The Art of the Stalk: Bowhunting at Poronui

The Art of the Stalk: Bowhunting at Poronui

Many come to visit Poronui to stalk and shoot our formidable Reds, Sika and Fallow. But those keen hunters who really enjoy testing their precision, patience and skill often find themselves drawn to the raw challenge of bowhunting in a world-class setting here at Poronui.

Keep all the challenge of rifle hunting, and remove the power of gunpowder, and you’ve got yourself a sport that really tests a hunter’s abilities. Bowhunting has been a primary hunting method for thousands of years, and it’s a hard art to beat for those who want a close connection to nature, and the chance to develop their finely controlled senses and unrivalled focus.

With over 8,200 hectares of rolling hills and open valleys, world-class deer, and stunning services, Poronui offers year-round opportunities for bowhunters to test their mettle.

Closing the distance

The grass is still. The hunter kneels low, steadying their breath, their bowstring taut. A massive Red is just forty yards away, broadside. The air is silent.
The bow hunter gets one good shot at their trophy. And this is it.

Unlike rifle hunting, where distance can be used to your advantage, and a bullet can close the distance to the target in the tiniest fractions of a second, bow hunting demands a great deal stealth and skill from hunters.

Diverse environments, wide valleys, and changeable conditions put special demands on even the most experienced rifle hunters at Poronui. But unlike rifle hunting, where distance can be used to your advantage, bow hunting requires closeness – and with that, a whole host of other skills.

To help you stalk well in our special land, Poronui’s expert guides are an essential part of the experience, guiding you to read our terrain, track movements, and positioning you for an ideal shot.

Testing your talent

With a rifle, a single well-placed shot would dispatch the stag almost immediately. With a bow, the need for precision is even greater. Not only does bowhunting require an intimate knowledge of deer’s behaviour and habitat, but you also need to place a shot extremely well.

We all want to avoid a wounded animal, as it causes distress and risks you losing your quarry as it bolts. To ensure a quick and effective kill, an arrow needs to penetrate the ribs and strike both lungs or the heart. This generally means a hunter needs to get within 30-50 yards to get a fair shot at their target and dispatch it with ease.

At that distance, however, it’s just you and the deer. You’ll see the shifting colours of its pelt, and the gnarls of its antlers. As it shifts its weight, the undergrowth softly rustles. It bellows, signalling to other around that it’s ready for the rut. You might even catch the earthy, musky scent of the animal drifting downwind.

It’s an experience not many hunters get – but as soon as the arrow strikes with a quiet but decisive blow, you know that your skill has paid off.

Luxury meets wilderness

A successful hunt at Poronui is more than just the pursuit of a trophy. It’s about the entire experience.

Whether it’s a day in the wild, or returning to the Lodge to share stories over a chef-prepared meal with fresh local food and some of New Zealand’s finest wines, Poronui offers something extraordinary for hunters of all kinds. It’s a journey that will stay with you long after the last arrow is loosed.