Hunting Calendar

Hunt All Year Round in New Zealand

Deer in hard antler can be found year round in New Zealand.  The main hunting is between late February and the end of August when red, sika and fallow deer are in hard antler. The rut commences mid March and goes through to May for sika and fallow, with rusa even later in August.

January

There will still be Rusa and Sambar in hard antler though the majority of the Rusa will shed their antlers in January. Both chamois and tahr may be taken though they will have light summer coats.

February

The start of the real hunting and probably the best time for an absolute monster. Red stags and sika stags will have hard antler by the third week of the month. A great time to look over plenty of stags and pick a really big trophy, as they will still be out in the open country feeding up prior to the rut.

March

Early in the month the stags will still be out in the open country though they head to the rutting territories by mid month and it’s all on for the red stags from that point on! The Elk bugle is also at its peak in March.

April

The red stags are at their peak in the first week of the month. As they begin to tail off the sika are really hitting their straps towards the end of the second week. As if this is not enough fallow bucks will make themselves heard before the end of the month. Rusa stags will be in hard antler by the middle of the month.

May

The sika rut is on the wane though the fallow bucks are now at their most intense and aggressive! The red stags will move away from the hinds during May in preparation for the winter. In the South Island the chamois and tahr coats are in their prime. The tahr will commence their rut and bulls can be found lower around the mobs of nannies.

June

While the rut is now over there is still great hunting for red stag, sika and fallow buck as they start to come back in the open looking to regain condition on the last of the autumn grasses. Both tahr and chamois are rutting at this time.

July

Expect to see stags out in the open in bachelor groups as they try to pile on condition. July is a very good month to pick out a sika or red stag trophy. It is amazing what wanders out from the bush now that they have lost interest in females! Tahr and chamois coats are superb, though by now they will leave the nannies and depending on weather head back up the slopes. Rusa stags will be making the odd grunt of two as they practice for the rut.

August

Last chance for a big red stag as the antlers will start dropping by the third week of the month. The smaller stags will not shed until September but the really big boys are a couple of weeks earlier. The rusa have come out of the woodwork and are grunting up a storm. It is also a good month for sambar although the rut is variable and can occur through much of the year.

September

The bigger sika will shed in September. Still great opportunities for chamois, tahr, rusa and sambar.

October

Probably the last really good month for tahr and chamois, as weather-depending their coats will start to change in the coming months. Rusa and sambar still available and if fishing is on the program the new season gets underway 1 October.

November

Rusa are the main trophy option in November. The spring growth drags the stags out onto the grass as they recover condition after the rut. It is also a popular time for a spring meat hunt.

December

Rusa and a spring meat hunt are the pre-Christmas highlights. It should be possible to get chamois in their summer coats by the end of the month.

To book your hunting safari in New Zealand, please email us or call Steve on +64-21-888-669.