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Visiting New Zealand

Everyone needs a passport to visit New Zealand, however and entry visa is not required if you have no criminal record. Visas may required for Australia, please check with your closest Australian consulate. 

Great news - no vaccinations are required.

We recommend that you purchase travel insurance in case you need to cancel your trip, and for your peace of mind. We highly recommend that you take out hunt specific travel insurance.

New Zealand is a modern country with excellent health facilities and emergency services. It is worth remembering however, that you are likely to be in remote environments when hunting so we recommend travel insurance in case air rescue and/or medical assistance is required.

No snakes! No mountain lines, no coyotes, no crocodiles or poisonous creatures you have to worry about. Which is great, because it's safe for you to wander around the ranch. So long as you're not in the hunting area.

About your hunt

South Island hunts for red stag, fallow, elk, tahr and chamois are usually in the mountains, where the brush cover is not so heavy. Generally, South Island hunts require a better level of fitness than a deer hunt in the North Island.

If you’re not quite sure which style of hunting or which location to hunt would suit you best, just drop us a quick question or give us a call, we’ll be happy to chat with you about it.

The North Island is generally rolling hill country with good access tracks covering the main ridges and valleys. There are large tracts of brush and forest where the deer can rest up when not feeding or rutting. North Island hunts can easily be tailored to a moderate level of fitness.

Any of the .30 calibres or .270 up. Handguns are not permitted in New Zealand.

Not unless you love it so much that you can bothered traveling with it! We're happy to lend you good quality firearms with excellent optics, in which case all you'll need to bring is some ammunition.

The game preserves we hunt on are only fenced to the New Zealand standard as required by our legislation. Fences are no higher than 6ft and only around the perimeter for estate Tahr. Don't be surprised if you see a deer jumping a 6ft fence while you're here.

No you don't because New Zealand does not operate on a licensing or tag system. Hunting regulations are more relaxed than in the US.

After your hunt

It's a little complicated to take your meat back to the US, but we can work with you to make this happen if you are determined. We kindly request our chefs to prepare as much venison as you like to eat while you're staying in camp.

It will take around 90 days to get you trophies back into a US customs port of entry. Our guides will field dress your trophies, and at the end of your hunt we'll sit down with you to reconfirm how you wish to have your trophies mounted, and we'll fill out the paperwork together. Then we'll transfer them to a local expediter who will dip and pack them, and arrange the export paperwork. You will need to pay them directly for this, via credit card. The expediter will transfer your items to a shipping broker, who will contact you directly to discuss details and arrange shipping fees.

Due to US import regulations, we do not recommend that you do this as it puts your trophies at risk of confiscation.

We have an excellent taxidermist in New Zealand, and there are many excellent taxidermists in the US who are experienced with New Zealand species. It is generally around 30% more cost effective to have your trophies mounted in the US. We are happy to make recommendations if you're not sure who to turn to.

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