Gerald Telford Hunting Fishing Guide Bow Rifle Red Stag Tahr Chamois in New Zealand


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Red Stag bedding down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
BOW HUNTING

FREE RANGE

FAIR CHASE

PRIVATE PROPERTY

 

 

Contact Gerald & Sue Telford


Bow Hunting
February to
April

 

Red Stags, Fallow Bucks and Himalayan Tahr are a challenging hunt and the unique environment in which they live is only surpassed by the skill and time taken in securing trophies. Majority of hunts are on a fair chase, free range basis. This is some of the toughest hunting terrain in the world, the fitter you are the more enjoyment you will get.
 
For our Hunting Client to be successful on our bow hunts, there are a number of requirements that have to be met.
 
First and foremost Gerald is a bow hunter. He has successfully hunted Mountain Goat in S.E Alaska, plains game in Sth Africa and Namibia, Rusa Deer in Australia and had success in all our New Zealand species.

Combine his bow hunting knowledge and success with quality management on the best bow hunting properties in New Zealand and you have all the ingredients to make for a successful bow hunt.

We have the properties and management of the animals and guides that know how to work with bow hunters to achieve results.

 
 

Bow Hunter comments (Click on this title)
INDEX:
  1. Red Stags
  2. Fallow Bucks
  3. Himalayan Tahr
  4. Bow hunting prices
  5. Read about our local Weather
  6. Bow Hunter References

 

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Red Stags
The rut commences in late March, peaking in the 2nd to 3rd week of April. Good Trophies are available to the end of July. (
Weather)

Red deer are hunted in the
Wanaka Region and the herd is part of the once famous Otago herd that established itself in the hinter land of Otago and spread into the South Westland region. Fairchase Trophy animals are located on a 50,000 acre block. They are not easy to locate but are well worth the time looking. Private Property, Preserve Red Stag are available from 6x6 SCI Bronze to 12x12 SCI Diamond.


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Fallow Bucks
Rut in the later part of April and on into the middle of May. Trophies are hunted from mid March to the end of July. (
Weather)

Fallow are hunted on private property in the Tapanui area. The herd is part of the Blue Mountains herd and is consistantly producing good Trophy heads. This prime Fallow habitat consists of open native grass ridges and scrub covered gullies. High animal numbers are present.

 


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Himalayan Tahr
The kings of the alpine terrain. Bulls begin to move into the nanny groups at the end of May and will stay with these groups until the end of August. The premium New Zealand Trophy. Tahr are hunted in the Westland and
Mt Cook areas. (Weather)

Planning and a lot of time are required to obtain a Trophy bull. The terrain, climate and the Bull Tahr's habitat all add up to huge challenges that are often daunting on first appraisal of a Trophy in more ways than one.


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Bowhunter References

Steve & Debbie Kennedy USA sekennedy1972@yahoo.com
Mark Hamilton USA mhamilton@wl-express.com
Richard Canoy USA mnb1131@msn.com
Catherine & David McCann Hawaii golfbabe007@hotmail.com
Morton Breith Denmark m_breith@hotmail.com
Robert Koenig Austria robertkoenig@utanet.at
Rod Strickland Sth Carolina rodstr@hargray.com
Daniel Blumer Wisconsin dblumer@hsrassociates.com
Brian Kornblatt Georgia kornblattb@geamba.com
Paul Wineholt USA petewineholdconcrete@yahoo.com
Jody & Jenny Maddock USA JodyMaddoc@aol.com
Jim Bradley USA jbradley@deaconind.com

Ken & Anna Norris Vorisek

Fairbanks, ALASKA

timberwf@gci.net

Dave Dillard

Fairbanks, ALASKA

dillard@mosquitonet.com

Joe Bisogno

Kansas, USA

mstevens@mrgoodcents.com

Curt Wells Nth Dakota curtawells@msn.com
Larry Jones Oregon larryjones@nu-world.com
Dave Erdman Florida tienie@warthogsafaris.co.za

Mark Shaffer

Florida, USA

mcs60@earthlink.net

Bob, Cyndy & Tom Boyce

Chisago City, MN USA

bb.boyce@yahoo.com

Richard King

MT, USA

rking01@3rivers.net

Kevin Owens

CA, USA

kevin.owens@navy.mil

Tom & Joanne Grimes

Hawaii

tgrimes@alohagas.com

  Gerald Moonens   Belgium   g.moon@skynet.be

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When I was first planning a sightseeing trip from my country Austria/Vienna in Europe to NZ in the year 2008 many of my friends had been asking me, "what are you going to hunt there ??"

"Nothing", I said , just a sightseeing trip of the North and South Island.

