Hi all - UK Hunter looking for come to NZ for a 2 week unguided hunt

Hi everyone,

I am yearning for an true hunting experience/adventure and heard NZ is the place to do it. As a former professional deer stalker here in the UK I really don't enjoy being guided as it feels like I am not actually hunting just following someone and then shooting an animal. The stalking here in the UK is great but its getting harder to get, very expensive and overall hunt distances are pretty short. Therefore I am looking to plan a hunt on the North Island (have relatives in Wellington) being out in the bush for a max of 14 days, haven't decided on species yet or the time of year to come over. Planning to do at some point 2019 or 2020.

I appreciate people will like to protect their best spots on public land but any information would be greatly appreciate considering how far I am coming ;)

I will also be purchasing a rifle and kit while in NZ so will be keeping an eye out on here to see if anything is coming up for when I arrive. Would be ideal to come to some form of arrangement with a local, perhaps I buy a new rifle/mod from a store and you buy it off me before departure at a cheap rate. Who knows, many possibilities for me to look into as its early days.

Any advice would be most welcome.

Welcome UK hunter. I'm sure there's some great info available on here for you.

i really wouldnt venture into nz wilderness alone. the conditions are allot different to the u.k.
if you really insist on it take a PLB as in some places if you injure yourself you will never be found again

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Originally Posted by gonetropo

i really wouldnt venture into nz wilderness alone. the conditions are allot different to the u.k.
if you really insist on it take a PLB as in some places if you injure yourself you will never be found again

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Sorry yes should have elaborated a friend of mine will be coming ex army 2 tours of afghan plus will be hiring PLB's.

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Originally Posted by UK_hunter

Sorry yes should have elaborated a friend of mine will be coming ex army 2 tours of afghan plus will be hiring PLB's.

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Last time I hunted with an ex SAS guy, he got ever so slightly dis orientated on the first day and ended up back at camp in 3 hrs due to turning the wrong way.Haha.

Good luck with the plan @UK_hunter. Enjoy!
Its not a bad little country this NZ

Hi , welcome, keep your eye on the threads started by Docsbinocs: " Freezing meat advice for first visit" and "Advice for red deer".

He's in a similar spot to you, looking to visit from overseas for the first time.

Feel free to ask questions, A strong sense of humour's welcome here.

Thanks guys, my uncle lives in Wellington so will be using his place as a base. He may even come along or one of his pals.

Be aware that your UK firearms license doesn't count over here so you may not be able to buy a firearm unless you already have an NZ FAL?

I'm from the UK (lived here 8 years) and have just taken up hunting and shooting. The scenery here is amazing but do be careful as the weather can turn quite bad with little warning and the hills or Wellington are windy as chuff.

Regards
Ash

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=aetchell;729644]Be aware that your UK firearms license doesn't count over here so you may not be able to buy a firearm unless you already have an NZ FAL?

I'm from the UK (lived here 8 years) and have just taken up hunting and shooting. The scenery here is amazing but do be careful as the weather can turn quite bad with little warning and the hills or Wellington are windy as chuff.

According to NZ police I can apply for a temporary visitor licence when I arrive at the airport which will allow me to buy a firearm. I just have to prove that I have authority to hold a firearm in the country I am from in order to do so and a place to store it. A local gun shop has mentioned they will be able to help me out with storage and also the supply of a firearm for my hunt ( would rather buy second hand and broken in/zeroed). I am hoping to get some more documents off NZ police so I know this is set in stone as it seems too good to be true! Particularly with how difficult it is here in the UK.

Yeah I am going to be well prepared lots of top kit goretex, good hill boots, PLBs, alpine tent sleeping bag, backpack etc etc.

I would head north to hunt Sika then to the south island to hunt Red deer ,Chamois and Thar.

Getting 14 days of decent weather would be the hard bit.

Welcome to the forum! 14 days is a hell of a long time for one hunt. In the more remote parts of the South Island 7 days would be long enough. Several 2-3 day hunts in different areas for different species would be better and give you a better selection of species and terrain. The North Island has Rusa and Sambar which aren't in the SI, otherwise the South Island has more species (including Chamois and Thar) but more varied terrain and weather conditions.

NZ Police have changed the rules about temp firearms licences, you need to apply at least a month beforehand now, can't do it at the airport anymore.

Welcome

Here is the link for the temp firearms licence

Visitor's firearms licence and import permits | New Zealand Police

14 days is a huge excursion, remember you will be in a practical wilderness. rain falls and rivers rise fast. snow can fall (only in a few places for those north island woofters :P) always have at least enough provisions to have to bail in for a few days.
i went on one trip and got in in 6 hours, after a few days the weather turned to hell in a handbasket. the river trail wasnt safe to traverse, it took 1 1/2 days of hard slog to get out safely. i would rather be hungry that washed into a river even though that involved freeze dry food from hell.
anyways inho you are better to do multiple excursions than one big one

You could buy a PLB in the UK and take it back home with you at the end of your trip. Always useful to have. You don't have to be deep in the bush for it to save your life, just out of mobile reception. A UK bought and registered PLB will 100% work in NZ. Don't listen to anyone saying otherwise.

Yeah I was hoping to do a long trek in one of the larger ranges, camp out or use huts maybe 14 days is ambitious. Its likely I will just stick to the north island, unless its relatively cheap/simple to get to the south island.

Thanks for the heads up on that

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Originally Posted by UK_hunter

Yeah I was hoping to do a long trek in one of the larger ranges, camp out or use huts maybe 14 days is ambitious. Its likely I will just stick to the north island, unless its relatively cheap/simple to get to the south island.

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Buy a ferry tiket, drive on the ferry, go to the bar for 3 hours, drive off ferry. In the South Island. You don't even need a passport or visa.

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Originally Posted by stug

You don't even need a passport or visa.

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No you don't but you should :D

Howdy
Loads of good spots in the Ruahines and Kawekas and dont forget your free downloadable DOC hunting permit.
MARK

Get a decent rifle that'll do the bigger animals and you'll be 'sweet'

I have space you can doss down very close to Kaimanawas and more. No charge just turn up as a G.C.

Sorry, I just clicked the Kiwis will know what G.C is, however you may not.
In a nice way of saying things "if you are a pleasant individual then my home is yours for as long as you need it".

Thanks for all the input guys, as you can imagine I have a lot of planning to get done. Still cant decide what species to concentrate on and whether or not I should have a go at Tahr/Chamois on the South Island. Basically I am after a difficult long hunt that will test my skills, so species doesnt really matter as long as I need to put in the work. Maybe you have recommendations?

Calibre wise was probably going to go with .300 win mag just to make sure I have enough power for most species.

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Originally Posted by UK_hunter

Thanks for all the input guys, as you can imagine I have a lot of planning to get done. Still cant decide what species to concentrate on and whether or not I should have a go at Tahr/Chamois on the South Island. Basically I am after a difficult long hunt that will test my skills, so species doesnt really matter as long as I need to put in the work. Maybe you have recommendations?

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Do you know anybody in the UK who has already been here that you can talk to, to help make up your mind?

As has already been mentioned, the weather can turn on a dime here, so I suggest you factor in some time for unforseen circumstances.