The Hunters Guidebook to New Zealand What you need to know about booking the hunt of a lifetime.

Transcription

1 The Hunters Guidebook to New Zealand What you need to know about booking the hunt of a lifetime.

2 2010 High Peak Station. All rights reserved. I absolutely applaud Simon s intentions in his authorship and production of a well written, illustrated hand book on the choosing of an outfitter / guide with whom to hunt while in New Zealand. Simon has aimed accurately in providing the international hunter with a thought-provoking and informative document so that he or she might have a memorable hunting experience whilst in New Zealand.

3 A Foreword. Ronald B Spanton Fifty years of involvement with the guided hunting industry in NZ & latterly the South Pacific Former working partner in NZ Trophy Guide Service Co. Ltd. (Lilybank Lodge) Auditor for New Zealand Association of Game Estates Past President of the SCI NZ Chapter & active member Life-long promoter of sensible & sustainable management of New Zealand s wild game herds.

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5 The Hunters Guidebook to New Zealand Wha t you need to know abou t booking the hunt of a life time. In this free report, you will learn: What makes a World-Class Hunting Story The Seven Costly Mistakes hunters make when booking a hunt in New Zealand The Ten Key Questions to ask your outfitter The Four Simple Steps to the hunt of a lifetime Plus, a 10-point checklist to ensure you choose the right outfitter for you. The Hunters Guidebook to New Zealand is a free educational resource provided by High Peak Station.

6 The Challenge Fact: New Zealand is a land of hunting dreams. The combination of scenery, game animals, hunting terrain, hospitality and the potential for adventure is unmatched anywhere. Myth: Hunting in New Zealand is a regulated industry with enforced national standards, qualifications and measures to guarantee that clients will receive a quality experience. The Challenge: To make sure you, the hunter, ask the right questions and make the right decisions about where and what to hunt, selecting the best property or outfitter for your particular needs and avoiding the pitfalls posed by opportunist operators or mismanaged expectations. In short, to make sure your New Zealand hunting experience is one to remember, not one to forget. The Solution Do Your Research: Find out what it is you wish to achieve on your hunt, what are your most important criteria and stick to these religiously. Ask the Hard Questions: Ask the right questions of your outfitter in order to get the experience and result you want. Don t be afraid to question vague responses and ask for proof if in doubt around someone s credentials or reputation. Trust your Instincts: Once you are happy you have the answers you require, utilise your instincts to ensure you hunt with someone who thinks, acts and most importantly, hunts like you. There is a hunt of a lifetime waiting for you in New Zealand. Use this resource to make it come true.

7 1. Introduction & Welcome Congratulations on taking the first step to booking a hunting trip you will be proud to tell your friends about. New Zealand, as you may know, was home to the Lord of the Rings movies where many people described the landscape as the star of the trilogy. The best part is that New Zealand really does look like that we know because we live here. But your hunting adventure is more than just world class scenery, which is why we wrote this guide. It is about ensuring that you ask the right questions and make the right decisions so that your trip of a lifetime is just that. While the hunting in New Zealand can be first class, the industry is relatively young and is unregulated. There are mistakes, traps, misconceptions and individuals that can conspire to ruin your experience. If you, like us, have a passion for hunting then this definitive guide will allow you to plan a trip that will avoid the biggest mistakes people make when coming to New Zealand. That way, your adventure will be a rich one and not an expensive one. We have been serving hunters from New Zealand and overseas for 25 years and have seen all aspects of the hunting industry, good and bad. We see it as our responsibility to hunters looking to visit New Zealand to ensure they have access to resources that will result in them going home with great hunting stories. It is a better result for you and good for our industry in general. As we are here for the long haul, that s pretty important to us. Take your time to read the Guidebook. There is a full spectrum of operators in this country, from the excellent to the average. If you have any doubts, use your discretion. It s your time and money, so exercise your power of choice! The Guild family and their High Peak team wishes you the best and hope to see you make the trip to New Zealand soon.

