The majestic morning stag

March brings a golden fall to New Zealand’s South Island, with swift morning winds racing up hills and rain springing creeks to life. Trout make rivers alive and bubbly, noisy ducks gather in the swamps as the weather cools, days shorten and heavy clouds announce majestic events. Deer start to roar through the night and you get that infectious urge to climb the hills and look for stags with swollen necks and deep, challenging calls.

I STARTED climbing early to make sure I could find the old stag I was told about by friend and experienced global trophy hunter Jim Hunter from Glenroy Lodge, near Queenstown. These days Jim spends his time hunting all corners of the globe, looking for exotic game and unique trophies, but he keeps tabs on the local deer.

This is truly God’s country. Mornings are fresh, deer are roaring, sunrays are slow as warm air pushes fluffy clouds up the hill. Yesterday, I