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Hunting New Zealand - Frequently Asked Questions
Hunting New Zealand - Firearm Questions
Visiting New Zealand - General Questions
Visiting New Zealand - Travel Questions
Hunting Questions
Q. Which Island of New Zealand does Hunters Paradise hunt and fish out of?
A. We operate out of Christchurch, known as the Canterbury Region, on the South Island of New Zealand. We work in with many landowners offering hunting and fly-fishing vacation opportunities on both the North and South.
Q. What NZ big game trophies animals are there to hunt in New Zealand?
A. We have many breeds of New Zealand deer including, NZ red deer, NZ wapiti (elk) deer, white tail deer, rusa deer, sambar deer, sika deer and fallow deer. We also have Chamois and tahr. There is also wild boar (hog), feral goats and small game including possums, rabbits and hares.
Q. What other NZ animals are there to hunt in New Zealand?
A. There is also NZ wild boar (hog), NZ feral goats and small game including possums, rabbits and hares.
Q. What are the hunting seasons in New Zealand?
A. For most New Zealand animals there are no hunting seasons. That is, we can hunt in New Zealand anytime of the year, day or night. Yes that's right, we can legally spotlight and shoot animals during the hours of darkness in New Zealand.
 Q. When is the best time to hunt in New Zealand?
A. Remembering that New Zealand seasons are opposite to the northern hemisphere and our autumn (fall) is March to May. The NZ red deer roar (or rut) is from mid March and runs to the early June. The NZ roar is the best time to hunt as NZ stags can be called into the hunter. Failing this, anytime from mid-February to early August if you are after a stag with it's antlers still on. Like the Elk, the NZ red stag casts its' hard antler in early spring (August) and grows a new set. The velvet is not usually hard until around mid-February.
NZ Sika roar starts in late April goes into late May. They also cast their antlers. New Zealand Sika Deer can only be hunted Free Range in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Ranges located in the central North Island area of New Zealand. We have access to New Zealand game park to hunt these trophy animals.
New Zealand wild boar hunting is all year round but the NZ winter months are most fruitful.
NZ  Chamois and tahr hunting is best when the animals have their winter coats from late April onwards. These animals are only located in the South Island of New Zealand where hunting conditions are often a lot cooler and drier than the North Island.
Q. Is hunting with Hunters Paradise New Zealand on private or public land?
A. Most of the hunting done with Hunters Paradise NZ is on privately owned New Zealand land where access is restricted to clients and guides. Hunting is carried out on New Zealand public land for some species.
Q. Is hunting with Hunters Paradise New Zealand free-range or on a game park?
A. We are able to offer visiting hunters to New Zealand the opportunity to hunt both NZ free range and animals on NZ safari parks. If you want to hunt NZ large gold class animals in a short time, you will only achieve what most New Zealand hunters take a lifetime to achieve, by hunting on a New Zealand game park.
Q. How big is your New Zealand hunting area?
A. Our main New Zealand hunting area is inland from Christchurch is 2000 acres. Other blocks used vary in size and make up. These areas offer fair chase hunting environment.
Q. What is New Zealand fair chase hunting?
A. Not be confused with NZ free-range hunting. New Zealand fair chase hunting can be in an enclosed area in which the hunted animal has adequate cover by vegetation or terrain enabling game plenty of opportunity to elude the hunter. The NZ blocks we use are mainly farmland pastures divided by gullies or ravines full with native fauna and pine trees.
Q. What is New Zealand free-range hunting?
A. New Zealand free range hunting means the animals hunted are not limited to a confined or fenced area.
Q. How big of a trophy animal can a New Zealand free-range hunter expect to harvest?
A. While hunting New Zealand free-range red stag on our blocks you could harvest an animal that scores up to SCI275. This will have between 12 to 14 points. The biggest New Zealand trophy animals shot each year are harvested on hunting parks.
Q. What does it cost a New Zealand resident to hunt?
A. Apart from the usual costs of getting set up, it is free to hunt in New Zealand. If you're visiting New Zealand and want to hunt, I strongly recommend engaging a New Zealand guide. If you're after a New Zealand trophy the chances of securing one on public land are very unlikely.
Q. Is there a limit to the number of New Zealand Trophy animals one hunter can take?
A. For some New Zealand game like ducks, pheasants etc, there is a daily "bag limit" but for NZ red deer, pigs, turkeys, and goats there is no limit.
Q. Can I bring any meat out of New Zealand after our hunting trip?
A. The logistics of this make it difficult and there are regulations restricting the exporting of meat out of New Zealand. These New Zealand hunts are more set up for the NZ trophy hunter rather than the meat hunter.
Q. Am I able to shoot a Trophy NZ Gold Class (Safari Club International - SCI) red stag with Hunters Paradise New Zealand?
A. Yes we do have Gold Class New Zealand Trophy Red Stags running on our hunting areas. Our largest New Zealand red stag shot scored SCI 408. See Larry Illg's endorsement and picture. Larger New Zealand stags are available upon request.
Q. What level of fitness is required to hunt in New Zealand?
A. At Hunters Paradise New Zealand we cater for all levels of fitness. Hunters intending to hunt NZ free-range animals should be prepared to hike greater distances.
Q. Is it safe to hunt in New Zealand?
A. There are no wild bears, cats, snakes and very few poisonous spiders in New Zealand. You can hunt New Zealand without the fear of being attacked by wild animals, as there are none.
Q. What is the cost for animal tags for hunting in New Zealand?
A. There is no tag system in New Zealand. That is, shoot as many as New Zealand trophies you can see or afford.
Q. What does it cost to ship our New Zealand trophy home?
A. This will vary in price depending on the size and number of New Zealand trophy animals to be shipped and the trophy's destination. Inquire with us personally to discuss this further.
Q. Any bird shooting in New Zealand?
A. We have some excellent waterfowl and upland game bird shooting in New Zealand. New Zealand duck shooting season starts in May and usually runs for two months. The main New Zealand breeds of ducks are mallard duck, paradise duck and the grey duck. We also have swans, geese, (including Canadian) and some other breeds unique to New Zealand. Pheasants are also plentiful.
Q. What breed of turkey do we have in New Zealand?
A. Merriam Turkey.
Q. Is it true that New Zealand people don't hunt turkeys?
A. Most New Zealand hunters do not hunt turkeys. Combine this with the fact that there are no natural predators (cats, snakes etc) our countryside is literally full of turkeys just waiting for you.
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