Before I started my hunting journey, I went on countless hiking trips but had never encountered anything bigger than a possum. So, when I finally saw an old roaring stag, I couldn't believe how majestic he was.
It was so captivating watching him. I started to understand how lucky we are in Aotearoa New Zealand, and why it's so important we protect and manage these big game animals. It also triggered the start of a dream that would eventually turn into reality two years later.
At the beginning, when I thought about taking my first stag, I felt this sense of determination and excitement. I would soak up all the knowledge the Great Dane Emil would share with me and watch countless episodes of NZ Hunter Adventures. I may be biased, but that show is terrific. I was lucky to be surrounded by people who were willing to share their wisdom and experiences with me.
I would try to apply my learnings and test myself on each trip. I'd train to get my fitness up and slowly adapt to walking up gnarly hills with a heavy pack of hunting gear. I would also assess each animal's age and state as we came across them, and double-check my analysis with Emil. Even though I knew I was on the right track, sometimes I'd spiral into a state of self-doubt and hesitancy. I was new to the hunting game and wondered how many mountains I'd have to climb or how many big trips I'd have to tick
