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However the majestic Red stag makes for a great hunt and awesome trophy at any time of the year. During the winter season the stags mob together and this makes for very good selection hunting. The Red Stags can be hunted all year round.
Red deer were introduced to New Zealand from British Stock between 1851 and the early 1900’s, and are the most widespread deer species found in New Zealand. Below right: A culling helicopter with a load of reds
These pretty European deer are smart and fast, making for challenging hunting. Palmated antler's and attractive markings make a handsome addition to any trophy room, with their distinctive flat palmated antler's, more similar to a moose than a Red stag. Fallow deer were introduced into New Zealand from England and Tasmania (Australia) and were liberated throughout the North island of New Zealand between 1864 and 1910.
Hares, Rabbits are available to hunt free of charge when and where possible. Hunting at night with a powerfull spotlight is an effective way to hunt Hares and Rabbits. These animals are also good practice for the bowhunter keeping in form. The shooting is done on the station. | ||
Trophy Red stags are our specialty. Imagine yourself stalking a mighty trophy Red stag in native New Zealand bush, in the stags environment by his rules. If you want to experience this ultimate Red stag hunting thrill, you need to talk to us at Te Manga Hunting Safaris. Where we focus on breeding and hunting magnificent Red stags in their natural habitat. Our game management plan has resulted in creating an incredible bloodline of Red deer from the wild base. Our Red stags have a very traditional trophy look with large brow, bay, tray tines and pronounced tops. Typically from 12 to 20 points. It is highly possible to see several trophy stags on any hunting day if you are willing to hunt hard with the help of our guides. With the herd in the hunting block increasing in size and age every year, the standard of trophy heads continues to get bigger and better. This will be a Red stag hunt you won't forget!
Red stags are prized for their heavy and impressive antler's. They are a large bodied species with an average stag weighing around 500lbs. Red hinds are very intelligent and often to get to the stag you must stalk past the 'guard hind' in order to get the trophy. Hinds can destroy any good hunt by alerting the rest of the mob by 'barking'. But it is all part of the experience to be able to avoid them. 
The Red Stag roar runs from Mid-March until early May. This is the most exciting time of the year to hunt the mighty Reds. The Red stag roar is full of action. It is possible for our hunters to witness stags sparing (fighting) over hinds and territory and wallowing in the mud.Our tree stands are great for observing this. The stags roar amongst the valleys and ridges of our varied hunting terrain. The Red stag roars along the same lines as an Elk bugles, only it is a guttural, hair-raising, and proud roar, that will be sure to get your heart racing. To hunt a roaring stag at close quarters is one of the world’s most unforgettable hunting experiences and is exactly what we specialize in. During the peak of the roar, stags can be heard from our accommodation and the roaring amazes our hunters and us. It is truly an unbeatable time to hunt.
A basic description. During WW1 and WW2 the wild deer population, especially Red deer and other species including Thar and Chamois increased massively due to hardly no hunting pressure. Towards the end of the fifties they were declared pests because of all the damage they were doing to the native bush. Hunters were employed by the government and culled deer during the sixties. They were culled out by foot hunters and helicopter. Shooting the deer from helicopter was very treacherous and many men lost their lives. But they were making very good money so they continued. It was possible to attach ten dead deer under the helicopter and bring them back to base. It is not known how many deer exactly were culled out but it is in the tens of thousands. At the end of the sixties not nearly as many deer were being shot so the market fell. In the seventies the market for live deer capture began. Deer were captured mainly using net guns that were shot from helicopters and the deer were put in bags and strapped to the bottom of the chopper and taken to deer farms. This also made good money but ended in the late seventies. But of course they didn't get them all and the wild animal population of NZ has steadily climbed back to what it is today. The deer wars as the were called are a big part of the history of hunting in New Zealand. 
Fallow deer have the most diverse range of colours of all the deer species. Colours range from white to black. They have very pronounced spots all over their body The 'tan' coloured deer seem to be the most dominant colour , with several big 'tan' bucks been taken in the past. The 'chocolate' colour gene is starting to become more common though.
Fallow bucks roar later than Red stags, and become very vocal in April to May. Fallow emit a flat sounding croaking noise, sounding similar to a lion and can be quite frightful. Bucks and does often bark, accompanied by hoof stamping when alerted. A usually timid species, Fallow become very aggressive during the roar. This species can often be seen and heard thrashing antler's against the native manuka and kanuka trees in our natural hunting habitat. They can be hunted from late February until end of August. Bucks are most visible during the roar.
After the roar, Fallow can often be seen feeding intermittently throughout the day to bulk up before the cooler weather in June and July. However don’t be fooled into thinking this species is an easy target at any time of the season. They can be very difficult to hunt during different parts of the season. A wary species, the Fallow will seldom stop to investigate a disturbance if alarmed. The slow deliberate movements hunters can often get away with while hunting other species, will not go unnoticed by fallow.
