New Zealand DIY Free Range Hunt of a Lifetime!! (Busse Content)

Excellent! Thats a great ending to the trip, glad you were able to grab one.
By the way, I almost missed the Busse content in the last pic,, there it is, sticking out of your pocket!! Hope it was sheathed :D
Congrats again, and thanks for taking us along this journey.
 
rcb2000 said:
Excellent! Thats a great ending to the trip, glad you were able to grab one.
By the way, I almost missed the Busse content in the last pic,, there it is, sticking out of your pocket!! Hope it was sheathed :D
Congrats again, and thanks for taking us along this journey.
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Good eye ;) Always sheathed mate. Time for some more Busse content.

Packed
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The two on the other side of the river
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Gear
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3000+ views... Any questions? Happy to talk about gear, tactics, NZ, game animals, rifle, knives etc.
 
One thing you wished you'd brought?
One thing you didn't need?
Also, curious about which brand of boot you had on there?
 
So ... you didn't get naked for the money shot? ;)

Really great write-up. Thanks for the time. Sounds like your buddy's GF held up OK then?
 
Killer writeup! Looks like the stuff dreams are made of! Knice knife too!
 
So good I have to comment twice! This is literally the best story of a hunting adventure on all of bladeforums for sure!
 
rcb2000 said:
One thing you wished you'd brought?
One thing you didn't need?
Also, curious about which brand of boot you had on there?
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Good question! On long trips like this, lightweight and quick drying clothing is better than heavy and waterproof. You WILL get wet, but it's better to dry quickly.
I wish I had brought more food!!! I did so much hiking I needed far more calories than I normally would.
The boots are Asolo Sasslongs. Had them for years and never let me down.


resinguy said:
So ... you didn't get naked for the money shot? ;)

Really great write-up. Thanks for the time. Sounds like your buddy's GF held up OK then?
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Ohhh you better believe I got the money shot too!!
It was incredible at just how well she handled the whole thing. Always positive, never a drag and did not detract from the trip at all. In fact, she was a pleasant addition to the hunting party.

Riz! said:
Killer writeup! Looks like the stuff dreams are made of! Knice knife too!
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Thank you brother.

TommyGun56 said:
No Doubt, well written and the pictures are phenomenal!!!
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Glad you enjoyed :)

tech25 said:
Thank you for sharing this awesome adventure with us!
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Thank for reading!
 
Holy Crap!!! What an epic thread! How the hell did I miss this one... Wilkes, you rock man! Such a great adventure and excellent write-up... thanks of taking the time to bring us along. The naked post-kill pics were a little crazy... thanks for the modesty edits ;)
 
I hope that's not the last installment! Every time I log in I've been looking forward to a little more :D Great read brother.

Okay, so how does the system work there for hunting? You're a non-resident of NZ I take it, so do they issue tags to you, what are the bag limits per species, that kind of thing.

Cheers!
 
Aias said:
Holy Crap!!! What an epic thread! How the hell did I miss this one... Wilkes, you rock man! Such a great adventure and excellent write-up... thanks of taking the time to bring us along. The naked post-kill pics were a little crazy... thanks for the modesty edits ;)
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Hahaha thank you. Yeah I'ts probably best to leave the money shots edited :D
 
So, how'd the rest of the stay go? How much time did you spend at the hut after getting your stag? Did you hunt any more? How was the hike out? How did the meat fair on the trek out? Did you get to bring any meat home? Did you get to take in any other sites? What bullet did you use? When are you going back? Can I come along (wait, not sure I could keep up any more and the last thing anyone wants to see is my nekkid butt)?

and....

CONGRAT'S!!!

Epic tale and pictures.... THANK YOU!!!:thumbup:
 
Hard Knocks said:
I hope that's not the last installment! Every time I log in I've been looking forward to a little more :D Great read brother.

Okay, so how does the system work there for hunting? You're a non-resident of NZ I take it, so do they issue tags to you, what are the bag limits per species, that kind of thing.

