THE 'BEST' OF NEW ZEALAND HUNTING 

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Australia: Hunting In The Top End

The Northern Territory of Australia is the realm of the free-range bovines (oxen breeds). The other main hunting attraction is wild boar. Our guide in this region is Glenn Martin. In his Australian Northern Territory hunting area there are trophy water buffalo and scrub bulls, and nomad wild boar. He can also organise hunts for banteng if required. Hunters arrive in Darwin and are taken to the hunting region which is located near Katherine. A booked trip takes 5 days which includes three full hunting days. Follow his link for prices.

The non hunted Australian species observed are worth the price of admission alone. Cockatoos, galahs, parrots, doves, plains turkey, emu, freshwater turtles, freshwater crocodiles, dingo, cane toad, duck, and crows all live here. There are no saltwater crocs in this hunting area, but the rivers have plenty of fish such as black bream. Insects abound particularly the many species of ants, but flies and mosquitoes are low in number. Clothing should be light, including a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, and light boots. A thin sleeping bag is all that is needed in the evening.

The hunting technique used widely for all game is to drive the concession roads, until game is spotted then stalk the animal if it is of trophy standard. The distances involved are huge, and the best comparison is that it is similar to hunting in Africa. The hunting area is 50,000 km² in size and has good numbers of water buffalo and feral bulls, with wild boar and donkey also being present. The Dry Season (June-October) is also the hunting season with access to the Wet Season water-drenched hunting areas now becoming possible. Cooler temperatures and less humidity can also make the middle months of June to September a particularly pleasant time to hunt. Cull hunts are also encouraged at the time of the trophy hunt.

New Caledonia

Glenn Martin also organises our New Caledonia hunts. He can arrange a guide to meet clients at Auckland International Airport or meet them at the New Caledonia airport and transfer them from there to the hunting property. Rusa stag hunts are described as "the greatest free-range hunt in the world". New Caledonia is a French controlled region which at one time was estimated to have a free-range rusa deer population in excess of 200,000 deer. Hunters commonly saw over 100 deer per hunting day.

The number of deer is now less, but the top properties we have access to still have large populations and high quality rusa stags amongst the herds. The hunting season begins in late July and lasts about 10 weeks. After shooting their first trophy clients often decide to take an additional stag. Well, how good are the trophies being offered?  Recent trophies were typical nice looking animals with main beams from 32" to 35" scoring from 136 to 158 SCI. This stag is a very unusual trophy because it had a massive spread of 30 inches. It was shot early in the season and had just stripped its antlers of velvet. It measured 153 SCI and was 34 inches in length.

 Another non-typical stag, with extra tines on top scored approximately 153 SCI. Each safari lasts seven days from Sunday in to Saturday out. Stags like this trophy are a distinct possibility, and deciding when to fire is the main decision facing hunters who will see numerous trophy stags day after day. Rifles can be provided, and clothing and boots need to be light but protective. Good binoculars are a must as glassing consumes large chunks of the hunting time. Follow his link for prices.

Contact Greg: fairchase@paradise.net.nz