Thread: Recommended Outfitter

@7mmwsm - Yep, I'm not able to PM yet. You are welcome to PM me...
@PerazziSC3 - I know many of the outfits are high-fence; that's not what I'm looking for. I consider low-fence (I'm assuming it's the same there) to be fair-chase, as the animals can move from zone to zone. We have found a few low-fence outfits.
As far as bringing back meat, each person can bring back 50lbs. If my wife comes out to join me after the hunt, we can bring back a total of 100lbs. I'm hoping I can donate the rest, assuming I get an animal.
BTW, not looking for a meat hunt, just don't need a trophy. If you saw the size of deer in my county, you'd laugh. �� I'm an amateur chef, which is why Feb-March makes most sense, according to NZ sources.
@Puddleduk - You just described what my buddy and I do here. In the U.S. there's lots of great hunting. I live in San Diego, which probably has some of the worst hunting (for game other than pigs and doves) in the U.S. Although, we do have world-class deep
sea fishing, which I've been doing for many years. My buddy and I are more motivated than most, and will spend many many days scouting. I have yet to harvest, although admittedly, I'm an adult-onset hunter, meaning my family never hunted, and I
got into it 10 yrs ago. It's a difficult thing to get into when you have no contacts or family in the industry, because no one wants to take you to their known spots. I've done archery elk in Montana, which has some of the best animals I've ever seen. It
was public land, and we didn't get an animal, but we tracked, and got close to several, which is what it's about for me. I can't PM yet, so you're welcome to PM me. I'd love some insight on how to do Public in NZ. We would prefer to do that, but the
learning curve from here is pretty steep, unless you have friend's/family over there.
@HarryMax - Thanks for the link, I will check it out.
@Micky Duck - I was getting the impression from some NZ outfitters that the early season for reds was Feb to March, and that they could not be hunted right now. Am I missing something?
BTW, you said you thought the pricing was around $50-700 per animal (plus guide, etc.) We've looked at about 15 outfitters, and they are all about $6,000 to $8,000 per hunter, with usually some kind out discount for a 2 x 1 hunt.
It does include a lot of other things, like lodging, food, and other things, so I'm guessing that's about the going rate. That rate average is NOT for a trophy size buck.
@kukuwai - Thanks for the link; I will check it out.
@SmokeyJason - That is one of the places recommended by someone on the "LongRangeHunting" forum to which I'm a member. Their prices are kind of high; a bit more than we want to spend, but thanks for the info.


If we come out, most likely both our wives would fly out towards the end of our hunt, and we'd rent a car to do a bit of exploring around your country.
Several ppl, including 7mmwsm have said it's difficult to bring a rifle over. I know there's a few months delay, but what about the process might make me rethink it? I'd rather use my own than rent one.

Thanks for all the input. I appreciate you taking the time to help a (not sure what you call us in slang...yank?)
Dave