Chamois Hunting in New Zealand

Chamois Hunting

Chamois Hunting with New Zealand Safaris

The New Zealand chamois is the largest subspecies of chamois in the world and is regarded as one of the most striking of New Zealand’s free-range game animals.

First introduced to New Zealand in 1907 as a gift from Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, chamois were released near Aoraki / Mount Cook in the central South Island. Free of natural predators and thriving in the alpine environment, they quickly spread throughout the Southern Alps. Today New Zealand’s chamois are recognised as the largest subspecies in the world, carrying the striking black-and-white facial markings the species is famous for.

Found in the rugged alpine regions of the South Island, these agile mountain antelope inhabit well-defined wilderness areas and offer one of the world’s most rewarding mountain hunting experiences.

Living in small family groups, chamois are exceptionally sure-footed and possess remarkable eyesight—often said to be comparable to 10x vision. Their agility, keen senses, and ability to blend seamlessly into steep alpine terrain make them an exciting and challenging quarry for experienced mountain hunters.

At first glance, bucks (males) and nannies (females) can appear very similar. Mature bucks generally have heavier horn bases, more pronounced hooks on their horns, and a stronger overall build. Outside the rut, mature bucks are often solitary, making them even more difficult to locate. Weighing between 60 and 100 pounds, they disappear effortlessly into the surrounding rock, tussock, and alpine vegetation.

Successful chamois hunting begins with careful glassing. We spend considerable time spotting these elusive animals from vantage points with excellent vehicle access into the mountain valleys. During the warmer months, chamois are commonly found along the edges of native beech forests and rocky bluffs. As winter approaches, they move onto open sunny faces and long native tussock grasslands. Their coats also change with the seasons, transitioning from a light tan in summer to a rich dark brown from late April onwards.

Hunting the Chamois

New Zealand Safaris has exclusive access to some of the country’s finest privately owned free-range wilderness properties, managed specifically for premium mountain hunting. These areas offer outstanding trophy quality and limited hunting pressure, providing an authentic wilderness experience for discerning hunters.

This hunt is ideally suited to hunters who enjoy challenging mountain terrain and appreciate the pursuit of one of the world’s most underrated alpine trophies. Due to the exclusivity of our properties and our commitment to sustainable management, we strictly limit harvest to a maximum of four chamois tags each year.

A high level of physical fitness, patience, and confident shooting ability is recommended to make the most of this hunt. Because chamois are frequently spotted across open faces and steep basins, we encourage hunters to practise prone shooting out to 300 yards before arriving. For hunters with limited time or those who prefer easier access, helicopter-assisted day hunts are available on our Government concession areas. Helicopters are used solely for transport into these remote alpine locations and are never used on our private free-range wilderness properties.

Because chamois share the same high country as our Himalayan tahr and rut at a similar time of year, many hunters choose to combine the two into a single South Island mountain hunt. Non-hunting companions are welcome to join the adventure and can enjoy the spectacular alpine scenery and wildlife while you are in the hills.

Best Time to Hunt

The chamois rut occurs from early May through to mid-June, making this the premier time to hunt mature bucks as they become more active and visible throughout the alpine country.