| As a New Zealand hunting consultant, I have | | | | to rifle hunt red deer and also a great time of the |
| helped several hundred hunters take their first | | | | year to add some New Zealand fly fishing on the |
| New Zealand Red Stag Hunting trip. The most | | | | side. They can be hunted with a rifle during the |
| frequently asked question is, "when is the best | | | | roar but expect it to be an easier hunt than |
| time for Red Stag hunting in New Zealand?" The | | | | normal with most shots probably less than 100 |
| information in this article is based on my firsthand | | | | yards. Red Deer hunting becomes more |
| experience. I have hunted the Red Deer "Roar" in | | | | challenging from May thru August with average |
| New Zealand and also in Argentina. I have also | | | | shots in the 150 to 200 yard range. |
| hunted deer outside of the roar in New Zealand. | | | | The first week of June usually brings the first |
| The biggest draw for New Zealand hunting is the | | | | snow of the season. Morning temperatures |
| Red Deer also known as Red Stag. Most of the | | | | average in the mid to high 30's and highs in the |
| Outdoor TV Shows, hunting magazine articles and | | | | mid 50's to low 60's. Late May, June and July |
| hunting reports focus their reviews around hunting | | | | better replicate the late fall and Winter hunts we |
| during the "Roar." The Roar is the vocal sound the | | | | can experience in the United States. This is also a |
| red deer make during their rutting period, similar in | | | | great time to mix a red stag hunt with Tahr |
| nature but completely different than that of the | | | | hunting or Chamois hunting. The colder weather in |
| Rocky Mountain Elk. The "Roar" usually runs | | | | late May starts the Tahr rut and is also |
| around the third week in March to the forth week | | | | responsible for the Tahr and Chamois to turn their |
| in April. This time period can change +/- 7 to 10 | | | | winter coats darker in color. The "lion like" mane |
| days by the weather conditions. If New Zealand | | | | of the Tahr will also be at its fullest length during |
| gets a cold weather front in early March, it can | | | | this time of the year. |
| speed up the Roar. | | | | There are two ways to hunt red deer in New |
| Deer hunting during the Roar is an exciting time to | | | | Zealand. The first is known as "Estate Hunting." |
| hunt and should be experienced at least once in a | | | | Estate hunts are held on large fenced ranches or |
| hunter's lifetime. The stags will roar around the | | | | stations. These stations are usually quite large in |
| clock. During this time period, the red deer are | | | | size, from 2,500 acres to 20,000 acres or more. |
| concentrating on their territories, hinds (female red | | | | The fencing allows the ranchers to manage the |
| deer) and other stags. A typical rifle shot during | | | | herds and genetics and also keep out local hunters |
| the Roar can be well under 100 yards. The Roar | | | | and poachers. Management in New Zealand has |
| is also the best time for bow hunting red deer. A | | | | allowed the country to develop the largest red |
| good guide should be able to get the bow hunter | | | | deer in the world. There were two New Zealand |
| within 25 to 40 yards of his target. Blinds and | | | | red deer harvested in 2009 over six hundred |
| hides can also be set up over mud wallows and | | | | (600) inches and one was over 650 inches. All |
| trails offering shots at less than 35 yards. | | | | trophy class red deer in New Zealand come from |
| Weather during the Roar is usually like early | | | | Estates or Ranches. The fences on these stations |
| September in the Rocky Mountains. Expect the | | | | eliminate the term "free range" but not fair chase. |
| mornings to be cool, usually in the low 40's and | | | | Most of these properties are extremely large and |
| high temperatures in the high 70's and even | | | | the terrain and flora make these hunts just as |
| possibly low 80's. | | | | challenging as a free range hunt. |
| Red Deer Hunting can be done on both the North | | | | True free range hunting in New Zealand is |
| and South Island from late February thru | | | | available on both Government and private |
| Mid-August. In most cases, the red deer will be | | | | properties. These properties may contain cattle |
| out of velvet around the 20th of February. The | | | | fence but this doesn't stop the red deer from |
| last ten days of February and the first two | | | | simply jumping over them and moving freely |
| weeks of March, the red deer will be in the best | | | | about. Free range are much smaller in antler size |
| physical appearance of the year and should have | | | | than the estate stags. A trophy free range stag |
| no broken antlers or missing tines. They will start | | | | on private property will have 10 to 14 points and |
| dropping their antlers around the third to fourth | | | | will score from 220 to 275 inches. Due to hunting |
| week of August. Red Deer in New Zealand will | | | | pressure and no real season for red stag, the |
| start fighting with other stags, usually shortly | | | | public properties see much smaller stags than |
| after the first seven to ten days in April. Hunters | | | | those on private property. It is very rare to see |
| will start to see some broken tines from this time | | | | a "true" free range stag over 300 inches. Some |
| thru the end of August. These deer have been | | | | property owners will release 300 inch plus red |
| known to fight so hard with other stags; they | | | | deer on their free range properties. These stag |
| have actually broken off the antlers at the skull | | | | can usually be identified after harvest by looking |
| plate exposing the stag's brain. When this happens, | | | | for holes in their ears where a tag used to be. |
| the deer usually dies shortly thereafter. | | | | With the general big game hunting seasons in New |
| With this being said, the best time to bow hunt | | | | Zealand closing in August and the U.S. big game |
| red deer is during the Roar, from late March thru | | | | season starting in September, red deer hunting in |
| late April. The most premium red deer hunting | | | | New Zealand is a great way to extend your big |
| "roar" dates would be the first ten days in April. | | | | game hunting season. |
| Late February and early March and a great time | | | | |