hunted by wealthy overseas folk who dont have any qualms about paying lots of money for a world-class trophy.

Its good business for the deer farmers , and good business for the safari operators. And if its your thing then thats fine too.

Most kiwi hunters prefer to do the hard yards and hunt free-range stags , although the heads are not in the same league - but the hunt is truly free-range with no guarantees of success.

There are lots of hunting guides who do free-range hunts , but the cruel facts of life are that safari park hunts are big business and those guides have to eat too...

wild ones that arent managed a real good one is 14 points, you can get bigger ones but they are few and far between.

on private land that hasnt had any new blood thrown in but has been managed a little, 12s and 14s are alot more common with a few 16s thrown in.

however most places now has some of the farmed deer genetics due to escapes from safari parks which is good IMO.

Just look at the size of the heads before the meat hunting days. HUGE!

Here's a pic of one of the nicest Red Stags that I've ever shot free range. Also one of my most memorable hunts.
I have shot bigger and with more points, but never one as even as this, with all tines (Brow, Bez, Trez)correctly placed.
He's a 13 pointer and very even.
I hiked in for two days and fly camped in a very remote valley in Fiordland. From camp I climbed, for about 6 hours into the tops, and roared this stag up to within 40 feet, before I shot him with a single shot from my 7-08. It was quite a mission to get the head back to camp, and packed back down to the beach.
Anyway he's a minnow compared to some of the stuff that gets shot on game ranches, but he takes pride of place in my trophy room.
In the Free Range catergory of SCI it is a gold medal.
I have been hunting in new Zealand for 30 years, and almost without fail have had a trip during the "Roar" to some remote part of New Zealand, in search of my "Dream" trophy.
On most of these trips I have shot a Stag of some sort. Most points was 15. Longest beams 41 inchs.
Trophies like this are very rare on public land, however occasionally someone gets lucky.
If you're prepared to work hard and put some time in, then chances are you'll turn up something nice.

Hey Tim,

Was that the stag that was at the taxidermist when we went there? -TONY

quote:

Originally posted by muzza:
... but the cruel facts of life are that safari park hunts are big business and those guides have to eat too...

Nothing like venison soup in a can ...

StormsGSP My biggest free range Red Stag 14 points, but somes friends has taken 16 points max. in the Argentine Patagonia or The Pampa.Im only two reds, but in free land,!!!, the most important fact is enjoy the hunt, it must be more challenge possible, ethic, and take a representative trophy ( not babys or pregnang females) I hate the measure tape or hunting awards !!! I ever put enfasis on land extension prior to hunt and none high fence existence.
I agree with Muzza & Paul from nz ; in Argentina is happening the same s... at the time is passing, are less private or public free range places to hunt, and all you can expect is from 12 to 36 point canned trophies from 1000 to 10000 acres fenced farms, where soon or later you will cacht the pour domestic breeded animal. the "no guarantees of success aspect" is a price that not many "Neo" hunter are prepared to pay, Hunt has become a great bussines, and as Muzza say; "those guides have to eat too...and the etich, sport spirit,honour are disappearing!!!
Years ago some South Africans farmers poisoned the leopards to protec their cows, now all of them are making $$$$ with them, with some canned Leopard "Hunt" bussines and they are not more intereted in cows.
As I every time I say ; At the end the Hunter will be Hunted"