Free Range Red Stag Hunting in New Zealand Teaches VALUABLE Lesson

Hunting free-range red deer in New Zealand had always been on my list—but doing it in winter, outside of the rut, made this hunt one of the most challenging I’ve faced. With just a few days, unpredictable weather, and bachelor stags barely moving, we had to dig deep and glass hard to find a mature stag worth going after.

This was my first time hunting red stags in New Zealand, and the experience completely exceeded expectations. From climbing through fog-covered valleys to checking overlooked pockets that held surprises, this trip tested both patience and persistence. After four long days, we managed to pull it off in the final hour—one of those classic last-day hunts that makes it all worth it.

We hunted near the historic Morven Hills Run in North Otago, close to where the first Scottish stags were introduced in the 1800s. The red deer population has since adapted incredibly well and now offers one of the most authentic free-range hunting experiences in the world.

What made it even more special was sharing the campfire each night with a crew of amazing people from the hunting industry, and seeing Victoria come into her own after harvesting a tahr just days before.

📍 Location: Southern Alps, New Zealand
🎥 Filmed by: FontalonsoMedia

#RedStagHunting, #NewZealandHunting #FreeRangeHunting #stagculture #mountainhunting

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📌 Highlights:
00:00 Intro to hunting free range red stags in New Zealand Mountains
00:30 Day 1 Hunting area map and planning
02:05 We spot the first red stag
04:20 Big stag located
05:50 Day 2 of hunting red deer
07:20 Winter red stag hunting strategies
12:45 Day 3 Bad weather but we have a hunting plan
14:00 We locate a bachelor group of deer
16:00 Day 4 Last day of the hunt
19:00 On shooting position with a big old stag
24:40 Hunting goes beyond just a trophy.
28:00 New zealand is an amazing country to hunt

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