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

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

Hello again Stug,

I had a great trip last April, got 2 stags. I wound up purchasing a freezer which is at my friend's house in Little River.
I'm headed back to the South Island, South Westland in February. I plan to hunt 2 locations and after the first hunt I was wondering if anyone in South Westland could help me with freezing meat around February 7? Would probably need freezer space February 7-17 for a tahr and chamois.
I can donate meat to the freezer owner/trade.

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.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

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

Someone else I gave it to got through Melbourne customs so we thought he would be ok. He wasn't happy.

I'm planning to avoid to Australia like the plague. I would like to get home with my meat, Trophies and rifle.

We brought back meat through Auckland to LAX and then Alaska with minimal issues. A friend also brought his to the Big Island Hawaii. NZ is the only country other than Canada that we can bring back meat to the USA. Just need to check ahead with Customs/USFWS for possible inspection. Must be a direct flight from NZ to the USA however.

Thank you for the advice. I did bring back meat last April. The red stag was really delicious. Where did you freeze your meat in New Zealand?
I am headed back to New Zealand in February and again April if you are interested in joining me for public land hunting.