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9 2. What makes a World-Class Hunting Story? When you get down to the bottom of it, this is why we hunt. The trophy is just proof - impressive, tangible proof nonetheless of The Story. A head on the wall alone cannot tell you how loud the stag was roaring just prior to the kill; He cannot tell you about the 1000-foot climb you made just prior to the moment of truth; His glass eyes can t reflect the stunning environment and views he enjoyed before you came on the scene. These are all the job of The Story. To get a good story, you need three things. Firstly, you need a challenge. No one ever told a great story about a walk in the park. Secondly, you need a result. This could be success or failure, but there needs to be an outcome the stag that eludes the hunter can be just as memorable as the one that didn t. Finally, you need great people. After the photos have been stored away and the views in your mind s eye fade, it is the people you will refer to time and time again the hard case guide, the character that was the helicopter pilot, the tales told around the fire. They also have the added bonus, if you want, of becoming your friends which means you can re-live The Story with them time and time again. Best of all, The Story is uniquely yours. You can re-tell it, embellish a little here and there (whoever let the truth get in the way of a good story, especially a hunting story) but the most important thing is that people will enjoy hearing it, they might even be a little bit jealous, and some will actually steal it and try and re-tell it as their own (this happens I have done it myself)! Finding the three vital elements isn t necessarily hard, and in New Zealand we have the ability to deliver all of them in spades. You just need to know where to look, ask the right questions and trust your instincts when evaluating the answers. A Story to tell...

10 3. A Brief Overview of Hunting in New Zealand This Guidebook is not designed to tell you in detail which animals roam our land, the hunting seasons, the climate and what rifle to bring chances are you already know exactly what you want. This guide is about making sure you can see the wood from the trees when deciding who to spend your hard-earned money with. This section is designed to give you a very quick overview of New Zealand s hunting culture and history so you can put the other information in the Guidebook into context. 1. Early Days All of New Zealand s game animals were introduced either in the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries by European settlers. Some were introduced by the NZ government of the day to create a tourist hunting industry. These introductions were immensely successful, probably too much so, and the lack of natural predation meant that populations exploded to the point that the various species of deer, tahr, chamois, pigs and small game such as rabbits, hares and bush-tailed possums were having huge impacts on New Zealand s native flora and fauna. By the mid 1900s the government established departments charged with the conservation of these natural areas and implemented culling programmes to manage the wild game populations. This practice continues today alongside recreational, commercial and tourist hunting. 2. New Zealand Hunting Culture For decades, the Government policy has been to encourage hunting of game animals to control wild populations. Consequently, New Zealanders have always enjoyed unrestricted access onto public land to hunt for trophies, recreation and the harvest of meat. Internationally, New Zealand quickly gained a reputation for producing trophies of a quality not seen anywhere in the world. Notably, Red Deer, Tahr, Chamois, Fallow Deer and to a lesser extent Elk have thrived to become the animals that New Zealand has achieved fame for.

11 Possibly unique in global terms, the hunting culture in New Zealand remains one of strapping on a pack and rifle and pitting physical endeavour against the elements in pursuit of meat or trophy animals on public land. There are no hunting seasons, no trophy tags, licences or fees, and hunting is a pursuit open to anyone with a firearms licence. For many hunters it is, and always has been, as much about getting out and enjoying the fresh air in a spectacular natural environment as the outcome of the hunt itself. 3. The New Zealand Hunting Industry New Zealand experienced an early tourist and trophy boom in the 1920 s and 1930 s which first established it as an international hunting destination. The fact that visiting hunters could put all their resources into the pursuit of a trophy (instead of buying tags, license fees and rights of access) appealed to people seeking a quality hunting adventure. However, during the next years populations of wild animals exploded causing extensive damage to alpine lands, native forests and farms. Most ungulates were re-classified as noxious pests and extensive culling programs were introduced. This in turn lead to a thriving wild venison industry and with the introduction of new technology, such as helicopters, the wild populations were brought under control. With the advent of deer farming in the 1970s and with it systems for containing these animals, some enterprising operators recognised that they had the ability to manage superior antler genetics through selective culling, and the New Zealand game estate was born. Sometimes encompassing thousands of acres of privately-managed land, the game estates were free of local hunter pressure and thus the big trophies could grow to their full potential. Game estate hunting is often combined with free range hunting to experience the full spectrum of hunting possibilities on offer in New Zealand. It is important to be aware that guided hunting in New Zealand, whether on public or private land is currently not regulated by the state. Operating a guided hunting service for free range animals on public lands is a low cost business with low barriers to entry. It should be noted that no hunting operators have exclusive rights of access to public lands exclusivity can only be offered on privately owned land. Game Estates have a much higher cost of establishment (land, fencing, infrastructure) so the barriers to enter the business are higher, which naturally limits the numbers.

