Thread: Freezing meat, advice for first visit

Hello everyone,

I am an American from Hawaii planning my first NZ hunt for next April 2019.
I plan to hunt public land because I do not approve of commercializing wildlife.
I could afford to hunt a monster grotesque Stag on a high fenced estate but I would feel like I am shooting someone’s pet.
If anyone would like to trade hunts we could work out an exchange.
I hunt upland birds with my expert GSP dog, wild goats, mouflon and wooly sheep, lots of pigs, axis deer and wild cows.
I have taken big bull cows with archery which is quite a rush.
I am looking for help/advice for my April trip.
We Americans try to salvage all the meat we shoot. This demonstrates respect for the animal we killed and is the law everywhere in America. I need to borrow or rent freezer space in Canterbury. I would give 1/2 of the meat in exchange.
I am planning to hunt the Hopkins River for tahr. Will probably purchase a mountain bike to access the 4wd tracks.
For red deer I am thinking of hiring heli transport to Spray River above Glazebrook Station in Marlborough or the Rakaia main divide from Double Hill. Another area for reds I am considering is the Ahururi river or Lake Sumner accessing by mountain bike. I would be happy with an 8 point or larger stag.
I am fit and willing to put in the miles and vertical meters to bag wild game. Will be in NZ the first 3 weeks in April.
Any help or advice is appreciated.

Hi and welcome. I'm a newbie here myself. I was told it was friendly forum before I joined, and it is.

As to advice, read the posts that grab your attention and ask questions.

A strong sense of humour is definitely an asset.

I suggest you head over to the" Introduce yourself" section and give a short rundown on who you are and what you're about.

Thanks for the advice, will "introduce" myself

Thanks will check into it

You should stay a bit longer and experience the duck season nz style as well,,first Saturday in May is opening weekend.

Would love to do this but I have to work for a living. Maybe the following year.

I'm in Canterbury, might have freezer space, all depends on when we kill our cattle beast.

Thank you for the contact. Will check with you about a month before my trip next March.
Do you have any advice about travel up the River beds like Hopkins, Hurunui or Ahuriri by mountain bike?
Would love to take horses in there, that's my preferred hunting transport. It seems like hunters don't use horses much in New Zealand, probably too steep to get up out of the river beds?

Originally Posted by Docsbinocs

Thank you for the contact. Will check with you about a month before my trip next March.
Do you have any advice about travel up the River beds like Hopkins, Hurunui or Ahuriri by mountain bike?
Would love to take horses in there, that's my preferred hunting transport. It seems like hunters don't use horses much in New Zealand, probably too steep to get up out of the river beds?

The Department of Conservation does not allow horse access in most areas, you will need to check on the DoC website for which areas you can use Mountain bikes to access. I've used mountain bikes to access the Hurunui, from the gate part way around Loch Katrine to the bush edge at the end of the flats. I've walked up the Ahuriri to shamrock hut, it would be an easy bike, if you are allowed. I've never been up the Hopkins.

You can take a bike or a horse on any public land in NZ except a National Park, so long as you dont cause wilful damage.

What are you going to do with the frozen meat? Can you take it home?
I gave my brother a chilly bin of backsteak and the customs at Sydney took it off him.

Welcome to the forum.
You have the right attitude going by your opening post, hang around and contribute and offers/advice should come.

Originally Posted by Brian

What are you going to do with the frozen meat? Can you take it home?
I gave my brother a chilly bin of backsteak and the customs at Sydney took it off him.

Australian customs are really tight when it comes to bringing in anything living or once lived.

The ahuriri gets smashed in April.

I would plan to eat the meat you harvest before returning to Hawaii, we could have a forum barby in your honour.