Big Game Hunting in New Zealand

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Some areas have a ballot system in place, and sportsmen must enter a drawing in order to access a particular hunting block for a specific time period.

We offer a variety of private land hunts that take place with no high fences, in a completely fair chase environment, hunting animals that have been born and bred in the wild with the same genetics of the original red deer released into New Zealand over 100 years ago.

Sunspots Safaris works also with a variety of New Zealand's largest Game Estates to ensure that only the highest quality of hunting experience is delivered. The Game Estate environment allows for some massive animals with huge trophy racks based on the superior genetics that have been bred into the herds.

Free range red stag hunting in New Zealand on public land typically takes you through some pretty rugged country. You should expect strenuous hiking, varied weather conditions dictating when and where to hunt, and possibly needing several days to get the trophy you're looking for. In some cases, hunting is aided by 4 wheel drives or helicopter for transportation into the remote hunting areas to begin your hunt in a reasonable amount of time considering the duration of your visit to New Zealand.

Free Range Hunting on private land however offers far superior access with great 4 wheel drive road systems throughout the properties to move you around the hunting areas quickly and safely.

Major hunting areas of New Zealand on the North Island include Hawkes Bay, Taupo, Waikato, and Haurangi (near Wellington). On the South Island, there's Blue Mountains; Greenstone (beside Lake Wakatipu); Lake Sumner; and Mt Oxford and Mt Thomas forest parks near Canterbury.

Some venues require license and/or trophy fees. Sunspots International will assist you with all your licensing, fees, permits etc.

Typically you'll find hunting packages that combine guided hunts with full accommodations, meals, transfers and all trophy tag and license fees not to mention of course your airfares to New Zealand from Los Angeles. Sunspots Safaris can provide a range of experiences from the basic backcountry hut based accommodations, to renovated farmhouse style of rooms to full luxury based lodges and modern stylish accommodations with fine dining, wines, etc.--in all cases with spectacular scenery and first-rate guides. Most of our customers take advantage of the excellent air contracts that Sunspots International has with Air New Zealand and also the various carriers to New Zealand and have us book their airfare as well (everything from economy, premium economy to business Premier are available included in the cost of the hunt packages), but land-only is also an option if you have airline miles that you would like to use or if you just choose to get yourself to New Zealand on your own.

If you choose to bring your own firearm to New Zealand, there is a $25 NZD firearms permit application fee to be paid.

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