Newbie Yank

Welcome over.
I am sure your Kiwi connections will advise you well, but backing @Rushy up, our mountain winter weather is a wet cold, not a dry cold like most of the USA mountains. Its hard in the South Island to get further than 80 miles from the sea, so all weather is laden with moisture.

Have fun

Good day and thank you. I'm glad for the insight as someone else told me it was more of a dry air so that changes quite s bit. Actually sounds like the cold winters in used to in Ohio. That nasty damp cold that can chill you to the bones quick. I'm packed for it but hoping to get at least a couple sunny days where I can break out the t-shirts haha I have quite a few different merino wool layers so hopefully they work as they have in the past. ��

Welcome SouthBuckeye, all the best for your NZ adventure! Thats a great velvet mule deer, which state is that? Utah?

I appreciate it CB. I'm pretty stoked to come hang out. That buck was from northwest Nebraska.

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Originally Posted by SouthBuckeye

Thanks Bavarian! My advice on hunting the states is to do it sooner than later. It's sad to say the state of things are not guaranteed anymore. It's why I'm even trying to hunt more states as of late because it's hard to tell how much longer we'll get to enjoy what we have now. Most states are a draw only when it comes to mule deer and the other states that were over the counter are heading that way and limited tags unless you live in that state. Big mulies are something that I've come to love though and it's for sure worth it!
My good friends dad actually builds traditional muzzleloaders from start to finish, including the cutting and shaping of the stocks out of a solid block of wood. It's truly an art and they're dang accurate for hunting too! Haha They have a big traditional/family muzzleloader shoot every year.

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I’m building up points in WY for mule deer, this year will make 6. Hopefully with 8 or 9 I can draw a good unit.

That’ll be a rifle hunt, I want to chase eastern whitetail with my flintlock. Seems easier to get tags and depending on the state should be some public land around.

What’s your friends fathers name? I don’t know them all but I’m familiar with the work of quite a few makers. I was trying to get a flintlock made by someone in the states but no one was interested in doing it for an Aussie. It’s amazing how many Americans seem to believe we can’t own guns in Australia!

The guys at Backcountry podcast came down here and hunted similar country to what you are doing
https://www.youtube.com/@BackcountryHuntingPodcast

The episode is in there somewhere, about a month back
They got drenched as they were hunting in a rainstorm

Best of luck

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Originally Posted by Bavarian_Hunter

I’m building up points in WY for mule deer, this year will make 6. Hopefully with 8 or 9 I can draw a good unit.

That’ll be a rifle hunt, I want to chase eastern whitetail with my flintlock. Seems easier to get tags and depending on the state should be some public land around.

What’s your friends fathers name? I don’t know them all but I’m familiar with the work of quite a few makers. I was trying to get a flintlock made by someone in the states but no one was interested in doing it for an Aussie. It’s amazing how many Americans seem to believe we can’t own guns in Australia!

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That's the best way to do it! Believe it or not I drew my first year, last year, on a unit that nobody draws for I guess and actually enjoyed it quite a bit. I never once saw anyone bowhunting it and had several opportunities but missed a monster like my 5th day out. Took the rifle season opening up for me to go to another canyon area and put a longer shot on a decent 3x3. I was wanting a good meat buck anyways so worked out perfectly. I put in for it again this year.

I rarely seen a whitetail in wyoming, were a few on a couple private sections was all. His name is Wayne and he's pit of Ohio. He really doesn't advertise but anyways near the ohio and Pennsylvania lines should know him if they're serious into traditional.

I hold a grudge against Austrailia, they tool one of my favorite rifle manufacturers from the state I'm in! Lol I'm still looking at buying one from them but I couldn't believe it, Barrett. Hate to say we have alot of ignorant people here but honestly you get that everywhere. Can't always believe what you read on social media lol

308, I believe it! I've been watching the weather religiously and it's showing nothing but rain for me.. Then the mtns are unpredictable to begin with haha. I'll enjoy it either way, it's part of it! I just hope I get a couple nice days to break in the new camera I bought. I want to blow some pictures up on canvas for my house. Hunting with the bow and camera this trip.
I'll check their video out for sure. One of the guys I follow and have watched for years is Remi Warren and love his videos from over there! Along with Brian Call (Gritty Series) w/Ryan Lampars.

Just curious , but do any of you archery hunt and have a preferred bowshop around Queenstown that you like? First thing I try and do on any trip is get out and shoot. It cost me a couple hundred to bring a target so would love somewhere to shoot alittle. Every time I go out west, because of altitude, I have to adjust my elevation on my sight bar 🥱

I archery hunt and spend a bit of time in Queenstown. I NZ we don't have many archery shops and there isn't one in Queenstown that I know of. The closest one I know of is in Christchurch which is 6 hrs drive! When I bow hunt the US I just make a target from carboard and find somewhere to check my bow.

I gotcha. I figured rifles were the primary weapon but thought there would be at least one shop close by. I have a few arrows I can sling in the dirt. I brought a couple practice broadheads. I just don't usually hunt with an arrow I've drove into the dirt unless I can test on paper after. May knock on a few farmers doors anyways and maybe they'll have some hay bales I can shoot against.

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Originally Posted by SouthBuckeye

... but thought there would be at least one shop close by.

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Just remember that the entire South Island has a population less than our one big city of Auckland. It is one of the more endearing features of the South Island. But it can be frustrating with the lack of bricks and mortar shops, especially with respect to specialist hobbies/sports.

I am sure someone will be able to point you at a farmer who is happy for you to poke holes in targets somewhere close:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by SouthBuckeye

I gotcha. I figured rifles were the primary weapon but thought there would be at least one shop close by. I have a few arrows I can sling in the dirt. I brought a couple practice broadheads. I just don't usually hunt with an arrow I've drove into the dirt unless I can test on paper after. May knock on a few farmers doors anyways and maybe they'll have some hay bales I can shoot against.

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if you fly into christchurch we have archery shops and a few clubs to practice at

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Originally Posted by XR500

Just remember that the entire South Island has a population less than our one big city of Auckland. It is one of the more endearing features of the South Island. But it can be frustrating with the lack of bricks and mortar shops, especially with respect to specialist hobbies/sports.

I am sure someone will be able to point you at a farmer who is happy for you to poke holes in targets somewhere close:thumbsup:

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That's exactly what I'm looking forward to. I'm from a small farm town and it's still holding on, trying to stay small. I'm a country type of guy and love the peacefulness of it. Where I live now is growing so fast, it's just a concrete jungle but I'm still able to drive 20-30 minutes and be into the mountains at least. Still, all the traffic keeps my anxiety on high haha Doesn't help I work on power poles right on all the busy roads!

I'll definitely have to knock on some doors. I'm arriving late now, flights been delayed and then canceled. Stuck in Los Angeles, California at the moment! ��

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Originally Posted by gonetropo

if you fly into christchurch we have archery shops and a few clubs to practice at

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If they ever get my canceled and delayed flights rebooked I believe it has me going straight from Sydney to Queenstown on my flight in. On my flight out I go from Queenstown to Auckland and then back to the states. Is there any must see places within a few hours of queenstown?? I'm hopefully renting a 4x4 truck once I get in. Looks like it'll be Tuesday now and I don't know what kind of roads you guys have during the winter.