The Hunters’ Guidebook

to New Zealand

What you need to know

about booking the hunt

of a lifetime.

“I absolutely applaud Simon’s intentions in his authorship and

production of a well written, illustrated hand book on the choosing

of an outfitter / guide with whom to hunt while in New Zealand.

Simon has aimed accurately in providing the international hunter

with a thought-provoking and informative document so that he or

she might have a memorable hunting experience whilst in New

Zealand.”

© 2010 High Peak Station. All rights reserved.

Ronald B Spanton

Fifty years of involvement with the guided hunting industry in NZ & latterly the South Pacific

Former working partner in NZ Trophy Guide Service Co. Ltd. (Lilybank Lodge)

Auditor for New Zealand Association of Game Estates

Past President of the SCI NZ Chapter & active member

Life-long promoter of sensible & sustainable management of New Zealand’s wild game herds.

A Foreword.

Wha t you need to know

abou t booki ng the hunt

of a life time.

The Hunters’ Guidebook to New Zealand is a free

educational resource provided by High Peak Station.

The Hunters’ Guidebook to New Zealand

In this free report, you will learn:

What makes a World-Class Hunting Story

The Seven Costly Mistakes hunters make when booking a hunt in New Zealand

The Ten Key Questions to ask your outfitter

The Four Simple Steps to the hunt of a lifetime

Plus, a 10-point checklist to ensure you choose the right outfitter for you.

The Challenge

Fact: New Zealand is a land of hunting dreams. The combination of scenery, game

animals, hunting terrain, hospitality and the potential for adventure is unmatched anywhere.

Myth: Hunting in New Zealand is a regulated industry with enforced national standards,

qualifications and measures to guarantee that clients will receive a quality experience.

The Challenge: To make sure you, the hunter, ask the right questions and make the right

decisions about where and what to hunt, selecting the best property or outfitter for your

particular needs and avoiding the pitfalls posed by opportunist operators or mismanaged

expectations.

In short, to make sure your New Zealand hunting experience is

one to remember, not one to forget.

The Solution

Do Your Research: Find out what it is you wish to achieve on your hunt , what are your

most important criteria and stick to these religiously.

Ask the Hard Questions: Ask the right questions of your outfitter in order to get the ex-

perience and result you want. Don’t be afraid to question vague responses and ask for proof

if in doubt around someone’s credentials or reputation.

Trust your Instincts: Once you are happy you have the answers you require, utilise your

instincts to ensure you hunt with someone who thinks, acts and most importantly, hunts like

you.

There is a hunt of a lifetime waiting for you in New Zealand. Use

this resource to make it come true.

1. Introduction & Welcome Congratulations on taking the first step to booking a hunting trip you will be proud to tell

your friends about. New Zealand, as you may know, was home to the Lord of the Rings movies

– where many people described the landscape as the star of the trilogy. The best part is that

New Zealand really does look like that – we know because we live here.

But your hunting adventure is more than just world class scenery, which is why we wrote this

guide. It is about ensuring that you ask the right questions and make the right decisions so

that your trip of a lifetime is just that. While the hunting in New Zealand can be first class, the

industry is relatively young and is unregulated. There are mistakes, traps, misconceptions and

individuals that can conspire to ruin your experience.

If you, like us, have a passion for hunting then this definitive guide will allow you to plan a trip

that will avoid the biggest mistakes people make when coming to New Zealand. That way,

your adventure will be a rich one and not an expensive one.

We have been serving hunters from New Zealand and overseas for 25 years and have seen all

aspects of the hunting industry, good and bad. We see it as our responsibility to hunters

looking to visit New Zealand to ensure they have access to resources that will result in them

going home with great hunting stories. It is a better result for you and good for our industry

in general. As we are here for the long haul, that’s pretty important to us.

Take your time to read the Guidebook. There is a full spectrum of operators in this country,

from the excellent to the average. If you have any doubts, use your discretion. It’s your time

and money, so exercise your power of choice!

