Frequently asked questions

Yes. Most countries will allow you to bring meat home, as our game animals have no foreign pests or diseases — certainly the U.S. We prepare your meat chilled or frozen until you’re ready to leave. If you plan to bring meat home, we recommend a small cooler that fits inside your main bag, or you can take larger amounts (up to around 50 lb) as checked baggage.

Yes! Whether they join us on the hunt or prefer the many activities around us, we can help plan plenty to do. New Zealand is a very friendly place to vacation — no snakes, spiders or predators — and we can cater to all interests. See our South Island Activities page for ideas.

Included: prices are quoted in USD and are inclusive of 15% NZ tax, private-land hunting, professional guide, lodging, Wi-Fi, meals, beer and wine (in moderation), photos, ground transfers, field caping and a visit to the taxidermist.

Not included: flights, insurance, before- and after-hunt accommodation, gratuities, ammunition, any helicopter time (unless noted), taxidermy, expediting and hard liquor.

Yes. Jim has guided free-range deer and buffalo in Australia for many years, towards the end of our season, which is when the main rut is on in Australia (June–October). Species include water buffalo, ox, boar, banteng, rusa deer, sambar deer, axis deer and blackbuck antelope. Australia is only about 3 hours from Christchurch International Airport.

We specialise in hunting most animals free-range on private land, because of the quality, accessibility and numbers on our exclusive properties. For those wanting the truly huge-antlered animals like red stag and fallow buck, we also have our own 3,500-acre fair-chase hunting estate.

Yes, we take a number of bow hunters every year — the ultimate challenge for the die-hard hunter who wants to hunt New Zealand at its purest. We don’t use tree stands or hunt over feeders; it’s all spot-and-stalk on foot, predominantly shooting up or down hill, with shots varying from 15 to 60 yards.

If you have a driver’s licence in your home country, you can drive in New Zealand. We drive on the left-hand side of the road, and with low traffic most of our roads are two lanes — just remember roundabouts give way to your right. Renting a vehicle is recommended if you’d like to tour during or after your hunt, and we can recommend local companies. The South Island has only around 23% of New Zealand’s 5 million people, so there’s no rush hour. We also have tour guides who can take non-hunters around during the hunt.

Gratuities are generally based on around 10% of the hunt value for guides, and 2–5% for your cook / tour guide. Cash is preferred.

Absolutely — from gift shopping to trout or salmon fishing, sightseeing, snow skiing and horse riding, we can personally help combine these into your personalised safari. See South Island Activities.

We are on 240V with a 2–3 pin plug. Most modern electronics handle 110–240V (check the label on your charger); you’ll just need a plug converter, available at most stores or airports, and some are available at the lodge.

We chill or freeze your trophies until the hunt is finished, then take them to our local taxidermist, where you decide whether to have them mounted here or salted and shipped to your preferred company. Shipping costs vary with crate size, and our taxidermist can give an estimate on request. From New Zealand, trophies go to your country, where we recommend using a customs broker to clear them and forward them to your destination — our taxidermist can help you find one. It’s a straightforward process.

New Zealand is an island and the weather can change within a day. We carry wet-weather gear through most of the season, and good warm clothing in winter, and we send a full clothing and equipment list before you come.

• February–March (summer): 38°F–80°F (3°C–26°C)
• April–May (fall): 32°F–65°F (0°C–18°C)
• June–September (winter): 28°F–55°F (-2°C–12°C)

Getting in shape before the hunt pays off, especially for our mountain animals. Thanks to our well-tracked properties we can drive around most places from the valley floors, allowing hunters of all ages and abilities to harvest their trophies, and different properties suit different fitness levels. Deer-species terrain is rolling hills and valleys; tahr and chamois are rolling hills and mountains — much like Wyoming or Colorado, but with few trees on the East Coast, so very open glassing country. Most clients can hunt all the deer species comfortably on our private ranch-style land with good roads; the key is being confident with prone shots at longer distances, and your guide will set you up. Tahr and chamois often involve 1–2 hours of steady climbing or sidling; where we can drive in it makes a big difference, and a helicopter option is available (weather permitting) to take the climb out.

Shots vary with the game and, more importantly, the range you’re comfortable with. For deer and most game, 100–250 yards; for tahr and chamois, 200–400 yards; bow hunting, we try to get you to 40–70 yards.

Our main season runs late February to August. Most deer species rut late March to the end of April. Tahr and chamois start their winter coats in late April, with the rut late May to the end of July, and they hold their winter coats through to September. The main bird season is May–July (pheasant typically April–August). North Island deer are generally hunted later, May–September.

New Zealand Safaris and All Seasons Lodge are in the central South Island between Christchurch and Queenstown, near the rural town of Fairlie, just over the pass from Mt Cook National Park and the Southern Lakes.

626 Hamilton Road, Fairlie, South Island, NZ 7987. The lodge is 2.2 hours south of Christchurch and 3.5 hours north of Queenstown.

Jim’s cell: 027-430-3876  ·  Jim WhatsApp: +64 27 430 3876  ·  Anna’s cell: 021-308-840  ·  Jim’s USA cell (Jan–Feb): 307-355-9356.

When dialing from a USA cell, dial 011-64 then the number, dropping the first 0 (e.g. 011 64 27 430 3876). Within New Zealand, dial the number as written without the 011-64 prefix, or save it as +64 27 430 3876.

We’ll send a full list before you travel, but as a guide: broken-in waterproof mountain boots with durable soles and a good heel (leather boots such as Meindl, Crispi or Kenetrek recommended); gaiters for tahr and chamois; warm wool hiking socks; warm and light hunting trousers plus wind/rain over-trousers; heavyweight merino or fleece shirts and a light shirt; a wool or fleece top; warm and sun hats; cold-weather gloves and liners; a wind/rain-proof jacket in tan, green or camo; thermal base layers; sunglasses for snow glare; a small day pack (ideally one that carries a rifle); good binoculars, water bottle and a headlamp with spare batteries. For camp-out tahr and chamois hunts, bring a good sleeping bag and a mountain pack. Suitable calibres include .270, .300 and 7mm classes; bring around 40 rounds, a soft rifle case inside your hard case, and a good 10x or 14x scope with cover — a bipod is a valuable asset. We can also supply a rifle or shotgun if you prefer not to bring one.

Yes — many options for hunters and non-hunters. Tour out of the lodge each day at $400 per day per vehicle, or stay-away trips (including accommodation, breakfast, lunch, tour guide and vehicle) from $750 per day. We also run a 4-day group loop around the South Island, and daily scenics from the lodge to glaciers, lakes, hikes, shopping, day spas, hot pools and restaurants. Many clients also love the freedom of self-driving, following a tourist map we plan out for them.