The High Peak season is almost done for 2014. With just a handful of hunters yet to grace the estate, winter is well and truly making it’s presence felt with cooler temperatures, bare trees and the occasional dusting of snow on the tops.

During May we had the pleasure of hosting some wonderful clients from Australia, the USA and Nepal. Some fantastic late autumn hunts took place, with the cooler, settled weather leading to plenty of animal activity throughout the day. Take a look below at the spoils of their efforts!

We have received plenty of enquiry over the past two weeks for 2015 bookings. If you’re thinking of making that New Zealand hunting trip, make sure you let us know so that we can secure your dates.

Remember, we’re offering to host your spouse along with our special Helicopter Mountain Picnic, free of charge for any High Peak hunt booked before 30 June. Why hesitate? Make an Application now.

Mat McKee from Australia and guide James Cagney with Mat’s ‘Old Warrior’. This stag was a real fighter, as evidenced by multiple broken points and bodily scars. Undoubtedly he would have inflicted a few of his own over the years!

Sid Rana from Nepal with the sort of Red Stag that words cannot do justice to. The points, the mass, the width – not to mention total dominance of his brethren on the hill – all add up to the trophy of a lifetime.

Sid at it again with a superb Chamois, taken high in the Canterbury Southern Alps, accompanied by helicopter pilot Bill Hartree (right) and a rare view of High Peak photographer Craig Smith (left) in front of the lens for a change.

Sid Rana’s Bull Tahr, high in the Alps somewhat damp after being retrieved from the creek into which he fell after a superb 180-yard shot with the Sako .308. Sid described the hunt as ‘the most exhilarating, incredible hunting experience he could imagine’.

Sid Rana and guide Hamish Guild with his outstanding Fallow Buck, the biggest taken on High Peak in 2014, after a great game of wits and ambush tactics resulted in a 200 yard kill.

Sid’s monster Bull Elk, taken at Clachanburn Station in Otago, High Peak’s preferred partner property for elk. A scenic flight down the spine of the South Island made this awesome experience possible.

Sid with his ‘last day’ stag. In total contrast to the monster he harvested earlier in the trip, he was drawn to the superb balance, long clean tynes and aesthetic appeal of this stag who happened to be with a good number of post-rut hinds at the point he was taken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course it isn’t, but the purpose of this short article is to look, in the context of New Zealand Red Stag hunting, of what actually constitutes ‘free-range’.

In the age of ever-increasing records and the ever-increasing implausibility of these records, the hunter needs to align their definition of the term with their outfitter’s definition, and indeed, the law of the land.

Don’t buy a lie – even if the record books do, are you comfortable with living with it? READ MORE.

All the best,

Simon.