The Guild family and their

High Peak team wishes you

the best and hope to see

you make the trip to New

Zealand soon.

When you get down to the bottom of it, this is why we hunt. The trophy is just proof - impressive, tangible

proof nonetheless – of The Story. A head on the wall alone cannot tell you how loud the stag was roaring just

prior to the kill; He cannot tell you about the 1000-foot climb you made just prior to the moment of truth; His

glass eyes can’t reflect the stunning environment and views he enjoyed before you came on the scene. These

are all the job of The Story.

To get a good story, you need three things. Firstly, you need a challenge. No one ever told a great story about

a walk in the park. Secondly, you need a result. This could be success or failure, but there needs to be an

outcome – the stag that eludes the hunter can be just as memorable as the one that didn’t. Finally, you need

great people. After the photos have been stored away and the views in your mind’s eye fade, it is the

people you will refer to time and time again – the ‘hard case’ guide, the character that was the helicopter pi-

lot, the tales told around the fire. They also have the added bonus, if you want, of becoming your friends…

which means you can re-live The Story with them time and time again.

Best of all, The Story is uniquely yours. You can re-tell it, embellish a little here and there (whoever let the

truth get in the way of a good story, especially a hunting story) but the most important thing is that people

will enjoy hearing it, they might even be a little bit jealous, and some will actually steal it and try and re-tell it

as their own (this happens – I have done it myself)!

Finding the three vital elements isn’t necessarily hard, and in New Zealand we have the ability to deliver all of

them in spades. You just need to know where to look, ask the right questions and trust your instincts when

evaluating the answers.

2. What makes a World-Class Hunting Story?

A Story to tell...

This Guidebook is not designed to tell you in detail which animals roam our land, the hunting seasons, the climate and what rifle to

bring – chances are you already know exactly what you want. This guide is about making sure you can see the wood from the trees

when deciding who to spend your hard-earned money with. This section is designed to give you a very quick overview of New

Zealand’s hunting culture and history so you can put the other information in the Guidebook into context.

1. Early Days

All of New Zealand’s game animals were introduced either in the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries by European settlers. Some

were introduced by the NZ government of the day to create a tourist hunting industry. These introductions were immensely

successful, probably too much so, and the lack of natural predation meant that populations exploded to the point that the various

species of deer, tahr, chamois, pigs and small game such as rabbits, hares and bush-tailed possums were having huge impacts on

New Zealand’s native flora and fauna.

By the mid 1900s the government established departments charged with the conservation of these natural areas and implemented

culling programmes to manage the wild game populations. This practice continues today alongside recreational, commercial and

tourist hunting.

2. New Zealand Hunting Culture

For decades, the Government policy has been to encourage hunting of game animals to control wild populations. Consequently, New

Zealanders have always enjoyed unrestricted access onto public land to hunt for trophies, recreation and the harvest of meat.

Internationally, New Zealand quickly gained a reputation for producing trophies of a quality not seen anywhere in the world. Notably,

Red Deer, Tahr, Chamois, Fallow Deer and to a lesser extent Elk have thrived to become the animals that New Zealand has achieved

fame for.

3. A Brief Overview of Hunting in New Zealand

3. A Brief Overview of Hunting in New Zealand Possibly unique in global terms, the hunting culture in New Zealand remains one of strapping on a pack and rifle and pitting

physical endeavour against the elements in pursuit of meat or trophy animals on public land. There are no hunting seasons, no

trophy tags, licences or fees, and hunting is a pursuit open to anyone with a firearms licence. For many hunters it is, and always has

been, as much about getting out and enjoying the fresh air in a spectacular natural environment as the outcome of the hunt itself.

