New Zealand was...

mozey · Jun 3, 2023

so much FUN!! I bought this hunt in early 2018 for April 2020. Like everything else that covid screwed up, 2020 turned into 2021, which then turned into 2022, which turned into 2023. Five years was a long wait, and I didn't think I was ever going to get to do it, but I'm sure glad now that I held out. I think my outfitter was extra good to me because of the long wait.

elkassassin · Jun 3, 2023

You Shoot The Bull With The Club?

mozey · Jun 3, 2023

mozey · Jun 3, 2023

littlebighorn · Jun 3, 2023

That's a lot of bone mozey.
Well done.

mozey · Jun 3, 2023

Gave him a good haircut, but otherwise missed this one:

mozey · Jun 3, 2023

But all is well that ends well:

mozey · Jun 3, 2023

And what's a trip to NZ without visiting the Shire and Green Dragon?

mozey · Jun 3, 2023

Other places we stopped to see:

mozey · Jun 3, 2023

elkassassin said:
You Shoot The Bull With The Club?

Yes!!

Stillwater165 · Jun 3, 2023

Looks like an awesome place, congrats on the trophy’s ! I hope to see some of that one day !

Wyo_Roadhunter · Jun 3, 2023

mozey said:
View attachment 112224 View attachment 112225 View attachment 112226

Thats awesome! Funny I shot one a couple days ago that looks alot like him probably just down the road haha

mozey · Jun 4, 2023

Wyo_Roadhunter said:
Thats awesome! Funny I shot one a couple days ago that looks alot like him probably just down the road haha

Much congrats to you and I'm looking forward to seeing your pics.

I'm still not sure why NZTH let me hunt for this specific stag. I initially signed up for a free-range, and then a year later at the SCI Convention the NZTH manager talked me into upgrading to a discounted gold. Anyway, we hunted almost the entire first day and passed on at least a dozen of those (any of which I would have been thrilled with) before we found the specific one that my guide had in mind. I was thinking my guide was crazy (in a good way).

But the night before we started hunting, he showed me the above live pics that he took back in March, and said this is the one we'll be looking for, and though I was surprised, I didn't argue. He also said that this stag disappeared during the rut, and he'd only seen him one time since then, which was immediately after another of his clients settled for a different stag, after unsuccessfully looking for this one for three days.

I wondered whether NZTH might charge me more money (and I was fine with that). But nope, they just charged me the original discounted price. All I really know is this stag is way better than what I had previously dared to hope for, and I'm feeling very fortunate.

BacDoc · Jun 4, 2023

My Grandmother was from NZ, and most of her family remained there. Going there for a visit and a hunt has been at the top of my bucket list for many years. Unfortunately due to finances and health issues, that window has closed. Congratulations on a great adventure. BacDoc?

PleaseDear · Jun 4, 2023

Very nice.

Congrats

Robb

littlebighorn · Jun 4, 2023

An incredibly beautiful place with some outstanding hunting opportunities. I too dream of going their some day, but I'm doubting it is in my future as well.
Congrats mozey and can't wait to hear your report Remi!

mozey · Jun 4, 2023

BacDoc said:
My Grandmother was from NZ, and most of her family remained there. Going there for a visit and a hunt has been at the top of my bucket list for many years. Unfortunately due to finances and health issues, that window has closed. Congratulations on a great adventure. BacDoc?

Here's hoping for you and littlebighorn that that window reopens. I initially went for New Zealand and a gold medal stag. I'll be going back for the people--just a genuine good bunch. Took my non-hunter wife along and she too had a great time.