New Zealand

[Ballance1]

Does anyone have any experience with DIY hunts in New Zealand?

[longrange7mm]

contact  carpsniperg2

[bearpaw]

Yes I do, I have about 10 weeks on the ground exp in NZ.

What do you need to know?

[rosscrazyelk]

You can do a hunt there on your own? I am in..

[Ballance1]

Just trying get a feel of supplies in case I forgot something on my list.  Also trying to figure out if the area I am looking at has been gone over by the government with poison or helicopters.

[bearpaw]

Just trying get a feel of supplies in case I forgot something on my list.  Also trying to figure out if the area I am looking at has been gone over by the government with poison or helicopters.

They used to have a document posted on the NZ Dept of Conservation website that explained where all actions were taken. Look around online and you can probably find it.

[Black Ghost]

A couple suggestions
1. bug spray, insects are voracious near any body of water.
2. Contact a taxidermist that is competent to prepare, and ship internatinally. I used Big Game Taxidermy NZ Ltd to prep my capes and ship the antlers and capes back to the states.  Also contact a local taxidermist here that can receive international shipments.   www.biggametaxidermy.com 64 3 343 1617  They are out of Christchurch South Island NZ
3. I found a helpful book called Hunting Guide New Zealand Spot x    http://spotx.com/shop/Guide_Books/1877374644.htm
4. Lots of DIY opportunites, find the DOC (department of conservation office) and they will give you appropriate tags and direct you to good locations.
5. Register your weapon and get appropriate paperwork from airport in US (frustrating cause most people don't know what your talking about), they have very strict laws in NZ regarding firearms.  When you get to NZ you will need a Visitors Firearms License, which you can get at the police station just outside of the airport.  It will cost about $25.
6. Make sure you have a lot of time, you may never get to do it again!  Gas is way expensive, take lots of pictures, and have a friggin blast!

[Ballance1]

Thanks for the info. I have looked at the DOC website as far as huts fut haven't found the areas that they poison or cull

[bearpaw]

Maybe it's changed in the last year, but last time I flew in, there was a Police Counter right across the isle from the baggage claim where it has been for years.

I found NZ to be very relaxed about firearms, just get the permit at the police Counter, they do tell you not to leave your weapon unattended in the car overnight.

Make sure your hunting boots are clean.

Are you going to the south or north island?

While there you need to contact some landowners and get permission to spotlight possums, rabbits, and wallabies. Funner than the big game hunting and perfectly legal on private land.

[Phartridge]

Be sure to post pictures when you get back.  When are you going?  Good luck, and have a blast!  (No pun intended).   

[Ballance1]

South Island looking at the arthur pass area.  Don't know if I can afford the rounds for the rabbits, etc. cause I have heard you can blast a ton of those

[bearpaw]

South Island looking at the arthur pass area.  Don't know if I can afford the rounds for the rabbits, etc. cause I have heard you can blast a ton of those

There's some good hunting back in there away from roads. Remember, in NZ hunting is open year around. You have to get back in or have good access to good hunting private land. A good idea is to get dropped off by a chopper. Probably the best chopper pilots in the world live in NZ. A good chopper ride is worth the trip to NZ, one of the most exhillerating things I have done is fly the southern alps in a chopper with a good pilot that isn't afraid to really fly... 

[engelwood]

I'd contact Carpsniperg2 if I were you. He has a lot of good info on NZ and can also give you some very good pricing on stags and other game over there that I'm sure you would be surprised to see. Hit him up and at the very least he will give you a lot of good info.

[Ballance1]

DIY. no fences, no huge$$$$ why pay when you can do it yourself?

[carpsniperg2]

Just saw this.

Not all hunting in NZ is high fence. You can hunt with many outfitters, like mine down there that offer both styles of hunting. Huge money is not the case at all, 5 days all inclusive is 3950.00 other then your airfair. which you can get for about 900.00 and you are going to have no matter what to get there. That's nothing compared to a lot of hunts out there. By the time you figure out renting a car and fuel and insurance and food and etc. you get up to a few k's pretty easy if not more. Why not hunt with a outfitter? Then you know you are going to have a great chance at some trophy animals. That is why I prefer guided over DIY in some situations. Good luck on your hunt. You should keep tabs on your costs and post them up when you get back. Would be very intresting to see the huge$$$$ in savings Nothing wrong with DIY either, but I would not bash guided hunts.