3. The New Zealand Hunting Industry

New Zealand experienced an early tourist and trophy boom in the 1920’s and 1930’s which first established it as an international

hunting destination. The fact that visiting hunters could put all their resources into the pursuit of a trophy (instead of buying tags,

license fees and rights of access) appealed to people seeking a quality hunting adventure. However, during the next 30-40 years

populations of wild animals exploded causing extensive damage to alpine lands, native forests and farms. Most ungulates were

re-classified as noxious pests and extensive culling programs were introduced. This in turn lead to a thriving wild venison industry

and with the introduction of new technology, such as helicopters, the wild populations were brought under control.

With the advent of deer farming in the 1970s and with it systems for containing these animals, some enterprising operators

recognised that they had the ability to manage superior antler genetics through selective culling, and the New Zealand game estate

was born. Sometimes encompassing thousands of acres of privately-managed land, the game estates were free of local hunter

pressure and thus the big trophies could grow to their full potential. Game estate hunting is often combined with free range

hunting to experience the full spectrum of hunting possibilities on offer in New Zealand.

It is important to be aware that guided hunting in New Zealand, whether on public or private land is currently not regulated by the

state. Operating a guided hunting service for free range animals on public lands is a low cost business with low barriers to entry. It

should be noted that no hunting operators have exclusive rights of access to public lands – exclusivity can only be offered on

privately owned land. Game Estates have a much higher cost of establishment (land, fencing, infrastructure) so the barriers to enter

the business are higher, which naturally limits the numbers.

4. Distribution of Species and the Feral Range

New Zealand has a wide range of hunting habitats, from low-lying, sub-tropical coastal areas through to high alpine permanent snow-

fields, supporting a wide range of game species. Conservation efforts ensure that certain species are kept within defined boundaries to

prevent their expansion into new habitats. These defined boundaries are known as the ‘feral range’ of the animal.

It is important to know where in New Zealand to go in order to find the particular animals you seek. Depending on where and who you

hunt with, you may need to undertake significant internal travel in order to harvest them. Alternatively, you can cut down on

unnecessary travel time and expense by selecting outfitters and species that minimise this.

For New Zealand’s primary big game species, their respective feral ranges can be found in the regions described below. In some

instances game estates can hold animals outside the feral range, whereas in others the species is restricted to the feral range only.

Species found in only one island may not be hunted in the other island regardless of whether free range or game estate.

New Zealand-Wide Species South Island-Only Species North Island-Only Species

Red Deer Widely distributed throughout Tahr Central South Island Mountains only Sika Deer Central North Island only

Fallow Deer Widely distributed throughout Chamois South Island Mountains only Sambar Deer NE/SW North Island only

Wild Boar Widely distributed throughout Whitetail SW South Island, Stewart Island only Rusa Deer NE North Island only

Feral Goat Widely distributed throughout Wapiti SW South Island only

5. Free Range, Game Estate and Fair Chase

There are two main hunting ‘environments’ in New Zealand. It is important to define the two. Free Range refers to an animal born and

raised in the wild from a wild population that is hunted in their home range. This land, regardless of whether public or private, will have

no artificial barriers to prevent freedom to roam. Feral, liberated or selectively bred animals do not qualify as free-range game.

Game Estate refers to an enclosed area of land with natural or man-made barriers, such as a fence or cliff that serves the purpose of

keeping game animals within and prevents other animals from entering its boundaries. To qualify as a game estate as defined by the

New Zealand Association of Game Estates, properties must meet minimum criteria relating to size, cover and terrain.

Fair Chase is the term given to a hunt that takes place on public or private land, either free-range or game estate, where the hunted

species has a reasonable and realistic chance of evading the hunter. A fair chase hunt depends on a number of factors including cover,

size, terrain, the species and size of animal within that species sought, animal domesticity and hunter ability.

Regardless of whether hunts are conducted on public, private, free range or game estate land, the quality of the hunting experience is

very much determined by the size and terrain of the area hunted, the volume of hunters per season, adherence to fair chase ethics and

the standard of service provided.

A huge range of possibili ties

and ou tcomes for the hunter.

