New Zealand - North Island Adventure

Bouhuntress · #1 07-29-2015, 11:53 AM

Back in 2011 we hunted the South Island of New Zealand and both of us really wanted to go back and experience the North Island and some of the unique deer species it offers. After much checking around, we decided to book with Wildside Hunting Safaris as it was a small, personalized operation and we just really enjoyed chatting with the owner, Gerald Fluerty. He runs primarily a bow-hunting operation but as we'd be coming well after his regular hunting season, he agreed to take us as rifle hunters.

We booked a 9-day hunt for red Stag, fallow deer, sika deer, sambar deer and rusa deer with the option to hunt arapowa ram and wild goats. As New Zealand has no native land mammals save for three species of bats, all of the deer were brought over by the British in the 1800s and have done very well in the predator-free environment.

We hunted Gerald's main farm for the red deer and fallow deer and I managed to take a great fallow buck on the first afternoon. Gerald said it was one of the biggest he'd ever taken. I was thrilled.

We hunted red stag for a few days but Gerald had one particular stag in mind for me and we just couldn't find him so we decided to head to a different farm to hunt sika deer and TJ took a great old stag.

The weather changed drastically the following day and we ended up with nearly a foot of snow. Conditions were ideal for hunting the rolling terrain and finally two days later we found the stag and I took one of my most unique animals ever. He'd injured his antler as a yearling and it grew out of the front of his head at a very strange angle. He was magnificent. In all, we figured we walked 50-60 miles hunting this stag alone.

The highways were closed from the snow storm but reopened the following afternoon and we headed about 3 hours south to hunt sambar. TJ managed to take a great old stag on the second day. With time quickly running out, we had to forgo hunting rusa but it will be a great excuse to go back one day.

We saw an incredible amount of animals during our trip including many wild turkeys and peacocks. Going back just to hunt them would be awesome. We spent our last few days in Auckland before boarding the 14-hour flight home.

7mmremmag · #2 07-29-2015, 11:56 AM

Great story Vanessa.
I miss TJ around here

north american hunter · #3 07-29-2015, 12:05 PM

Looks like you guys had a blast! Congrats.

nube · #4 07-29-2015, 12:19 PM

Congrats on a nice hunt.

Smokinyotes · #5 07-29-2015, 05:10 PM

Very nice pics. Sounds like it was a great hunt.

Caleb · #6 07-29-2015, 05:19 PM

Awesome post and pictures. Enjoy hearing about your adventures.

southernman · #7 07-29-2015, 05:30 PM

That's a really nice fallow, Love hunting them and so dam tasty, Nice sika, I have spent years hunting them in the Kaweka's Mountains and was unable to retrieve the best one I have ever shot, (dam bluffs)
Were is wild side, I have seen the sigh someplace, in my travel's, I think west side of Mount Ruapehu. I fly fish over there a lot.
Looks like a nice trip.

Bouhuntress · #8 07-29-2015, 08:26 PM

Southernman,

I believe Wildside is just on the south side of Mt Ruapehu. We would definitely like to go back there for some fly fishing as well.

Luxor · #9 07-29-2015, 08:35 PM

Great pics you lucky ducks.

Great adventure

Appreciate you showing us

Great lovers pic....hope its a wall hanger

lucky_magic_stick · #10 07-29-2015, 09:35 PM

Wow nice fallow Vanessa & TJ's sika is great stag how were the meat pies ? Looks like you both had an excellent adventure down under . Great photos & story thanks for sharing cheers Andy

Torkdiesel · #11 07-29-2015, 10:12 PM

Congrats on the successful hunt !!!

Looks like you had a blast

abbgdr · #12 07-29-2015, 11:05 PM

Great pics! Thanks for sharing

Caza80 · #13 07-30-2015, 02:05 AM

Very nice animals! It has been a goal to get over to New Zealand for a few years now. Mabey next year I can make it happen.

Hydro1 · #14 07-30-2015, 03:05 AM

Great pictures, thanks for sharing!
Looks like a blast.

kraftiest1 · #15 07-30-2015, 01:42 PM

Nice pics! New Zealand is on the list for a few years from now!

Chet · #16 07-30-2015, 02:30 PM

Great hunt and awesome photos Vanessa. Thanks for posting.

flyguyd · #17 08-02-2015, 10:08 PM

Well done !!!!! Some great trophies there

I had a fantastic time on the south Island back in April

Double Shovel · #18 08-03-2015, 12:16 AM

Very Nice pics Vanessa. I think the goat is one of my favorites

Bouhuntress · #19 08-05-2015, 03:43 PM

"Lucky_Magic_Stick

Wow nice fallow Vanessa & TJ's sika is great stag how were the meat pies ? Looks like you both had an excellent adventure down under . Great photos & story thanks for sharing cheers Andy"

Oh my....those meat pies are addictive! We fell in love with them on our last trip to New Zealand. We had to have one the moment we landed in Auckland! As luck would have it Gerald liked to stop for tea so we got to sample the delicious meat pies a few times. Needless to say its a really good thing we were putting on the miles every day!

Gary · #20 08-06-2015, 05:10 AM

Nice pictures. Regarding the turkeys: any time friends or family come over to visit I take them out for a shoot. No licence required as turkeys, peacocks and Canada Geese are considered pests.
Gary

58thecat · #21 08-06-2015, 06:28 AM

Thanks for sharing this adventure, wow factor for sure.

Bouhuntress · #22 08-06-2015, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary

Nice pictures. Regarding the turkeys: any time friends or family come over to visit I take them out for a shoot. No licence required as turkeys, peacocks and Canada Geese are considered pests.
Gary

Yes, we had tons of fun hunting turkeys on our trip back in 2011 and just ran out of time on this trip. I have to say I wouldn't mind taking out a few of those pesky paradise ducks aka parasite ducks.

Always nice to leave something to go back for