New Zealand Whitetail – A Long Stalk

was very fortunate to hunt whitetail deer in Texas and few other places in USA and always enjoyed hunting new places and new and unusual game. Hunting methods are different and it’s good to learn from other hunters and other hunting cultures. Hunting this gracious and stunning looking animal with beautiful fur and unique antlers in New Zealand is something special. Many hunters have gone to Stewart Island and tried hunt them in dense bush and small clearings along the beach. Sometimes they just get bitter cold and miserable weather and a scary ride on the barge. It was long trip, hard going and not many success stories. I found a place in Otago that had small whitetail population in big open areas and steep hills. Not many know about them and even less hunters can access this area. Back in 2007 I hunted there for five days, managed to find nice buck but he had cast his antlers by the time I worked out a proper place for an ambush. It was very disappointing. I saw him one late winter afternoon and came back to same place in the morning and he was there but did not bring his antlers with him. Next year he was shot by local hunter and I was very sad as he was the best whitetail shot in NZ that year.