Hunting
Red Stag
The most majestic of all New Zealand big game animals and arguably the most exciting to hunt.
The rut – when they emit a loud ‘roar’ that’ll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! - lasts for around 2 months – mid March to mid May.
They can be hunted in hard antler from mid February to the end of June.
Fallow Buck
Another sort after trophy here in New Zealand because of their palmated “moose style” antlers and beautiful spotted coats.
Fallow Bucks rut a bit later than the Red Stag.
Their rutting season is between May and June being the months they make most of their noise – a frog like croak.
Sika Stag
Arguably the most cunning of ALL deer species and the most vocal.
Sika are similar in size to a Fallow and also have beautiful spotted coats – especially over summer months.
The Sika rut coincides with the Red Stag and they can often be seen fighting each other – even though Sika are considerably smaller than Reds.
Wapiti (Elk)
In the early 1900’s Theodore Roosevelt gifted New Zealand some Rocky Mountain Elk (commonly refered to as Wapiti – their Indian name – here in New Zealand).
The Elk excelled with the great habitat and no natural predators.
The high pitched bugle of a rutting bull Elk can be heard over March and April.
Mohaka Ram
Hunting Downunder is one of the only outfitters in New Zealand that have genuine wild sheep – the rare ‘Mohaka Sheep’ – within our hunting area (on the banks of ‘The Mohaka’ river).
Running feral since the late 1800’s and with good size curled horns they make a fantastic – and somewhat underrated – trophy.
Feral Goat
Even though goat meat – Chevon – is the most widespread eaten meat throughout the world, Feral goats in NZ have been regarded as a pest .
Due to good management on it’s goat population Hunting Downunder has some great trophy ‘Billies’ with up to 40 inch horn spread.
Wild Boar
If you enjoy being up close and personal to wild animals, you won’t beat the adrenalin rush of grabbing the back leg of a 150lb wild boar as dogs bail it.
Then tipping it over to stick it with a knife! – the classic ‘Kiwi’ method.
Rifle hunts and/or pig hunts with dogs are a great way to further your New Zealand hunting experience.
Tahr & Chamios
Hunting Downunder works in with an outfitter in the South Island so we can provide you with the oppourtunity to hunt these ‘high country’ animals.
The scenery in their habitat alone is breath taking and they both make beautiful trophies.
They can be hunted throughout the year but their rut is over May/June.
Small Game
Throughout our private hunting land there are Rabbits and Hares which provide great entertainment to stalk with smaller calibers and sometimes we need to do a bit of spotlighting to control their numbers.
You can shoot as many as you can!
Turkey & Water Fowl
Wild Turkey (Merriams) in New Zealand can be hunted throughout the year providing great sport and meals.
Water Fowl (Duck & Swan) can be hunted seasonally with the opening being the first weekend in May.
