New Zealand Safaris
Red Stag
World-class deer hunting in New Zealand
The red stags of New Zealand grow the largest antlers of any animal in the world for their body size, weighing between 350 and 500 lbs.
Most Recent Trophies
A Global Destination for Trophy Stags
In 1851, European settlers introduced their most prized and beloved game to New Zealand: the red stag. Since their introduction, free to thrive in an environment rich with vegetation and free of large predators, New Zealand has become a global destination to hunt the world’s best trophies.
New Zealand Safaris gives hunters the choice of hunting free range red stags, or our exceptional fair chase red stag, all on our private, long-term leased land. Based out of Fairlie in the central South Island, our hunting is conducted on some of New Zealand’s most iconic high country cattle and sheep stations. These properties vary in size and vegetation, from 3,000 acres of rolling hills to native timbered valleys that are home to our fair chase stags.
Impressive antler mass, long even lower tines, heavy main beams with great crowns — they are a sight to see. Each day we leave the hunting lodge after a great breakfast and head out glassing and spotting stags, assessing the quality of each deer and what each individual client is looking for.
We score the stags on the S.C.I inch system from 300 to 500+ (except for free range stags, scored per point), seeing between 15–30 mature trophy stags in a day. Your guide will give you an indication of what a stag will score, as we are focused foremost on what the client likes in antlers. If the stag goes over that score break, the client is not obliged to pay an upgrade unless previously discussed — it’s about the hunt and what our client likes over score.
From there we plan our approach to get into a suitable range between 80–250 yards and take time to make the shot. Bow hunting on these guys will get your heart pumping, with average shots at approximately 40 yards where we use cover, calling, and blinds to get in close. This is also great for non-hunters to take part in the hunt and capture amazing photos, from the mountains to the ocean.
Red stags can be hunted from February to August, with the rut running March to early May. During the rut the red stags ‘roar’ and challenge each other for dominance. This property also has outstanding fallow buck, ram, and alpine goat.
Trophy Classes
Free Range Red Stag
Traditional in antler formation, judged by the points they grow, with 35″+ main beams. There are no score classes — we hunt the biggest we can find on private land. Stags range from 5×5 to 8×8, and you’ll typically see 4–10 mature trophy stags in a hunt.
Our Most Popular Class
This is where you start getting the points and palmation red stags are famous for, with that very heavy mass. Your guide helps assess the stags in the field — every stag is different, and we think it’s important to find what you like in a trophy.
Heavy Mass & Palmation
Full points and palmation on a heavy frame. Your guide will help assess the stags in the field to find exactly what you like in a trophy.
Huge Crowns & Length
Big crowns and length on the main beams, with a lot of points on a huge, more non-typical frame. The average age of these deer is 6–9 years. A sight to see — and great for non-hunters to capture amazing photos of the game and scenery.
The True Giants
If you’re after something to make jaws drop when you walk into the room, this is the game for you. These true giant stags have roamed the hills for over 25 years on this property, born from renowned bloodlines.
Trophy Gallery
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