Lake Hawea Hunting Safaris

544 Camp Hill Rd, RD2 Wanaka, New Zealand • ph +64 3 443 7282 • fax +64 3 443 7292

New Zealand Hunting Scene

Current hunting situation in New Zealand

At present wild game animal populations in New Zealand are as good as they have been for a long time. All of New Zealand’s game animals were introduced in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, prior to these liberations our only land mammal was a small bat.

Big game species

The deer species which were introduced and managed to establish themselves are Red, fallow, whitetail, sika, sambar, rusa and elk (wapiti). Chital/axis deer, mule deer and moose also established themselves for a time but died out. Two alpine species the tahr and chamois were liberated at Mt Cook in the Southern Alps both have flourished and survive in healthy populations today.

Unfortunately our current government and all that have gone before have failed to recognise these wonderful animals as a resource, change is in the wind but at present all the species mentioned above have no status as game animals and are classed as pests.

Outfitter qualifications

There is no process by which outfitters/guides have to be registered in NZ. There is the New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides association of which I am a member. Around 80% of outfitters in NZ are a member of the NZPHGA. A member of this association must hold a current drivers license, first aid certificate and be accepted by his peers to be running a business of high standard. The association has a blanket concession to hunt DOC (Department of Conservation) lands across NZ.

Helicopter hunting

One issue, which is currently receiving a lot of attention, is the use of the helicopter for guided hunting. As a true hunter you will recognise the ethical issues involved with this practise.

Combination hunts

Combination hunts as in most hunting destinations run into a lot of days. As a general rule a free-range outfitter will allow at least 3 days per animal hunted. Some private properties allow fewer days per animal but be warned if an outfitter sais you can hunt 4-5 species in one week, the stags you are hunting will not be wild and they may be using illegal means to hunt tahr and chamois.

False expectations

Many overseas hunters see pictures in glossy magazines and perceive that there are huge red stags and bull elk in NZ. There are but they are farmed animals, not wild and are released into high fenced game parks. A truly wild mature red stag and elk has a head of 10-18 points.

Why we are different

Lake Hawea Hunting Safaris is one of the few outfitting business left in NZ running a solely free-range operation for multiple species. We cater for hunters who want to hunt, not simply collect a trophy. As of the end of the 2008 season we have never run a single hunt behind wire in the 15 years our business has been operating. It is the wild animals of NZ that we have a passion for.

The future

New Zealand has long since been renowned as a hunters paradise, we are a country that is very fortunate to have some of the finest game animals in the world yet we do not seem to able to agree on what to do with them. Alongside a busy guiding schedule I am working very hard to have our game animals recognised as such and ensure they are here for future generations to hunt and enjoy.