12 4. Distribution of Species and the Feral Range New Zealand has a wide range of hunting habitats, from low-lying, sub-tropical coastal areas through to high alpine permanent snowfields, supporting a wide range of game species. Conservation efforts ensure that certain species are kept within defined boundaries to prevent their expansion into new habitats. These defined boundaries are known as the feral range of the animal. It is important to know where in New Zealand to go in order to find the particular animals you seek. Depending on where and who you hunt with, you may need to undertake significant internal travel in order to harvest them. Alternatively, you can cut down on unnecessary travel time and expense by selecting outfitters and species that minimise this. For New Zealand s primary big game species, their respective feral ranges can be found in the regions described below. In some instances game estates can hold animals outside the feral range, whereas in others the species is restricted to the feral range only. Species found in only one island may not be hunted in the other island regardless of whether free range or game estate. New Zealand-Wide Species South Island-Only Species North Island-Only Species Red Deer Widely distributed throughout Tahr Central South Island Mountains only Sika Deer Central North Island only Fallow Deer Widely distributed throughout Chamois South Island Mountains only Sambar Deer NE/SW North Island only Wild Boar Widely distributed throughout Whitetail SW South Island, Stewart Island only Rusa Deer NE North Island only Feral Goat Widely distributed throughout Wapiti SW South Island only 5. Free Range, Game Estate and Fair Chase There are two main hunting environments in New Zealand. It is important to define the two. Free Range refers to an animal born and raised in the wild from a wild population that is hunted in their home range. This land, regardless of whether public or private, will have no artificial barriers to prevent freedom to roam. Feral, liberated or selectively bred animals do not qualify as free-range game. Game Estate refers to an enclosed area of land with natural or man-made barriers, such as a fence or cliff that serves the purpose of keeping game animals within and prevents other animals from entering its boundaries. To qualify as a game estate as defined by the New Zealand Association of Game Estates, properties must meet minimum criteria relating to size, cover and terrain. Fair Chase is the term given to a hunt that takes place on public or private land, either free-range or game estate, where the hunted species has a reasonable and realistic chance of evading the hunter. A fair chase hunt depends on a number of factors including cover, size, terrain, the species and size of animal within that species sought, animal domesticity and hunter ability. Regardless of whether hunts are conducted on public, private, free range or game estate land, the quality of the hunting experience is very much determined by the size and terrain of the area hunted, the volume of hunters per season, adherence to fair chase ethics and the standard of service provided.

13 A huge range of possibili ties and ou tcomes for the hunter.

14 4. Seven Costly Mistakes that could ruin your Hunting Experience 1. Not Doing Your Research It seems obvious, but it never fails to surprise us how many otherwise astute people get drawn into booking a hunt on something as basic as a cheap price or offer that s too good to be true. Invariably, if someone promises you the world record free-range stag, it is probably a lie either it won t be the record, or it won t be free-range. The result of this will be disappointment, disillusionment and dissatisfaction. Avoid this by asking the Ten Key Questions to ask an Outfitter (more on this later). 2. Selecting an Unaffiliated Guide Hunting in New Zealand may be unregulated, but guides who take their business seriously should be members of the New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association (NZPHGA)*. This self-regulating organisation sets policies on hunting standards, safety, etiquette, client management, ethical hunting, animal welfare and firearms practices. The NZPHGA also has the power of censure to hold its members to account in the event of an issue. Anyone can pick up a rifle and call themselves a guide, but only those who have met the association s standards will be accepted by the NZPHGA. 3. Hunting on an Unaccredited Property The New Zealand Association of Game Estates (NZAGE)** is an organisation set up, in the absence of government regulation, by New Zealand s leading Game Estates. The NZAGE mandate is to set and enforce standards relating to minimum size, cover, terrain, fencing, disease surveillance, animal welfare, game management and sound guiding practice. The NZAGE was the world s first grouping of hunting land owners to set industry agreed standards (IAS). Properties are independently audited on a regular basis and the NZAGE can also hold its members to account through censure. Unaccredited properties have no criteria whatsoever to measure against and you ll be taking their word alone. 4. Cheaper is Not Always Better The adage you get what you pay for holds true when hunting in New Zealand. If you are happy eating, sleeping and sharing your hunting space alongside a number of others, there are a number of operations that will get you your trophy at a lower price. This will probably come at the expense of personal service, exclusivity and the overall hunting experience. Alternatively, if you value these aspects in your hunting trip, be prepared to pay a bit more. Good Decisions mean Big Rewards.