Cheers!
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Afraid so my friend! We basically packed up and headed out from there.

Great question regarding the NZ hunting system. Basically, NZ has a range of different animals that are considered pest/game species and can be harvested ALL year round, without tags or limits. There are exceptions to that rule, but that is the general gist. You just download a free hunting licence online and away you go. I am Australian and a non-resident. There is talks about charging non-res hunters a trophy fee when you export a head, but that isn't currently in place.

Hit me with any other info you need. NZ make it a very pleasant process to visit and hunt.
 
Stump Buster said:
So, how'd the rest of the stay go? How much time did you spend at the hut after getting your stag? Did you hunt any more? How was the hike out? How did the meat fair on the trek out? Did you get to bring any meat home? Did you get to take in any other sites? What bullet did you use? When are you going back? Can I come along (wait, not sure I could keep up any more and the last thing anyone wants to see is my nekkid butt)?

and....

CONGRAT'S!!!

Epic tale and pictures.... THANK YOU!!!:thumbup:
Click to expand...

After taking the stag and hinds in the meadow, we decided the area was well enough shot up. We packed our gear and with the remaining days, decided to return back to the trail head slowly over 2 days. We hunted the mornings and evenings in the open areas along the way. It was still too early for the Rut so we didn't hear any roars or see any more deer. The hike out was intense! On the way in we were fresh and it was hard... On the way out I had collected a few things like my trophy and I was worn out. Felt like I conquered the world when I made it back.

We ate tons of the meat the day we shot them and the morning before leaving. We took a few more kilo's with us back to eat on the way. That was a nice treat, camping by the river and pulling out steaks with gravy :D

I used a 300WSM with Winchester Super X in 180gr. My friend had dropped dozens of animals with them and swore by them. They did not disappoint as can be seen from this adventure.

When will I go back? It will be hard brother! 12 days away from my family damn near broke my heart. I have a 2 year old daughter and it was tough not being able to see her or help out. I am trying to come up with a plan that puts my girls in a nice comfy hut while I do day trips into the mountains. My buddy was talking about going back in November and I would love to come too :)

I am coming to the US in April for Spring bear so expect another adventure tale on my return. Might need a new knife for it... Any excuse will do.
 
Wilkes said:
Afraid so my friend! We basically packed up and headed out from there.
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Boo!! j/k :D

Great question regarding the NZ hunting system. Basically, NZ has a range of different animals that are considered pest/game species and can be harvested ALL year round, without tags or limits. There are exceptions to that rule, but that is the general gist. You just download a free hunting licence online and away you go. I am Australian and a non-resident. There is talks about charging non-res hunters a trophy fee when you export a head, but that isn't currently in place.

Hit me with any other info you need. NZ make it a very pleasant process to visit and hunt.
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Thank you! Very cool. I've never done a guided hunt, and while I've considered them for far-away places, self-guided is more my style. Time to seriously consider it before some of these more arduous hunts slip away from my physical ability.

Thanks so much for the write-up and letting us tag along vicariously, and kudos for making the undertaking in the first place.
 
Completely agree - If it is possible, I think it's better to do self guided or with a local friend or acquaintance. There is so much more adventure and learning when you step in the relatively unknown that you would never experience with a guide.

Can't tell you how excited I am for Spring Bear... The country looks beautiful and your wildlife is really awesome.
 
I love it here. You're going to have a blast on your bear hunt I'll wager. Will you bait, spot-and-stalk or try to harvest with the aid of hounds?

Hmmm....I was going to PM you a link to a thread you might enjoy but I'll try your Visitor Messages instead and see if they are turned on.
 
Thanks for the write up mate. I have enjoyed it greatly as I pack, unpack and repack my gear....not to mention sticking my honking big pack on and going walking here, you have provided some great inspiration. You probably found out just how much a part of the culture hunting is in NZ. I could easily jump the pond for good if given the chance !!

Which airline did you fly over with ?
 
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