Outside Days » New Zealand

Hanging Fred

Howard — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:00:57 +0000

Subtitle: It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Over the seasons many of you have commented on the patience…okay, sainthood, of No.2. The following is only bound to confirm this view of her.

Three springs ago, I packed my bags and took a client to Kaytor Peaks on the south island of New Zealand. We spent a glorious week stalking said peaks for medal giants. When I emailed No. 2 for her input on whether to go for a skull or cape mount for the 19 point red I’d bagged, she was unequivocal in her support of my judgment. Well, actually she pointed out that we were residing in a thatched cottage with ceilings that contributed to my hairloss and very little hanging space.

So you can imagine her delight on receiving the delivery of a large box on our drive (see above). Fred was promptly relocated to the wall of a local shoot room where he enjoyed a happy two year sabbatical. In the interim, we relocated to a Victorian residence with higher ceilings and ample wall space. We reached a compromise: she got her grey walls, I got Fred.

Small wonder, then, when I announced I was planning to depart for South Africa this spring (in pursuit of yellow fish, guinea fowl, francolin…oh and springbok, warthogs and who knows what else) that No. 2 announced her bags were packed. After all, my excuse of teenagers needing supervision during A levels no longer holds, and there are intriguing reports of diamonds in them there hills…

New Zealand

Christopher — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:30:38 +0000

For the purist stalker intent on shooting native species in their natural environment, New Zealand offers little: a bat is the only native mammal. Fortunately for the rest of us, homesick settlers imported more than Marmite and PG Tips: the first red deer arrived at Nelson in 1851. Excellent grazing, plenty of room and a paucity of predators meant deer prospered, achieving sizes well beyond the Scottish records.

Walked Up Shooting

Christopher — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:28:05 +0000

The origins of walked-up shooting lie in our prehistory as hunter-gatherers. From quail in Texas to partridge in France, foreign opportunities abound. But some of the best opportunities to pursue a range of winged quarry are to be had in the British Isles.

Stalking

Christopher — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:27:31 +0000

From high seat to belly, the stalker’s view takes in Scottish moors, Home County tree tops, Canadian mountains and New Zealand slopes.

Fishing

Christopher — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:26:57 +0000

Flicking the fluff can take the keen angler around the globe in pursuit of quarry large and small.

Outside Days in the Press

Howard — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:03:12 +0000

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New Zealand Trophy Stalking

Howard — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:40:36 +0000

Stalk over thousands of acres of prime deer stalking country for trophy class red stags surpassing the royal game inhabiting grand estates in Scotland.

Two hours north of Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island, the estate offers fallow buck, arapawa ram, tahr, chamois and alpine goat as well as red stag. To ensure your experience is of the highest order, the estate only accommodates one hunting party at a time, a maximum of two hunters and two non-hunting companions.

All hunts are designed on an individual basis, allowing ample time for trophy appraisal and selection. To this end, minimum hire is seven days for hunts of one to four species, and ten days for a full bag hunt of six species. Priding itself on accommodation, food and service in the finest of British tradition, the exclusive lodge offers the best New Zealand has to offer.

The southern hemisphere hunting season is the reverse of the northern hemisphere: hunting season opens 1st March and closes 31st August.

Stalking

Christopher — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:26:11 +0000

We offer stalking for Red, Fallow, Roe, Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer in the UK.

Whether crawling on your belly over hill, moor and dale, or perching on a highseat in a wood is your stalking style, Outside Days offers a diverse selection of opportunities to pursue your passion.

Outside Days provides accompanied stalking on a range of private estates across the British Isles. All of our estates enjoy natural countryside boundaries, with herds of wild deer resident and ranging over the properties as appropriate for the species and the season of the year.

For stalking and packages further afield, explore Croatia, South Africa, New Zealand, Texas and Canada.