15 5. Bigger is Not Always Better This mistake is made by those who choose to prioritise the size of the trophy over the quality of the hunting experience. A great trophy is a superb thing but hunters are entitled to know what they will get for their money. If your goal is solely driven by the record book, then you are likely to get a hunt that is highly sanitised. You should be aware that it is not illegal in NZ to shoot a stag in a paddock and some opportunists will offer a trophy with little regard for the sport of hunting. However, a great stalk is an experience that no-one can beat; this is where great hunting stories are forged. You can have the best of both worlds by ensuring you hunt with someone who will deliver the experience and the trophy you seek on your terms, not theirs. 6. Not Thinking about Your Spouse When husbands bring their wives along for a hunt (or vice versa), both share in what is a unique experience that invariably brings them closer together - if only for the photo with the trophy! But your travelling companion is not always your hunting partner, and non-hunters need to be looked after too. A happy spouse means you can relax and really get into your sport. If travelling as a couple, don t book with someone who focuses solely on the hunt and has no systems to ensure the enjoyment of your companion. 7. Not Giving Yourself a Choice If you are a catalogue hunter, then this mistake is probably not relevant to you. But if you like to select your quarry for the thrill of the hunt after a good solid stalk because he was the stag with all the females and was acting with the arrogance of a king, or because you saw him first or he just had an X factor that only you can explain then make sure you hunt on a property that offers you a choice. Anyone can select a monster head from a glossy catalogue and have it presented to them in a cotton-wool type environment, but is this hunting? Is this an experience you want to tell your friends about? Does it give you bragging rights at your favourite bar? *NZPHGA website: **NZAGE website:

16 5. Why it pays to Choose Your Outfitter Wisely. Choosing the right hunting guide, outfitter or game estate is the single most important decision you can make when planning a hunting trip to New Zealand. Here are some of the key reasons why. Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff As mentioned earlier, pretty much anyone can set up a guiding business in New Zealand. This lack of regulation means that all you need is a website, rifle and four-wheel-drive vehicle and you re in business, carrying minimal risk in an equation where the client and / or the property owner carry the burden, with no guarantee. Outfitters should have a defined booking process and be able to provide information on demand. Don t run the risk of hunting with a cowboy in the game for a quick buck. Who is actually committed to your Satisfaction? Some outfitters have superb reputations and considerable investment in their guiding businesses. Some own their own property and thus have substantial sums invested in making the venture work. It is these operations with real skin in the game that are most likely to be committed to the longevity of the industry and your satisfaction as a client. Make sure they are the right Outfitter for you. Outfitters are not all things to all people. Some specialise in physically hard, Kiwi-style free-range hunting where the experience is the core and the trophy is a bonus. Some specialise in high-scoring game estate trophies where the hunting experience is secondary. Some prioritise exclusive service for a select few ahead of big volumes, whereas for others it is about the camaraderie of a bustling lodge. Make sure you rank your priorities and select your outfitter on the most important criteria. You get what you pay for. If all you want is a monster trophy, then price will probably be your sole determining factor. Likewise, a free range hunt may be a simple choice based on daily rate with no obligation to get a trophy. However, if you are after a complete result that includes both an experience to tell your buddies about and a trophy that aptly reflects New Zealand s quality game animals at their best, you need to look at both the tangible and intangible elements of the entire hunt and be prepared to pay for both. Remember that the bitter taste of a bad experience outlasts the quick thrill of a cheap deal. Make sure they offer a Guarantee. If an outfitter or game estate cannot offer some kind of a guarantee for your satisfaction, then ask why not. It is a lot to ask for someone to pay thousands in deposit and commit the time to something that is part intangible experience, part tangible trophy. You are entitled to a cast-iron, written guarantee that protects your investment should the situation arise that all didn t go to plan.

17 Pick the right Ou tfi tter for you.

18 6. The Ten Key Questions to Ask Your Outfitter 1. Who are you and what are your credentials? Ask them to prove who they are, how long they have been operating as an outfitter / guide and what their qualifications are. 2. Are you a member of the New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association? Anyone can pose as an outfitter / guide. If they aren t a member of the NZPHGA, ask them why not. 3. Are you a member of the New Zealand Association of Game Estates? If the hunt is to be conducted on enclosed private land, is the property a NZAGE-certified Game Estate? If not, then why? 4. Will I be hunting on an NZAGE accredited Game Estate? The NZAGE has strict criteria designed primarily to ensure a quality hunting experience. If the property is not NZAGE accredited or the outfitter doesn t hunt on one, then ask them why not. 5. Who owns the property where I will be hunting? Some outfitters own their own properties, some outfitters have exclusive agreements with properties, whilst others act as brokers between their clients and a number of properties, adding their margin. Some free range hunts may be conducted on public land by guides with a concession. You cannot hold a sole concession for a tract of public land; the very nature of our public land means it is open to all. 6. How many hunts do you conduct each year? This will give you an idea of how crowded the outfitter or property is, the nature of these hunts and how many people you can expect to be sharing your hunting, accommodation and host s resources with.