After all, I decided to take the chance and I looked for a bowhunting guide and a good place to hunt Himalajan Tahr and Stags or Chamois.

After searching in google, I soon detected  www.flyfishhunt.co.nz  and the contact was made.

Gerald invested his private time to show me around in December 2008 in his hunting area for Tahr and Stags, for two days . After that time he asked me if  I was an experienced bowhunter- only since already 1992 , and foamer of our bowhunting club, www.austrianbowhunting.at  (see the web page and photogallery), will make it – and I was hooked by gerald, who is also a bowhunting and fishing guide expert. At that time we could work out several close encounters for a bowhunter- just to take close pictures whith the camera in stead of a bow shot.

More than one year I was dreaming of that wonderful private mountain valley.  I used my time to become in good shape, trained mountain hiking as much as possible and trained as a bowhunter to shoot at distances up to 40 meters in the mountains.

In March 2009 the dream becomes true, and I was back in that wonderful valley. 11 hours of time difference gave me a hard time, I had 5 days of hunting time + 3 days as reserve days. To make it short, within three days I was able to fulfill my dream. I could haverest a fully free ranging bull Tahr with 12 inch, which scored 40 douglas points, high up in the mountains after a 3 hours climb more than 1200 meters higher up and 1.5 hours additional stalk, with a lucky or good trained 38 meters downhill bow shot and a two blade german cinetics 125 grain broadhead, that Tahr collapsed whithin 60 meters at a perfect place to make pictures, just meters before a vertical dangerous wall.

The next day we worked out several close encounters to the fully bugling redstags – they had been roaring like in my country, not bellowing high, like elk in the states, and with late shooting light , a perfect quatering away 30 meters bow shot ,brought down a beautiful symmetrical 7x6 red stag within 80 meters with long white tips, which scored 182 CIC points  and the dream was over …..

But I will never forget the wonderful time far far away at the other side of the world, the red stag antlers on my wall and the perfect shoulder mount of the thar will allways remind me of that great bowhunting adventure. Everything was perfect ……

ROBERT  KÖNIG  has hunted at many parts of the world and could havest with his bow more than 100 hooved big game animals, that NZ hunt was one of his highlights.

If you are a rifle or bow hunter and in normal good shape, you will have perfect chance for Tahr and Red Stag.

Thank`s Sue and Gerald for everything.

ROBERT KÖNIG

AUSTRIA / VIENNA / EUROPA - March 2009

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I have to say that of the 3 weeks we spent in NZ, that the hunt, your hospitality, the lodgings and the food that first week were the highlights of the trip. Your kids were fun for us to, they gave us a little reminder of home and we’ll miss them to. Sue, I think that the household and food were the best we had while in NZ. Mom and Susie really appreciated the time you spent touring with them, the highlight was the plane ride. The only complaint I heard from them was that you Kiwis drive to fast on mountain roads!

The abundance of free range wild game in the stag area was really impressive. It was sure nice (a real good thing I assure you) that whenever I messed up or got “blown” out of a stalk that there was another chance not to far in the future to try again. As I recall I think we saw/stalked 7 or 8 stags that first day, and nearly that the second. The Fallow property was equally impressive, rain or shine the bucks were snorting just over the next rise it seemed. That second afternoon when I managed to stalk, blow the stalk (or rather got winded, or seen, or who knows what) stalk again, blow the stalk…well I think 4 or 5 times before the last one headed across the creek at the bottom of the draw, was the most exciting, there were deer everywhere (that was part of the problem you see). Well, let’s think on that, almost being trampled by a heard of fallow does and buck when they came flying over the rise in our faces was pretty darn exciting to, I wish I had a camera shot of those deer when they came up over the rise (and maybe one of Gerald’s and my faces to as we ducked). The opportunity to hunt rabbits and turkey after the main hunt was great fun. Finding the group of boars on the mountain the last day was equally appreciated and exciting for bowhunting. Who would have thought that I needed to go to NZ to get my first, and second boars with the bow? That was a pretty impressive hump up that little hill with the pig on your back too Gerald. The sites way up on that mountain ridge were just about as good as the pigs we found. When time and money permit in the future I will be back to hunt Tahr and Chamios, maybe I’ll give another go at the Fallow to, we left some big ones out there. I’ll do my best on the Tahr in prime season with the bow to, maybe you Gerald will be up for taking your bow to (or you will take a back-up rifle). For Chamios, a rifle might be the best alternative.

We’ll stay in touch, thanks again for all your efforts before, during, and after this hunt.

Cheers!

Daniel Blumer, April 2008

 

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Grand Red Stag - awesome !

