Fallow Deer

Originally from Europe, the first fallow deer were introduced into New Zealand in 1864. There were 26 different liberations and now they are the second most wide spread deer in New Zealand.

Despite its small size, the fallow buck is very aggressive, during the ‘rut’, when vicious and often fatal fights between bucks occur.

Fallow exhibit three color phases; the most common black or chocolate brown, the brown and spotted menil, and the white fallow. We take several of each color phase every year. Fallow bucks can be hunted from March through to September.

Their antlers differ from Red deer and are more like the moose, round near the bases and palmated out towards the ends. During the ‘rut’ which starts in early April and finishes in May, the bucks are very vocal, making a ‘grunt’ or ‘croak’ noise, as he issues his challenge.

Kiwi Safaris New Zealand offer both ‘free range’ and ‘game estate’ hunts, on large private sheep and cattle ranches, which feature rolling hill country, interspersed with areas of native forest and scrub.

Over the past 5 years, the size of the Fallow deer now being taken has risen quite remarkably and now it is becoming common to get Bucks scoring greater than 230SCI.

Typically we take between 25-30 Bucks a year and after the Red Stag are the most favored deer species.

We hunt on 3 properties for Fallow and they are all within a short drive of one another.