19 7. Where are you located in relation to the species I seek? The location of your outfitter or game estate is important if you wish to minimise internal travel within New Zealand to obtain the particular trophies you seek. 8. Will I have sole rights of land use during my hunt? If you don t have sole rights to a certain tract of land, whether free-range or game estate, you may be competing with others for potential trophies. This is the case on all public land. 9. What is there for my spouse to do? Make sure there is a dedicated person who understands what your wife or partner might like to do when not hunting, and will make it happen with style. 10. Do you have any testimonials or references to recommend you? Make sure they are real people that the outfitter doesn t mind you contacting to confirm their credentials and suitability. And one question to ask yourself... Do you have a good feeling about the person you are dealing with? Do you like and trust them? Ask the hard questions and use your power of choice.

20 7. What s in a Guarantee? Reputation is everything in this industry, and all outfitters should protect theirs by offering a Guarantee. We unashamedly promote High Peak as a good choice of outfitter, based on our reputation. We do not try to be all things to all hunters, but chances are that if you have read through to this point and agree with what precedes, then you ll probably find that our service will deliver on your New Zealand hunt expectations. The reason we are confident we can deliver on the above, is that at High Peak we stand behind everything we say, and we do this by offering a guarantee. The High Peak 100% Money-Back Guarantee on Your Trophy Fee If you are not satisfied with your hunt, High Peak will refund the trophy fee, no questions asked. This provides some real security that your investment is worthwhile. With a 100% success record to date, we don t see ourselves having to exercise this guarantee anytime soon, but it is good for our clients to know it is there all the same. If, for whatever reason you decide that High Peak is not the place for you to hunt, then please let us know and we will be more than happy to recommend a number of outfitters whose reputation we would be prepared to stand behind. Ensuring you have a great hunt is our #1 priority; ensuring you do it with High Peak is #2.

21 8. Four Simple Steps to the Hunt of a Lifetime Now that you have read our definitive guidebook to booking a hunt in New Zealand, you should feel empowered to make the right decision on who to hunt with, based on what you want to achieve. In order to create your own version of The Story, here are four simple steps to make it happen. Step 1. Make a commitment to hunt in New Zealand. You ve probably thought long and hard about where your next hunting destination is. The fact you are reading this means you have obviously considered New Zealand. Now is the time to make a commitment on where to go on your next adventure and if New Zealand is it, please proceed to Step 2. Step 2. Work out what you want to achieve. Think about The Story. What do you want it to sound like when you tell it to your best mates? Make a list of the criteria that you rank as the most important when planning your hunt and keep these in the front of your mind when you ask the hard questions in Step 3. Step 3. Ask the Ten Key Questions. You probably have a basic idea of the outfitters that you think might make your hunting dream a reality. Now is the time to put them to the test to find out if they are right for you. Based on what you want to achieve, ask the questions that will tell you what you need to know, with the help of our Checklist (overleaf) Step 4. When you find the right Outfitter for you, book with them. Once you have narrowed down your search for the outfitter that will serve your needs best, making a booking will be the best way to secure your place in the calendar and start making that hunting dream into a reality and ultimately, Your Story. Simon Guild, New Zealand Hunting Educator & Myth-Buster HIGH PEAK. simon@highpeak.co.nz Your Story star ts here.

22 9. Checklist for Selecting The Right Outfitter 1. The outfitter is a reputable operator and can prove it 2. The company and individuals are current members of the NZPHGA 3. The hunting property is a current member of the NZAGE 4. The hunting area is located where the primary species you seek are 5. The outfitter promises truth in all aspects of their advertising 6. The company offers you a satisfactory Guarantee 7. The outfitter works to a defined booking process 8. They will make all efforts to objectively meet YOUR expectations 9. They are the right type of outfitter for YOUR specific needs 10. Your instincts tell you this is the right outfitter for you There are over 130 ou tfi tters & guiding companies in New Zealand. Choose Wisely.

23 How much of life is lost in wai ting? Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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