1. Not Doing Your Research

It seems obvious, but it never fails to surprise us how many otherwise astute people get drawn into booking a hunt on something

as basic as a cheap price or offer that’s too good to be true. Invariably, if someone promises you the world record free-range stag,

it is probably a lie – either it won’t be the record, or it won’t be free-range. The result of this will be disappointment, disillusionment

and dissatisfaction. Avoid this by asking the Ten Key Questions to ask an Outfitter (more on this later).

2. Selecting an Unaffiliated Guide

Hunting in New Zealand may be unregulated, but guides who take their business seriously should be members of the New Zealand

Professional Hunting Guides Association (NZPHGA)*. This self-regulating organisation sets policies on hunting standards, safety,

etiquette, client management, ethical hunting, animal welfare and firearms practices. The NZPHGA also has the power of censure to

hold its members to account in the event of an issue. Anyone can pick up a rifle and call themselves a guide, but only those who

have met the association’s standards will be accepted by the NZPHGA.

3. Hunting on an Unaccredited Property

The New Zealand Association of Game Estates (NZAGE)** is an organisation set up, in the absence of government regulation, by

New Zealand’s leading Game Estates. The NZAGE mandate is to set and enforce standards relating to minimum size, cover, terrain,

fencing, disease surveillance, animal welfare, game management and sound guiding practice. The NZAGE was the world’s first

grouping of hunting land owners to set industry agreed standards (IAS). Properties are independently audited on a regular basis

and the NZAGE can also hold its members to account through censure. Unaccredited properties have no criteria whatsoever to

measure against and you’ll be taking their word alone.

4. Cheaper is Not Always Better

The adage ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true when hunting in New Zealand. If you are happy eating, sleeping and sharing your

hunting space alongside a number of others, there are a number of operations that will get you your trophy at a lower price. This

will probably come at the expense of personal service, exclusivity and the overall hunting experience. Alternatively, if you value

these aspects in your hunting trip, be prepared to pay a bit more.

4. Seven Costly Mistakes that could ruin your Hunting Experience

Good Decisi ons mean Big Rewards.

4. Seven Costly Mistakes that could ruin your Hunting Experience

5. Bigger is Not Always Better

This mistake is made by those who choose to prioritise the size of the trophy over the quality of the hunting experience. A great

trophy is a superb thing but hunters are entitled to know what they will get for their money. If your goal is solely driven by the

record book, then you are likely to get a hunt that is highly sanitised. You should be aware that it is not illegal in NZ to shoot a stag

in a paddock and some opportunists will offer a trophy with little regard for the sport of hunting. However, a great stalk is an

experience that no-one can beat; this is where great hunting stories are forged. You can have the best of both worlds by ensuring

you hunt with someone who will deliver the experience and the trophy you seek on your terms, not theirs.

6. Not Thinking about Your Spouse

When husbands bring their wives along for a hunt (or vice versa), both share in what is a unique experience that invariably brings

them closer together - if only for the photo with the trophy! But your travelling companion is not always your hunting partner, and

non-hunters need to be looked after too. A happy spouse means you can relax and really get into your sport. If travelling as a

couple, don’t book with someone who focuses solely on the hunt and has no systems to ensure the enjoyment of your companion.

7. Not Giving Yourself a Choice

If you are a ‘catalogue hunter’, then this mistake is probably not relevant to you. But if you like to select your quarry for the thrill of

the hunt after a good solid stalk – because he was the stag with all the females and was acting with the arrogance of a king, or

because you saw him first or he just had an ‘X’ factor that only you can explain – then make sure you hunt on a property that offers

you a choice. Anyone can select a monster head from a glossy catalogue and have it presented to them in a cotton-wool type

environment, but is this hunting? Is this an experience you want to tell your friends about? Does it give you bragging rights at your

favourite bar?

*NZPHGA website: www.nzphga.com

**NZAGE website: www.game-estates.co.nz

Choosing the right hunting guide, outfitter or game estate is the single most important decision you can make when planning a

hunting trip to New Zealand. Here are some of the key reasons why.

Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff

As mentioned earlier, pretty much anyone can set up a guiding business in New Zealand. This lack of regulation means that all you

need is a website, rifle and four-wheel-drive vehicle and you’re in business, carrying minimal risk in an equation where the client

and / or the property owner carry the burden, with no guarantee. Outfitters should have a defined booking process and be able to

provide information on demand. Don’t run the risk of hunting with a cowboy in the game for a quick buck.

Who is actually committed to your Satisfaction?

Some outfitters have superb reputations and considerable investment in their guiding businesses. Some own their own property and

thus have substantial sums invested in making the venture work. It is these operations with real ‘skin in the game’ that are most

likely to be committed to the longevity of the industry and your satisfaction as a client.

Make sure they are the right Outfitter for you.

Outfitters are not all things to all people. Some specialise in physically hard, Kiwi-style free-range hunting where the experience is

the core and the trophy is a bonus. Some specialise in high-scoring game estate trophies where the hunting experience is

secondary. Some prioritise exclusive service for a select few ahead of big volumes, whereas for others it is about the camaraderie of

a bustling lodge. Make sure you rank your priorities and select your outfitter on the most important criteria.

You get what you pay for.

If all you want is a monster trophy, then price will probably be your sole determining factor. Likewise, a free range hunt may be a

simple choice based on daily rate with no obligation to get a trophy. However, if you are after a complete result that includes both

an experience to tell your buddies about and a trophy that aptly reflects New Zealand’s quality game animals at their best, you need

to look at both the tangible and intangible elements of the entire hunt and be prepared to pay for both. Remember that the bitter

taste of a bad experience outlasts the quick thrill of a cheap deal.

Make sure they offer a Guarantee.

If an outfitter or game estate cannot offer some kind of a guarantee for your satisfaction, then ask why not. It is a lot to ask for

someone to pay thousands in deposit and commit the time to something that is part intangible experience, part tangible trophy.

You are entitled to a cast-iron, written guarantee that protects your investment should the situation arise that all didn’t go to plan.

5. Why it pays to Choose Your Outfitter Wisely.

5. Why it pays to Choose Your Outfitter Wisely.

Pick the righ t Ou tfi t ter for you.

1. Who are you and what are your credentials?

Ask them to prove who they are, how long they have been operating as an

outfitter / guide and what their qualifications are.

2. Are you a member of the New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides

Association?

Anyone can pose as an outfitter / guide. If they aren’t a member of the

NZPHGA, ask them why not.

3. Are you a member of the New Zealand Association of Game Estates?

If the hunt is to be conducted on enclosed private land, is the property a

NZAGE-certified Game Estate? If not, then why?

4. Will I be hunting on an NZAGE accredited Game Estate?

The NZAGE has strict criteria designed primarily to ensure a quality hunting

experience. If the property is not NZAGE accredited or the outfitter doesn’t

hunt on one, then ask them why not.

5. Who owns the property where I will be hunting?

Some outfitters own their own properties, some outfitters have exclusive

agreements with properties, whilst others act as brokers between their

clients and a number of properties, adding their margin. Some free range

hunts may be conducted on public land by guides with a concession. You

cannot hold a ‘sole concession’ for a tract of public land; the very nature of

our public land means it is open to all.

6. How many hunts do you conduct each year?

This will give you an idea of how crowded the outfitter or property is, the

nature of these hunts and how many people you can expect to be sharing

your hunting, accommodation and host’s resources with.

6. The Ten Key Questions to Ask Your Outfitter

6. The Ten Key Questions to Ask Your Outfitter

7. Where are you located in relation to the species I seek?

The location of your outfitter or game estate is important if you wish to minimise

internal travel within New Zealand to obtain the particular trophies you seek.

8. Will I have sole rights of land use during my hunt?

If you don’t have sole rights to a certain tract of land, whether free-range or game

estate, you may be competing with others for potential trophies. This is the case on

all public land.

