Red Stag

We have the world's greatest red deer herds on offer. Native to Europe, red deer were first introduced to New Zealand in 1851 from top Scottish and English herds.

With our mild climate, the lack of any predators plus widespread releases, they were soon established through the North and South Islands. The red stag can be hunted from late February through to the end of August. Many consider March and April the most exciting hunting, as this is when the ‘rut’ is on. The ‘roar’ of the red stag is enough to excite the most experienced trophy hunter.

Of the seven deer species still to be found in New Zealand, the red deer is the most common and is almost the most sought after quarry of the hundreds of overseas hunters who regularly visit our shores. Kiwi Safaris offer the finest ‘free range’ and ‘game ranch’ trophy hunts for red stag in New Zealand.

We hunt both Islands, on large private sheep and cattle ranches, which feature rolling hill country, interspersed with clear mountain streams and areas of native forest. In the South Island, free range stags are found on the Phantom Wilderness.

The size and nature of the country makes them difficult to hunt, except for the hardened and fit trophy hunter. The red stag is about the size of a mule deer buck, so .270 to the .300 magnums are popular calibres. Every year we take trophy stags from about 300 SCI to 450 SCI. In good growing years the largest stags will approach 500 SCI. Free range stags measure from around 260 to 330 SCI.