Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to ask but here are some common questions we get.
Q. How do I get there?
A. You fly into Auckland International Airport (about 12hrs from LAX ), then catch a domestic flight from Auckland to Napier Airport (about 1.5hrs)
Q. Can I bring my own rifle?, and, what permit do I require to do so?
A. Of course you can!, NZ is a relatively easy country to bring a rifle (not Handguns) into (not like Australia!).
You will need a Tourist Firearms Import Permit which can be obtained from NZ police on arrival at Auckland Airport.
To speed up the process look at the NZ police website http://www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms/importing.html
You will find a copy of the application which you’re required to complete. Print out the form, fill in the details then send it back (fax) to the NZ police. Be sure to let them know your intentions and they will instruct you on what to do, they will then have the form waiting at the airport on your arrival to sign.
You will need my physical address
- Aaron Kent
- 4959 Puketitiri Rd
- RD4, Napier
- Phone number – 021 024 33762
- Firearms licence details – Aaron Paul Kent, licence number TO402882
- You will also need $25NZD to pay for this, check with U.S customs/airlines for entering/leaving USA Or……just use one of Hunting Downunder’s rifles!
Q. Do I need a Passport or Visa?
A. Yes, a current Passport is a must to enter New Zealand, Americans don’t require a Visa (if their stay is under 90 days – NB Americans DO need one to enter Australia though) but you may require one if you are from another country – check with a travel agent
Q. What insurances do I need?
A. HDU strongly recommends that visitors to NZ have current medical and travel insurance
Q. What is the level of fitness required to hunt with HDU
A. Hunting Downunder caters for all levels of fitness
Q. What are the hunting seasons and what permits/tags are required?
A. Apart from Waterfowl (Ducks etc) and Upland game (Pheasant etc) NO permits/tags are required to hunt animals on private land here in NZ, and there are NO seasons – you can hunt here all year round.
Q. How do I get my trophies home?
A. HDU can arrange for your trophies to be expedited, mounted and sent home (for extra cost)
Q. How much will it cost to get my trophy/s home?
A. Obviously that will depend on where you live and weight/size of the shipping crate needed. A Red Stag shoulder mount will cost around $600USD to the West coast of the U.S and around $650USD to the East.
Q. What can I expect the weather to be like when I’m hunting?
A. This obviously depends on which month you’re here and what the season is doing, just remember that NZ (Southern Hemisphere) is the opposite to the U.S (Northern Hemisphere) ie, December is our Summer. Over HDU’s hunting months (late Feb – June) it is normally fairly warm (60-80 degrees F ) but as we’re ‘mountainous’ country (around 2000ft above sea level ) the weather can change quick!. A good pair of waterproof boots is recommended.
Q. What wildlife can I expect to see when hunting?
A. Apart from the animals you hunt ( big and small game) NZ has a huge variation of birdlife – native and introduced. NZ has NO natural predators – coyotes, dingos, wolves etc, and also pretty much has NO poisonous (there is only 2 types of poisonous spiders - which are very rare) or dangerous animals or critters. All the snakes are ‘across the ditch’ in Australia – everything bites over there!
Q. Can I use my Bow to hunt with?
A. All of HDU’s trophies can be obtained with bow & arrow
Q. Am I hunting within a fenced area?
A. Yes you are. The private land HDU operates on is still a functional high country farm (ranch) so sheep and cattle are still grazed on the areas hunted. The deer generally stay within the fence as hunting pressure outside of it is greater and within the fence there is better feed and cover. The biggest problems we have is from deer jumping in from the outside!
