Thread: 2020 SHOT STAGS

Originally Posted by Southcity

My first sika stag. Shultz and Larsen 25.06 with Swaro Z5.

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Would hate to know how much you had to pay to shoot a stag like that Southcity

Originally Posted by Huntn

Would hate to know how much you had to pay to shoot a stag like that Southcity

My thoughts exactly. Doesn't take away from the stag at all in my eyes

Originally Posted by Huntn

Would hate to know how much you had to pay to shoot a stag like that Southcity

why would he have to pay?

Originally Posted by Huntn

Would hate to know how much you had to pay to shoot a stag like that Southcity

Hah. You either know the guy and are taking the piss, or you are dripping with envy.

Me - I'm quite happy to just see his success and appreciate a very nice Sika without judgement

Originally Posted by Tahr

Hah. You either know the guy and are taking the piss, or you are dripping with envy.

Me - I'm quite happy to just see his success and appreciate a very nice Sika without judgement

Tahr I don't know the guy and I'm not taking the piss. I just really struggle to understand what some people are happy to do to get there trophy stag...just pay some money and then follow there guide up to mobs of trophy stags then take your pick on which one you want to shoot.
Its hardly hunting in my opinion

Originally Posted by Huntn

Tahr I don't know the guy and I'm not taking the piss. I just really struggle to understand what some people are happy to do to get there trophy stag...just pay some money and then follow there guide up to mobs of trophy stags then take your pick on which one you want to shoot.
Its hardly hunting in my opinion

It's not that easy, you still hunt but generally in good areas. You pay for the access to these places and the guide makes a portion of the price you are charged. My moose hunt in Alaska cost a fair bit but there you can't hunt without a Outfitter/ guide. We hunted just the same as on self organized hunt, all free range etc. When hunting you still do all the normal stuff but you have somebody there to make sure you shoot the right animal, in other words what you are looking for. As for mobs of stags to select from i'm not sure about that, maybe behind wire but in the wild probably not. The bull moose I shot was the best we seen out of all the animals we looked over. No problem with guided hunting, each to there own.

Originally Posted by Huntn

Tahr I don't know the guy and I'm not taking the piss. I just really struggle to understand what some people are happy to do to get there trophy stag...just pay some money and then follow there guide up to mobs of trophy stags then take your pick on which one you want to shoot.
Its hardly hunting in my opinion

Huntn, have you ever taken someone hunting to an area that you already know and helped them shoot an animal, or been taken hunting yourself ?? That is really all guided hunting is except the hunter and the guide don't know each other and the guide does it for a job. It just depends on how we look at these things.
You might be a natural athlete endowed with great strength and stamina far above the average man, Should you be therefore handicapped like a racehorse because you have an unfair advantage ?? Because the dislike of guided hunting is, when it is broken down a feeling that the guide provides an unfair advantage. The advantage a guide provides is time saving and the safety of having a companion in unfamiliar country.
If you have any of Bruce Banwells 'Great New Zealand Deer Heads' series start tearing out pages tonight of all the great heads that were taken with the help of guides. They will be skinny books by the morning

Originally Posted by Huntn

Tahr I don't know the guy and I'm not taking the piss. I just really struggle to understand what some people are happy to do to get there trophy stag...just pay some money and then follow there guide up to mobs of trophy stags then take your pick on which one you want to shoot.
Its hardly hunting in my opinion

Understood. Its likely you hold that view because you have never done it. I expect that the challenges are the same albeit that the heads better on average. I look forward to seeing your successes in this thread.

Originally Posted by Huntn

Tahr I don't know the guy and I'm not taking the piss. I just really struggle to understand what some people are happy to do to get there trophy stag...just pay some money and then follow there guide up to mobs of trophy stags then take your pick on which one you want to shoot.
Its hardly hunting in my opinion

Since I do know Southcity and have hunted with him on several occasions I just have a couple of things I'd like to mention.
We have hunted Clements Mill Road, Maungapohatu, Otago and the Southern Alps, no guides on any of these hunts.

Southcity invited one of his work colleagues from overseas on an Otago hunt for Red Stags this time last year. He spent 3 days of the 4 day hunt getting the visitor onto and eventually shooting a very nice stag. Due to this unselfish gesture Southcity ran out of time to search for a big stag and ended up with a much lessor specimen.

My apologies to the OP for derailing the thread.