9. What is there for my spouse to do?

Make sure there is a dedicated person who understands what your wife or partner

might like to do when not hunting, and will make it happen with style.

10. Do you have any testimonials or references to recommend you?

Make sure they are real people that the outfitter doesn’t mind you contacting to

confirm their credentials and suitability.

And one question to ask yourself...

Do you have a good feeling about the person you are dealing with? Do you like

and trust them?

Ask the hard ques ti ons

and use your power of

choice.

7. What’s in a Guarantee?

Reputation is everything in this industry, and all outfitters should protect theirs by offering a Guarantee. We unasham-

edly promote High Peak as a good choice of outfitter, based on our reputation. We do not try to be all things to all

hunters, but chances are that if you have read through to this point and agree with what precedes, then you’ll probably

find that our service will deliver on your New Zealand hunt expectations.

The reason we are confident we can deliver on the above, is that at High Peak we stand behind everything we say, and

we do this by offering a guarantee.

The High Peak 100% Money-Back Guarantee on Your Trophy Fee

If you are not satisfied with your hunt, High Peak will refund the trophy fee, no questions asked. This provides some real

security that your investment is worthwhile. With a 100% success record to date, we don’t see ourselves having to exer-

cise this guarantee anytime soon, but it is good for our clients to know it is there all the same.

If, for whatever reason you decide that High Peak is not the place for you to hunt, then please let us know and we will

be more than happy to recommend a number of outfitters whose reputation we would be prepared to stand

behind. Ensuring you have a great hunt is our #1 priority; ensuring you do it with High Peak is #2.

8. Four Simple Steps to the Hunt of a Lifetime

Now that you have read our definitive guidebook to booking a hunt in New Zealand, you should feel empowered to

make the right decision on who to hunt with, based on what you want to achieve. In order to create your own

version of The Story, here are four simple steps to make it happen.

Step 1. Make a commitment to hunt in New Zealand.

You’ve probably thought long and hard about where your next hunting destination is. The fact you are reading this

means you have obviously considered New Zealand. Now is the time to make a commitment on where to go on

your next adventure and if New Zealand is it, please proceed to Step 2.

Step 2. Work out what you want to achieve.

Think about The Story. What do you want it to sound like when you tell it to your best mates? Make a list of the

criteria that you rank as the most important when planning your hunt and keep these in the front of your mind

when you ask the hard questions in Step 3.

Step 3. Ask the Ten Key Questions.

You probably have a basic idea of the outfitters that you think might make your hunting dream a reality. Now is the

time to put them to the test to find out if they are right for you. Based on what you want to achieve, ask the

questions that will tell you what you need to know, with the help of our Checklist (overleaf)

Step 4. When you find the right Outfitter for you, book with them.

Once you have narrowed down your search for the outfitter that will serve your needs best, making a booking will

be the best way to secure your place in the calendar and start making that hunting dream into a reality and

ultimately, Your Story.

Simon Guild,

New Zealand Hunting Educator & Myth-Buster

HIGH PEAK.

simon@highpeak.co.nz

Your Story s tar ts here.

9. Checklist for Selecting The Right Outfitter

1. The outfitter is a reputable operator and can prove it

2. The company and individuals are current members of the NZPHGA

3. The hunting property is a current member of the NZAGE

4. The hunting area is located where the primary species you seek are

5. The outfitter promises truth in all aspects of their advertising

6. The company offers you a satisfactory Guarantee

7. The outfitter works to a defined booking process

8. They will make all efforts to objectively meet YOUR expectations

9. They are the right type of outfitter for YOUR specific needs

10. Your instincts tell you this is the right outfitter for you

There are over 130 ou tfi t ters & guiding

companies in New Zealand.

Choose Wisely.

There are over 130 ou tfi t ters & guiding

companies in New Zealand.

Choose Wisely.

“How much of life

is los t i n wai ti ng?” Ralph Waldo Emerson.