NZ Hunter

New Zealand’s premier hunting and outdoor magazine . For everything hunting - adventures, tips, how-tos, and reviews of the latest products. A great read with something for everyone.

NZ Hunter

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

Q&A

THE KIND OF HUNTER I WANT TO BE • THEGENTLE BREEZE METUS AT THE EDGEOF THE TREELINE, SHARP AND CLEAN, CARRYING NOSOUNDOTHER THANOUR BREATH

Roar24 • You would be hard pressed to argue that the peak of the New Zealand hunting calendar is anything other than that special time between March and April, when the various deer ruts kick into action

BALLISTIC APPS HOW TO USE A BALLISTIC APP AND DIAL UP SCOPE • Setting up your rifle’s scope for your load using a ballistic app is one of the things that new hunters struggle with and we get many questions about

A Winter Stag to Remember • As we pushed up the valley, glassing over every rolling spur and tucked-away gut, the sun gently sank behind the high, snow-capped peaks surrounding us

PULLING THE PIN • AS A UNIVERSITY STUDENT, THE VARIOUS STUDY BREAKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR PROVIDE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE EXTENDED TRIPS INTO THE MOUNTAINS

Snow Hewetson Guiding and tahr • Snow Hewetson runs Huntahr Guiding and is the former chair of the Tahr Foundation, leading the charge through the infamous ‘Tahrmageddon’ years

A HUNT TO REMEMBER How one prize created a memory • When Isabel entered the 2024 National Wild Goat Hunting Competition, she never imagined she would actually win something!

Deer Over-Abundance The Importance of 'Predation' • Deer over-abundance is increasing. It is a global issue – Ireland, Scotland, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina to name a few countries grappling with the issue

The Last Of Many • Like many of us, I was introduced to the bush and deer stalking as a pre-teen. No private access and little desire to hunt on farms led to many years of hard lessons, stumbling around the bush

Tahr Ballot Briefing • The Game Animal Council with support from the Department of Conservation and the NZ Tahr Foundation developed the Tahr Ballot Briefing on Better Hunting to help hunters achieve the goals of the annual tahr ballot and make the most of this unique hunting opportunity

A LEANER YEAR • I have been struggling to adjust to a leaner 2025 on the pig hunting front. Offthe back of an absolute blinder through 2024, reality struck home this year. At the time of writing I haven’t caught a boar over 100lb … I’m having withdrawals

GAME ANIMAL COUNCIL NEWS

JOHNSON HUT • Johnson Hut is located in Kahurangi National Park on the true right of the Johnson River, one of the main tributaries of the Mokihinui River

HG PRECISION ELUDE CHASSIS AND ACCESORIES • Robert Hughes-Games, owner of HG Precision based in Timaru, has been developing Tikka and Howa aftermarket options for quite some time, and many will have seen the distinctive Elude Chassis for the Howa Mini Action

FENIX HM75R HEADLIGHT • What better time to review a heavy duty headlamp than the depths of winter?

MSR SWITCH STOVE • Can’t decide if you want a quick-boil system or a classic burner and pan combo? Enter the MSR Switch Stove

To Be Here Or Over There It Could Be A Matter of Focus • It’s frustrating when your dog disappears over the horizon, ignoring your pleas to come back

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF DEER • I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO HUNT CHITAL DEER SINCE SEEING THEM IN A BOOK I READ AS A TEENAGER, WHICH NOW FELT LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

WHAT'S NEW: AUG SEP

VENISON OSSO BUCO • Since the latest series of NZ Hunter Adventurers went to air on TV I have been questioned from many different people about the recipe for the Venison Osso Buco and if I could publish it