I was privileged to be able to go for a hunt in private land near Oxford, canterbury to bring this guy home with us. We got access for Tuesday night, the first day of level 3. My two oldest boys (6 and 5 years old) loved the experience and I was super proud of them as they stood completely still and didn't make a sound! Spotted him standing just off the bush edge just right on dark. He had locked onto me as we were walking along a track into a clearing. Standing shot of 100m and he dropped on the spot. Pretty chuffed with the standing shot as it was getting on dark and challenging to see him clearly through the scope. We got the whole animal of the hill and have processed him myself, will be making sausages and salami! Might post some pics of that venture! Apologies for all the guys that don't have access to private land at this stage, but I thought some guys might appreciate the story of my first proper stag. I reckon he is a good looking one. Not super thick timber but a great looking rack and head I reckon. For those experienced, what age do you think he is? I'm thinking 3-5 years? Cheers guys,

Originally Posted by holmesy777

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I was privileged to be able to go for a hunt in private land near Oxford, canterbury to bring this guy home with us. We got access for Tuesday night, the first day of level 3. My two oldest boys (6 and 5 years old) loved the experience and I was super proud of them as they stood completely still and didn't make a sound! Spotted him standing just off the bush edge just right on dark. He had locked onto me as we were walking along a track into a clearing. Standing shot of 100m and he dropped on the spot. Pretty chuffed with the standing shot as it was getting on dark and challenging to see him clearly through the scope. We got the whole animal of the hill and have processed him myself, will be making sausages and salami! Might post some pics of that venture! Apologies for all the guys that don't have access to private land at this stage, but I thought some guys might appreciate the story of my first proper stag. I reckon he is a good looking one. Not super thick timber but a great looking rack and head I reckon. For those experienced, what age do you think he is? I'm thinking 3-5 years? Cheers guys,

Holmsey, welcome to the forum. Good 1st post.

Pop over to the "Introduce yourself Thread" and say hello when you get a moment.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Holmsey, welcome to the forum. Good 1st post.

Pop over to the "Introduce yourself Thread" and say hello when you get a moment.

Will do mate. Cheers.

Originally Posted by Huntn

Would hate to know how much you had to pay to shoot a stag like that Southcity

Well I didn't know that this thread "Stags 2020' had to have a price listed like the Buy Sell and Exchange thread? But you are curious and that's not a bad thing. When its all boiled down we all pay for our deer, chamois or Tahr. For those of us who have done multiple trips into Fiordland, Stewart Island or even chopper trips into South Westland or the Kawekas. All cost money.
I shot this stag on private land bordering DOC land with Brain Elwarth. I'm a very late starter on Sika and they are a different beast than I am used to with Reds and fallow. Not only do you get access to great hunting spots but I learnt so much about the habits of these interesting deer and how to hunt them.
Not that I have to justify the stag to anyone but I feel at ease we had to stalk in on it and in the end I had to do the business with the rifle.
I travel a lot globally consulting and don't have the privilege many do to seek out local hunting spots and hit them regularly.(Like I used to) So I chose in this case to find someone who delivered free range hunts in the most basic style.
What did the hunt cost? If you want an awesome hunt call Brian Elwarth and he can give you all the details and options.. You get a great experience and access to his awesome knowledge and blocks.
I can sleep easy at night knowing the deer we saw and stalked were not in a fenced block. I trust this cures your curiosity.

Originally Posted by Southcity

Well I didn't know that this thread "Stags 2020' had to have a price listed like the Buy Sell and Exchange thread? But you are curious and that's not a bad thing. When its all boiled down we all pay for our deer, chamois or Tahr. For those of us who have done multiple trips into Fiordland, Stewart Island or even chopper trips into South Westland or the Kawekas. All cost money.
I shot this stag on private land bordering DOC land with Brain Elwarth. I'm a very late starter on Sika and they are a different beast than I am used to with Reds and fallow. Not only do you get access to great hunting spots but I learnt so much about the habits of these interesting deer and how to hunt them.
Not that I have to justify the stag to anyone but I feel at ease we had to stalk in on it and in the end I had to do the business with the rifle.
I travel a lot globally consulting and don't have the privilege many do to seek out local hunting spots and hit them regularly.(Like I used to) So I chose in this case to find someone who delivered free range hunts in the most basic style.
What did the hunt cost? If you want an awesome hunt call Brian Elwarth and he can give you all the details and options.. You get a great experience and access to his awesome knowledge and blocks.
I can sleep easy at night knowing the deer we saw and stalked were not in a fenced block. I trust this cures your curiosity.

It makes no difference weather you pay someone or pay to do it yourself, but as you can see the results speak for themselves, great stag @Southcity one to be proud off.

Good on you Southcity, great stag, wicked timber, well deserved!