Home from New Zealand

[sheephunter]

We just got back from New Zealand last night....what an incredible experience. Here's a few pics of our adventure.

 

[sheephunter]

Here's a few more:

 

[bluemike807]

Are those possums?

 

[sheephunter]

Are those possums?

Yes they are. We did a spotlighting run one night and shot a few of them to bring home.

 

[Dogleg]

Looks like a good trip. Private or public land? Choppers? I need some details, a friend is after me to do a NZ thing.

 

[sheephunter]

Looks like a good trip. Private or public land? Choppers? I need some details, a friend is after me to do a NZ thing.

It was a totally free-range hunt on private land. We hunted big working sheep stations. We did everything on foot. We had to look long and hard for an outfitter that offered that but can't say enough good about the one we hunted with. It truly is an amazing place to hunt.

I'd rate the chamois as the most difficult of New Zealand game. They make our mountain goats look like whimps. I'd hunt them again in a minute. The tahr inhabited some rough country too but nothing like the chamois. To do it all on foot you need to be in pretty good shape but it's very doable. We timed our hunt to catch the end of the stag roar, the fallow rut and the beginning of the chamois rut. I'd say we timed it absolutely perfectly for the combination of animals we hunted. We also did some long-range rabbit shooting and the night hunt for possums was just plain fun. With no predators, New Zealand is a very target-rich environment.

 

[coolpoolken]

Sounds like the trip of a lifetime! Thanks for posting!! nice pics and animals!!......Ken

 

[Jamie Black R/T]

looks like some plentiful game to hunt with gorgeous scenery everywhere you look.

good stuff...thanks for posting

 

[medvedqc]

woawww ... wonderful pics and trips.

chamois is still my favourite antelope.

weel done.

 

[yorgi]

Awesome pics, terrific trophies, thanks for sharing!

Were the European hare spotlighted as well, or were they taken during the day?
What's the relative abundance of rabbits and hare?

 

[sheephunter]

Awesome pics, terrific trophies, thanks for sharing!

Were the European hare spotlighted as well, or were they taken during the day?
What's the relative abundance of rabbits and hare?

We hunted rabbits both during the day and the night but the hare were taken at night. The number of rabbits is staggering. Some sheep stations have full-time rabbiters just to kill rabbits. The devestation they cause is unbelieveable. We saw less hares but there are still plenty of them. With virtually no predators, they quite literally breed and survive like rabbits.

 

[mooncoon]

What happens to the meat from the large animals?

cheers mooncoon

 

[sheephunter]

What happens to the meat from the large animals?

cheers mooncoon

It gets eaten.

 

[Demonical]

^ Comments on the meat, which was your favorite-least favorite?

 

[sheephunter]

^ Comments on the meat, which was your favorite-least favorite?

Fallow deer was definitely the best but red stag and tahr were really good too. Chamois is VERY chewy. We had jugged hare one night too, it was good!

Oh ya, bacon wrapped turkey breasts were pretty awesome too.

 

[UR2X3M4ME]

Amazing hunting jolly indeed with lots of bacon to pack. Give me a sign and I'll drop in with the red wine!

 

[makid]

Okay, that hunt impressed the hell out of me. Did I miss the part where the outfitters name and website was posted?

Congrats,
Dean

 

[sheephunter]

Okay, that hunt impressed the hell out of me. Did I miss the part where the outfitters name and website was posted?

Congrats,
Dean

We hunted with Gerald Telford of Telford Fishing and Hunting.

 

[sheephunter]

Finally got around to dowloading our photos...I want to go back! Here's a few more.

 

[Big Game]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing!