Hunting in New Zealand - AndyLeighton.com

My brother in law Jim Thompson introduced me to hunting, (and chess) here hunting goats in Waimea near Hokitika. Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton — My brother in law Jim teaching me the skills on how to hunt goats. Waimea, near Hokitika, Westland, New Zealand. Jim Thompson, Andy Leighton

I was brought up with firearms and learned to use and respect them from around 12 years old. My father bought me a BSA Meteor air rifle when I was still at school and he would take me out rabbit shooting with it below the Waimakariri River Gorge near Christchurch. As soon as I was 16, and old enough to own my own rifle I bought a Stirling .22 magnum which replaced the air rifle for hunting rabbits. In my 20’s and 30’s my BSA .243 rifle was always with me laying on the front seat of the car, slung over my back on a motorbike, laying on the bottom of a canoe, carried while climbing a mountain, crossing a river, or crawling on my knees through thick sub alpine scrub. My rifle was always close by in case I came across deer.

For three years in my early 20’s my only income was from what I hunted (deer, pigs, possums) and sold to local game and fur buyers, but during this period of full time hunting I unfortunately only have around a dozen photographs. Most of the hunting pictures you see here were taken later over the next 20 years when I was hunting part time and my interest in photography increased.

I know the subject and experience of hunting is very foreign to most people, as they have spent their lives living in cities far removed from the reality of real nature. I have carefully edited the hunting pictures on this page, all the pictures are more about the scenery and lifestyle, and shouldn’t cause any offence.

If you are also interested in the hunting photos with shot animals, I have a separate page for those but be warned, they will offend some people, click here

I was of two minds if I should include these photographs of my hunting years living on the West Coast of New Zealand. However I eventually decided to include these pictures as I’m sure there will many people who will be interested to see a lifestyle that still continues in New Zealand today.

Click here for hunting tips if you would like some help

Andy

A nice place for a rest with a view of the upper Perth River in the backgound and Prospectors Creek below us, with evening cloud closing in around the mountains. Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton, Garry Turnbull (photo credit: Mick Delury) — A nice place for a rest with a view of the upper Perth River in the background and Prospectors Creek below us, with evening cloud closing in around the mountains. Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton, Garry Turnbull (photo credit: Mick Delury)

Background to New Zealand Hunting

Originally New Zealand’s only inhabitants were insects, birds and lizards, there were no mammals on land, the early Maori introduced some animals beginning around 1300AD, but from around the middle of the 1800’s through to the 1900’s Europeans introduced various animals from around the world to give the country a hunting culture for locals and tourists. Game animals from many locations were introduced into New Zealand, deer from Britain, Asia, moose and wapiti from Canada, chamois from Austria, tahr from the Himalayas, also pigs, goats, wallabies, rabbits, hares, etc.

With no natural predators to keep the numbers under control, eventually the population of introduced animals caused a massive impact on the natural environment. The deer, goats etc browsed on the young lower vegetation of the heavily forested country, while the possum population chewed through the upper forest canopies. Eventually with reduced vegetation cover erosion became a problem and in some places the hills were literally slipping into the river valleys. In the 1920s the Department of Internal Affairs became responsible for controlling deer populations that were over grazing in pastoral and forested lands. In 1956 the Noxious Animals Act was passed and responsibility for introduced animal control moved to the New Zealand Forest Service.

Today the introduced animal populations are far less, and are largely kept under control by private hunters, and commercial hunters using helicopters. Because of this constant hunting, the game animals in New Zealand are very wary and know what the sight or scent of man means, so you have to work hard to find them.

Where to Hunt in New Zealand

New Zealand Hunting Books

As enthusiastic teenagers we seemed to have more firepower than skill, this line up of rifles on our motorbikes contains, airguns, semi autos, lever actions, bolt actions, shot guns with well known brand names like Anschütz, BSA, Winchester and rifle scopes Kahl and Bushnell but thinking back as a teenager I think cardboard targets and 4 litre containers full of water had infinitely more bullets fired at them than the few wild animals unlucky enough to be caught in our rifle sights. Marsden, Westland, New Zealand

For three years my only income was from what I hunted, these were the few tools and gear that went with me BSA .243 calibre rifle with varipower 3-9 riflescope for Deer (meat and antlers), tube of cyanide paste for Possums (skins), Belt pouch with mercator knife, first aid, basic survival bits, torch. Woollen Swandri for warmth and woollen puttees to keep the sticks and river stones out of my boots (wool is also very quiet in thick bush when hunting). The woollens and boots were replaced about twice a year normally, but in this picture there is nothing like the comfort of old well fitting clothes! Of course also my faithfull hunting partner on many hunts, Blue forever hunting keen from a puppy at 6 weeks until the day she passed on resting in her kennel 14 years later. Marsden, Westland, New Zealand. Blue — For three years my only income was from what I hunted, these were the few tools and gear that went with me BSA .243 calibre rifle with varipower 3-9 rifle scope for deer (meat and antlers), tube of cyanide paste for possums (skins), Belt pouch with Mercator knife, first aid, basic survival bits, torch. Woollen Swandri for warmth and woollen puttees to keep the sticks and river stones out of my boots (wool is also very quiet in thick bush when hunting). The woollens and boots were replaced about twice a year normally, but in this picture there is nothing like the comfort of old well fitting clothes! Of course also my faithful hunting partner on many hunts, ’Blue’ forever hunting keen from a puppy at 6 weeks until the day she passed on resting in her kennel 14 years later. Marsden, Westland, New Zealand.

The best way to get to the easy hunting country is by motorbike. Noname Pakihi, Marsden, Westland, New Zealand. Dave Curry, Phillip Pascoe

Can you see it?, a Red Deer stag well camouflaged in the thick scrub just a few metres away from me. This was taken during the rutting season when stags can become very bold and occasionally dangerous still cant see it? there are only parts of the head, neck and antlers visible, once you see the stags left nostril in the centre of the picture, the rest falls into place. Cards Creek, Marsden, Westland, New Zealand — Can you see it?, a red deer stag well camouflaged in the thick scrub just a few metres away from me. This was taken during the rutting season when stags can become very bold and occasionally dangerous, still cant see it? there are only parts of the head, neck and antlers visible, once you see the stags left nostril in the centre of the picture, the rest falls into place. Cards Creek, Marsden, Westland, New Zealand

Its around a two hour climb with rifle and pack up this 4000 ft mountain from beneath the cloud, (one of the shorter mountain climbs) after that you can begin hunting. We hunt up until dark on the open mountain tops then decend by torchlight through the bush for another two hours back to the car. Mt French, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Pete Gurden, Garry Turnbull — Its around a two hour climb with rifle and pack up this 4000 ft mountain from beneath the cloud, (one of the shorter mountain climbs) after that you can begin hunting. We hunt up until dark on the open mountain tops then descend by torchlight through the bush for another two hours back to the car. Mt French, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Pete Gurden, Garry Turnbull

After a two hour continous fast climb from the valley floor, its time to think about a short rest before the evening hunt starts. After hunting, its another two hours by torchlight down the mountain to the car. Lake Brunner (Moana) can be seen in the background. Mt French, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton — I often used to head into the local mountains by myself, (self timer photo) after a two hour continuous fast climb from the valley floor, its time for a short rest before I start the evening hunt. After hunting, its another two hours by torchlight down the mountain to the car. Lake Brunner (Moana) can be seen in the background. Mt French, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton

Looking for the elusive chamois on the other side of the valley. Mt French, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Chris Leighton, Garry Turnbull, Blue — Never stop looking … searching for the elusive chamois on the other side of the valley. Mt French, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Chris Leighton, Garry Turnbull, ’Blue’

A happy dog doing what she loves best, being out in the mountains with its ever changing mixture of smells, sights and terrain. Mt French, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Blue — A happy dog doing what she loves best, being out in the mountains with its ever changing mixture of smells, sights and terrain. Mt French, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. ’Blue’

Boulder hopping our way up a small steep creek that will eventually take us to the open mountain tops. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull

Taking a well needed rest from hunting up a badly log jammed creekbed and trying to think of a plan B, even the dog has had enough. Side Creek off Hohonu River, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton, Garry Turnbull, Blue — Taking a well needed rest from hunting up a badly log jammed creek bed and trying to think of a plan B, even the dog has had enough. Side creek off Hohonu River, Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton, Garry Turnbull, ’Blue’

The mountains are are great experience for the young, here 14 year old Durham Woollaston joins us on one of our trips, picking up some of the necessary hunting skills of self reliance, bushcraft, mountain craft and rifle handling. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. — The mountains are are great experience for the young, here 14 year old Durham joins us on one of our trips, picking up some of the necessary hunting skills of self reliance, bush craft, mountain craft and rifle handling. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Durham Woollaston

Never stop looking A break in the days hunting, a small fire lit, sandwich in one hand and binoculars in the other hand, never stop looking Hohonu River, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton — Never stop looking … A break in the days hunting, a small fire lit, sandwich in one hand and binoculars in the other hand. Hohonu River, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton

Looking across to Lake Ruby high in the Hohonu Ranges. Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton

When the cloud moves in, visibility can be down to a few metres when it gets bad, you can rest up and wait if you think it will clear or you just have to keep moving and looking. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton

Pitching the tent on the most flat piece of ground we could find, with Lake Ruby in the Background. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull

New Zealand's native high altitude parrot the Kea, here doing what it loves to do best, ripping everything apart with its powerful beak, even boots while still being worn. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull — New Zealand’s native high altitude parrot the Kea, here doing what it loves to do best, ripping everything apart with its powerful beak, even boots while still being worn. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull

Boiling up the first billy of tea in the early morning, the mountain mist has not yet lifted to reveal the fine sunny day above. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton

Evening captures two hunters silhouetted against the setting sun and cloud. Hohonu Ranges, Westland, New Zealand. Durham Woollaston, Garry Turnbull

Helicopter pilot John Dixon, one of the most well respected helicopter pilots in Westland, he was also awarded the medal of commendation for the rescue of fishermen from a floundering fishing trawler in a raging south Westland storm. Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. ZK-HMG, John Dixon (pilot), Mick Delury

Chamois were introduced from Austria into the New Zealand Mt Cook area in 1907, since then they have spread over most of the Southern Alps. Johnson Keel Stream, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand

Never stop looking A welcome lunch break after hours of walking and climbing, with still many more hours of the same to go (Garry looking through binoculars for Tahr or Chamois on the nearby mountains). Prospectors Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Mick Delury, Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton, 43 — Never stop looking … a welcome lunch break after hours of walking and climbing, with still many more hours of the same to go (Garry looking through binoculars for Tahr or Chamois on the nearby mountains). Prospectors Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Mick Delury, Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton, ’43

Looking across a shingle scree up to the headwaters of Prospectors Creek, Perth River Valley. Garry Turnbull

This climb was on the edge of our risk tolerance, what you cant see in this picture is the hundreds of feet below of a similar gradient. At times like this even holding onto a few blades of mountain grass is enough to reduce your fear and regain some confidence. (Mick is in the top right of the picture) Prospectors Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Mick Delury

Never stop looking Checking out the mountain opposite for any signs of Tahr. Prospectors Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland. Mick Delury — Never stop looking … checking out the mountain opposite for any signs of Tahr. Prospectors Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland. Mick Delury

If you havent felt more than a little nervous at some point when hunting Chamois and Tahr you are probably not hunting in the right places. Prospectors Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Mick D, Garry Turnbull — If you haven’t felt more than a little nervous at some point when hunting Chamois and Tahr you are probably not hunting in the right places. Prospectors Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Mick Delury, Garry Turnbull

Hunting for Chamois and Tahr is always in high rocky steep country, here we are gaining height by climbing up a dry creekbed gully. You have to stick close together when possible in this country while climbing, rocks easily become dislodged and bounce down through the air behind you at great speed. Conservative Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton — Hunting for Chamois and Tahr is always in high rocky steep country, here we are gaining height by climbing up a dry creek bed gully. You have to stick close together when possible in this country while climbing, rocks easily become dislodged and bounce down through the air behind you at great speed. Conservative Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton

Its often a toss-up between getting to where you want to go, and the amount of risk you are prepared to accept to get there. If you want to hunt Chamois and Tahr, risk is your constant companion. This mountain country is very broken and unstable, its not uncommon for rocks to fall away from your handhold or footing. Conservative Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull

At the confluence of the Perth River and Prospectors Creek, steep mountainous country in the background can be seen where we had been hunting days before. Westland, New Zealand. Mick Delury, Andy Leighton

Working our way around large boulders up the Perth River on the way to higher hunting grounds. Westland, New Zealand, Garry Turnbull, Mick Delury

In steep country finding your way down is always more difficult than finding your way up especially in thick leathery sub alpine scrub, where the visibility is down to a couple of metres, its easy to travel off the main ridge line you are trying to follow and get trapped down side spurs above a cliff. Time is against us as evening approaches, earlier we had marked a bush with white toilet paper so we could find our way down the same open rock slip we had climbed up in the morning. Redfield Stream looking across to Scone Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Malcolm Thomas, Andy Leighton — In steep country finding your way down is always more difficult than finding your way up, especially in thick leathery sub alpine scrub, where the visibility is down to a couple of metres, its easy to travel off the main ridge line you are trying to follow and get trapped down side spurs above a cliff. Time is against us as evening approaches, earlier I had marked a bush with white toilet paper so we could find our way down the same open rock slip we had climbed up in the morning. Redfield Stream looking across to Scone Creek, Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Malcolm Thomas, Andy Leighton

Lunch break with the Perth River valley behind us. Ian Arnott, Andy Leighton

They are usually safe, but a swing bridge still tends to give you a slightly uneasy feeling. Perth River, Westland, New Zealand. Ian Arnott

Loss of balance on the slippery rocks will mean a cold dunking at the very least and possibly a lot worse. Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Malcolm Thomas, Garry Turnbull, Ian Arnott, Joe, Mick Delury

Sometimes the river boulders are large and packed together tightly, so the only way is to crawl your way through small openings between the boulders, if you are lucky enough to find one. Perth River, Westland, New Zealand. Malcolm Thomas, Garry Turnbull, Ian Arnott, Joe, Mick Delury

Nolans Hut makes a fine place to rest up and refresh yourself with a drink after a hard, wet walk along the Perth River Valley. Westland, New Zealand. Joe, Mick Delury, Malcolm Thomas, Garry Turnbull — Nolan’s Hut makes a fine place to rest up and refresh yourself with a drink after a hard, wet walk along the Perth River Valley. Westland, New Zealand. Joe, Mick Delury, Malcolm Thomas, Garry Turnbull

A bunch of Likely Lads outside Nolans Hut, ready for their next daring mission. Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Joe, Andy Leighton, Mick Delury, Ian Arnott, Garry Turnbull, Malcolm Thomas — A bunch of Likely Lads outside Nolan’s Hut, ready for their next daring mission. Perth River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Joe, Andy Leighton, Mick Delury, Ian Arnott, Garry Turnbull, Malcolm Thomas

Helicopter crew refueling the Hughes 300 after a mornings deer hunting. Waikiti Downs, Westland, New Zealand. ZK-HGP, Tom Trevors (pilot), Andy Nolan (shooter)

We fly over a small tarn on the open tussock tops, high up above the Trent River valley

Climbing down into the Waikiti River. Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Barry Greening

During the few weeks of the March/April rutting season, Red Deer stags use these wallow holes to cool off and spread their scent around, this wallow hole is high up on the open mountain tops, most are down in the bush in defined areas that the stag marks out as his territory. Trent River Valley, Westland, New Zealand

The Hughes 300 helicopter leaving the Mid Trent Hut after dropping us off. Westland, New Zealand. ZK-HGP, Tom Trevors (pilot), Pete Gurden, Garry Turnbull

Cooking dinner under candle light in a mountain hut. Garry Turnbull, Peter Gurden, Andy Leighton

Looking for chamois while having a break from the climb up the mountain, at the head of Blue Stream. Mid Trent River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Pete Gurden, Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton — Never stop looking … searching for chamois while having a break from the climb up the mountain, at the head of Blue Stream. Mid Trent River Valley, Westland, New Zealand. Pete Gurden, Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton

More of the same someone once said the only problem with hunting in New Zealand is you are always either walking up a bloody hill or walking down a bloody hill Pete Gurden, Garry Turnbull — More of the same, someone once said the only problem with hunting in New Zealand is you are always either walking up a bloody hill or walking down a bloody hill. Pete Gurden, Garry Turnbull

Andy Nolan unhooking packs and supplies from under the hovering Hughes 300 helicopter. Trent River, Westland, New Zealand. HGP, Tom Trevors (pilot), Andy Nolan (shooter), Garry Turnbull, Pete Gurden

A great alternative to staying in a tent. Slatey Creek Hut, Waiheke River, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull

It might look horrifying inside but after a days hard slog with a pack and rifle at night and that fire is lit, a billy of tea simmering over the leaping flames, with the heavy rain thundering down on the tin roof and finally you get that mug of hot tea sweetened with condensed milk in your hands you couldnt get a more cosy and welcome home. Slatey Creek Hut, Waiheke River, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull (trying to revive a long dead patient) — It might look horrifying inside but after a days hard slog with a pack and rifle, at night and that fire is lit, a billy of tea simmering over the leaping flames, with the heavy rain thundering down on the tin roof and finally you get that mug of hot tea sweetened with condensed milk in your hands – you couldn’t get a more cosy and welcome home. Slatey Creek Hut, Waiheke River, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull (trying to revive a dying patient)

Slatey Creek Hut, Waiheke River, Westland, New Zealand.

Never stop looking … positioned below the crest of the hill to hide our profile and movement, we search the far mountainside for any sign of the wary chamois, binoculars are an essential part of hunting the tops (open tussock/rock country above the bush line). High country chamois have excellent eyesight and will spot you long before you can see them without the aid of binoculars. Trent River valley, Westland, New Zealand. Peter Gurden, Garry Turnbull

A warm campfire to relax by after a hard days hunting. Pete Gurden, Garry Turnbull, Andy Leighton — A warm campfire to relax by after a hard days hunting. Andy Leighton, Garry Turnbull, Pete Gurden

A welcome break after a hard days walk along the upper Trent River with pack and rifle. Darkness will be within the hour, but we still have an hour and a half walking left to reach the Lagoon hut, the last half hour was done by torchlight. Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Pete Gurden

Never stop looking Checking out the open rocky slips for animals. Upper Trent River, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Pete Gurden — Never stop looking … Checking out the open rocky slips for animals. Upper Trent River, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Pete Gurden

Its always a nice luxury when you start off with a good track to follow, but eventually most remote tracks become barely visible after a while and you have to find your own way. Waikiti River, Westland, New Zealand. Garry Turnbull, Barry Greening

High above the cloud on the open tops hunting for Chamois. Mt Technical, Lewis Pass, Westland. Phillip Pascoe, Blue — High above the cloud on the open tops hunting for Chamois. Mt Technical, Lewis Pass, Westland. Phillip Pascoe, ’Blue’

Decision time, continue across the broken slips or spend an extra hour or two climbing up and around the top to the other side. Otira, Westland, New Zealand. Andy Leighton

Well known local and national identity Bill Black and team drop off live deer from a mornings hunting, the deer are destined for a commercial deer farm. Te Anau, New Zealand. ZK-HMY, Bill Black (pilot)

A Quick West Coast Deer Hunt by Helicopter in the early 1990’s

I took this shakey video footage back in the early 1990’s with a Sony video 8 camcorder. The pilot is Dave McIlroy flying his Robinson Helicopter ZK-HOK. The footage of the deer at 1.02 is taken in the Cockeye Creek Valley, Marsden, near Greymouth, West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand.
If only I could have had my current Sony action camera FDR-X3000 back in those days, it fits in my pocket, shoots in 4k with image stabilization, and I can attach it to just about anything.

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