Everyone,

My last day in New Zealand was a relaxing one except for a short trip to the mountains and the place where we hunted for seven days. Gerald took me on a bit of a photo safari as I needed some closer photos of stags. We located two really good free-range stags and put the stalk on them and I got a
series of pretty good photos. Gerald and I put the moves on those stags like we'd hunted together for years. I was almost as excited as if I were carrying my bow. We couldn't have scripted it better, as it turned out. I attached one photo for you to look at but don't forward it all over the place as we may use it, or another version, in the magazine.

It will be tough leaving paradise but I'm flying out tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) and will be in my office Wednesday morning. Well, I'll be there in body, I don't know about mind. Talk to you soon.

Curt Wells
Field Editor, Equipment
BOWHUNTER Magazine

30 March 2007

Curt's Comments in Bowsite.Com.

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Curt with is bow hunted Red Stag

Wandering Red Stag


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Hello to all of you!  It was good seeing you at FNAWs and SCI. 

 I really want to thank you for the terrific hunt we had.  New Zealand is a beautiful place and what better way to see it then out hunting.  The Red Stag and Tahr are back from the Taxidermist and look great.  As much fun as we had hunting Stag and Tahr, and viewing all the game,  Ken and I both agree that trying to get upon those blasted fallow deer was the most fun part of the hunt.  We would really like to come hunting again and just spend time trying to get upon those spooky fallows.  There were some really pretty ones, while the albino one was pretty darn neat, the darker chocolate with white spots is what I’d like to bring home.  Gerald, you and Paul worked really hard to ensure we had a successful hunt and I really appreciate the effort you both put in.  Sue, I know you were working just as hard behind the scenes to make sure we had a great experience not just hunting, but in the everyday comforts, and then to find out you are quite the mountain flying pilot was an unexpected surprise.  Ken being a pilot himself was really impressed with your skill and knowledge on the flight to and from Milford Sound.  I myself, was just amazed that those frozen mountains held beautiful jeweled lakes with cascading waterfalls.  We really did have a good time.

Take care,

 Anna Norris, Fairbanks Alaska

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Anna Norris in Tahr country

Anna Norris Bow hunter for Red Stag


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I had an outstanding hunt with Gerald and Sue. Along with great guiding, great trophies and great scenery, the Telfords are great people and hosts. I have bowhunted much of North America and South Africa and I know a great hunt and experience when I have had one. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the hunting and the excursions in beautiful Wanaka with Sue. The flight to the coast with Sue as pilot was breathtaking and much appreciated and enjoyed. The stags were majestic and magnificent. Thank you Gerald and Sue for an adventure my wife and I will never forget. Please be sure I am on your reference list
 
Jody Maddock - PA, USA - March 2006  

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HELLO GERALD & SUE,

AFTER BEING BACK FOR A WEEK, I THINK I’VE FINALLY CAUGHT UP ON MY SLEEP.  IT WAS A LONG TRIP HOME TO PENNSYLVANIA, BUT WELL WORTH IT. I GOT ALL OF MY PICTURES DEVELOPED THE OTHER DAY & EITHER I’M A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER OR NEW ZEALAND HAS UNMATCHED SCENERY…..I’M SURE IT’S THE LATTER.

GOING IN TO THIS HUNT I CONTACTED MORE PAST CLIENTS OF YOURS THAN I HAD FOR ANY OTHER HUNT I’VE EVER TAKEN. I FELT AS IF THERE WAS NO REASON TO BE UNPREPARED, AS YOUR PREVIOUS HUNTERS HAD BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN TELLING ME WHAT TO BRING & WHAT I SHOULD EXPECT. AS WITH ANY HUNT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WILL POP UP THAT YOU HADN’T ACCOUNTED FOR, BUT THIS HUNT WENT VERY MUCH AS I HAD HOPED. GERALD WAS EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT WE HUNTED & HE KNEW PRETTY MUCH WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE RED STAGS. BEING STRICTLY AN ARCHER, IT WAS COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT GERALD WAS AS IN TO BOW HUNTING AS I WAS. AS ANYONE KNOWS THAT BOW HUNTS, IT’S A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEEING SOMETHING AT 200 YARDS THAT COULD EASILY BE TAKEN WITH A RIFLE & SNEAKING IN TO ARCHERY RANGE. THE FACT THAT MY FRIEND & I BOTH TOOK BEAUTIFUL STAGS IN THE FIRST 2-1/2 DAYS AT DISTANCES OF 30 & 12 YARDS RESPECTIVELY, SHOWS THAT GERALD ALWAYS HAS A GOOD GAME PLAN IN PLACE & REALLY KNOWS HIS BUSINESS. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE FINISHED WITH OUR STAG HUNTING, GERALD OFFERED TO TAKE US TO ANOTHER PROPERTY TO TURKEY HUNT. AFTER ONLY 2 HOURS, WE HAD TAKEN 4 TURKEYS & MISSED JUST AS MANY. IT WAS ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT TO AN ALREADY GREAT TRIP. TO TOP IT ALL OFF, GERALD’S WONDERFUL WIFE SUE, FLEW US OVER THE MOUNTAINS TO MILFORD SOUND & AS WE HAD LUNCH THERE, WE WERE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY BREATH TAKING MOUNTAINS, WATERFALLS AND OCEAN VIEWS.

