As a New Zealand hunting expert, I have helped hunting auction several hundred seekers take their first New Zealand Red Stag Hunting trip. The most frequently asked question is, “when is the best time for Red Stag searching in New Zealand?” The information in this write-up is based on my firsthand experience. I have actually pursued the Red Deer “Holler” in New Zealand and likewise in Argentina. I have likewise pursued deer outside of the holler in New Zealand.
The biggest draw for New Zealand hunting is the Red Deer likewise called Red Stag. A lot of the Outside television Shows, hunting magazine write-ups as well as searching reports focus their reviews around searching during the “Holler.” The Holler is the vocal sound the red deer make during their rutting period, comparable in nature but completely various than that of the Rocky Mountain Elk. The “Holler” normally runs around the third week in March to the forth week in April. This moment period can change +/- 7 to 10 days by the climate condition. If New Zealand obtains a cold weather front in early March, it can quicken the Holler.
Deer hunting throughout the Holler is an amazing time to quest as well as ought to be experienced at least as soon as in a hunter’s lifetime. The stags will certainly holler around the clock. Throughout this time period, the red deer are focusing on their areas, hinds (female red deer) and also various other stags. A common rifle fired during the Roar can be well under 100 backyards. The Roar is also the best time for bow searching red deer. An excellent guide should have the ability to get the bow seeker within 25 to 40 yards of his target. Blinds and hides can likewise be established over mud wallows and tracks offering shots at less than 35 backyards.
Weather condition throughout the Roar is typically like early September in the Rocky Mountains. Expect the early mornings to be great, normally in the reduced 40’s and heats in the high 70’s as well as also perhaps reduced 80’s.
Red Deer Searching can be done on both the North and South Island from late February with Mid-August. For the most part, the red deer will run out velvet around the 20th of February. The last 10 days of February as well as the very first two weeks of March, the red deer will be in the most effective physical appearance of the year and must have no busted antlers or missing points. They will certainly start dropping their horns around the 3rd to 4th week of August. Red Deer in New Zealand will start combating with various other stags, typically quickly after the very first seven to 10 days in April. Hunters will certainly start to see some damaged tines from this moment with the end of August. These deer have actually been recognized to fight so hard with various other stags; they have in fact broken short the antlers at the head plate exposing the stag’s mind. When this occurs, the deer typically passes away shortly thereafter.
With this being claimed, the very best time to bow search red deer is throughout the Holler, from late March with late April. The most premium red deer searching “holler” dates would be the very first ten days in April. Late February and also early March as well as a fun time to rifle quest red deer and likewise a fun time of the year to add some New Zealand fly fishing on the side. They can be hunted with a rifle during the roar yet anticipate it to be an easier hunt than regular with most shots probably less than 100 lawns. Red Deer hunting comes to be a lot more challenging from May through August with ordinary shots in the 150 to 200 backyard array.
The very first week of June usually brings the very first snow of the season. Early morning temperatures average in the mid to high 30’s and highs in the mid 50’s to low 60’s. Late May, June as well as July better reproduce the late fall and Winter months hunts we can experience in the United States. This is also a fun time to blend a red stag search with Tahr hunting or Chamois hunting. The cooler weather condition in late May starts the Tahr rut and also is likewise in charge of the Tahr and also Chamois to turn their wintertime layers darker in color. The “lion like” mane of the Tahr will additionally go to its fullest size throughout this moment of the year.
There are 2 methods to quest red deer in New Zealand. The initial is called “Estate Hunting.” Estate hunts are hung on big fenced cattle ranches or stations. These stations are generally quite huge in dimension, from 2,500 acres to 20,000 acres or even more. The fencing enables the herdsmans to handle the herds and genes and also keep out neighborhood seekers as well as poachers. Administration in New Zealand has actually allowed the country to develop the biggest red deer worldwide. There were 2 New Zealand red deer collected in 2009 over six hundred (600) inches and also one was over 650 inches. All trophy course red deer in New Zealand originate from Estates or Ranches. The fences on these stations get rid of the term “totally free array” however not fair chase. The majority of these homes are incredibly huge and the terrain as well as flora make these hunts equally as tough as a cost-free variety hunt.
True complimentary array hunting in New Zealand is offered on both Government and private properties. These residential or commercial properties might consist of cattle fencing yet this does not stop the red deer from simply leaping over them and relocating easily about. Free range are a lot smaller in antler dimension than the estate stags. A prize complimentary variety stag on personal property will have 10 to 14 factors and will certainly rack up from 220 to 275 inches. Because of hunting pressure and also no actual season for red stag, the general public homes see a lot smaller stags than those on private property. It is really rare to see a “real” free range stag over 300 inches. Some property owners will release 300 inch plus red deer on their complimentary range homes. These stag can generally be recognized after harvest by seeking openings in their ears where a tag made use of to be.
With the general big video game hunting seasons in New Zealand closing in August and the U.S. big video game season starting in September, red deer searching in New Zealand is a terrific way to expand your large game hunting season.
