Thread: First time New Zealand hunting - August / September

Hello and thanks for the welcome!

At the moment I am beginnig to click through all the information which is available on the DOC website which seems great to me, especially the topographic map. I also have a Lonely Planet "Tramping New Zealand" flying around somewhere which I need to dig out.

So you mean that there won't be big snow for a longer period, even on the east side of the southern alps?

I will take a full tramping package with small tent & cooker with me. Even if I will definitely use the huts, I also want the possibility to be independent and go to some places further away from huts etc.

Is the SpotX Guide for hunting worth purchasing or are the places mentioned there "over-hunted"? I thought of buying it to get a better impression about on which areas to focus my stay.

Question regarding the equipment: Is the 8x57IS a common caliber in New Zealand?? That what I use here in Germany and I would like to use the same gun in New Zeland, even though its a big heavy and has a very big scope :-(

@wirehunt: Thanks for the tips, I will check out some maps etc. about the locations, I just remember from my last trip that the "dusky track" was THE wilderness experience in New Zealand...

Any more tips and informations are very much appreciated.

I've read somewhere that it is common for hunters in New Zealand to use a helicopter to get to more remote places. That sounds really cool, how much does it approximately cost?? I guess the pilots will also have good tips on hunting spots!?