WELL IT’S BACK TO REALITY & THE RAT RACE THAT IS LIFE, BUT THE MEMORIES & FRIENDS WILL LAST FOREVER. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU DID TO MAKE MY STAY IN NEW ZEALAND AS COMFORTABLE & ENJOYABLE AS POSSIBLE. YOU HAVE 2 GREAT KIDS, A BEAUTIFUL HOME & YOU’RE NOT TOO SHABBY AROUND THE KITCHEN!

BEST REGARDS, JIM BRADLEY - PA, USA, APRIL 2006

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Jim Bradley bow hunted Red Stag April 2006

Jenny, Jody, Jim & Sue at Milford Sound April 2006

Jody & Jim enjoying an afternoon of bow hunting Merriams April 2006


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Thanks again GT for another awesome bowhunting experience, and thank you Sue for all the fine New Zealand hospitality.  After booking two seasons with

Kevin Owen's Fallow Buck April 05

you…back-to-back…in pursuit of fallow bucks you must realize by now I’m a spot-and-stalk adrenaline junky.  The free-ranging fallow block we hunted again this year is by far the most challenging and game-rich environment I have ever experienced.  You have done an excellent job in managing this property, with careful deer population culling and developing “bowhunter friendly” habitat improvements.  The trails you have painstakingly cut and maintained through the matagouri brush made all the difference in my ability to “close the gap” and harvest another fine fallow buck this year.  For bowhunters like me that are “scent-free freaks,” it would be great if you could somehow get a hot shower working at the “Duck Inn,” but outside of that, don’t change a thing.  I’m not expecting anyone to leave a chocolate on my pillow each night, and dining on tahr sausage, native venison, and all the other fine meals you prepared in the “hut” made my trip that much more exotic.

Adding in this year’s free-ranging red stag bowhunt outside of Wanaka was also incredible, with the picturesque backdrop of Lake Hawea and the jagged mountains visible in every direction.  And although their senses may not be as keen as my favorite, the fallow deer, bowhunting “reds” in this alpine environment was a great experience and has burned in several memories of a lifetime.

Kevin Owens Red Stag April 05

As a bowhunter, I’ve learned a great deal from you, GT, from mastering the New Zealand belly crawl during our stalks, to the charming use of some well stated Kiwi slang.  Bowhunting with you has been an adventure since the first time we spoke on the phone and exchanged email messages

 to iron out the details for my hunts.  Being a bowhunter yourself, you clearly understand the limitations and hardships of both archery and bowhunting, and definitely used this knowledge to my advantage in the field.  For those of you considering booking a hunt with Gerald and Sue; trust me when I say you will be in good hands from start to finish.  If you are looking for a true free-range bowhunting experience in New Zealand without the aid of high-wire fences…then Gerald Telford is your man…and I say, “It’s worth a crack, Nigel,” you won’t be disappointed.

 With warm regards…Kevin Owens


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It has been a few months since Joanne and I visited you and had such a delightful time in Wanaka.  It would be fine with me if you included any of my comments in your client feedback section.
 
My overall experience was excellent.  Gerald is an excellent hunter and guide and very personable.  It would be a great day just out hiking with Gerald in the fantastic New Zealand scenery.  Happily, there was also plenty of game to be seen and Gerald was very adept at spotting and getting us close to it.  My bow hunt ended when we stalked to within twelve yards of a resting stag (the one I shot) and five yards of another (which we did not realize was there until his partner took off.)  I would love to hunt again with Gerald in New Zealand and will recommend him to my hunting friends.
 
My only disappointment was that I was fully prepared to hunt for 5 days, and after taking a stag on the second day the options seemed limited (turkey and rabbit).  I would have liked to have gone after pig or goats or sheep on the last three days.  Next time I'll make sure to make my interests known ahead of time.

Sincerely, Tom Grimes - July 2005

Tom Grimes Bowhunted Red Stag July 2005
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