Steeped in history and prestige, the pursuit of the red stag often known as “the king’s animal”, has echoed through civilization, depicted in cave paintings, heraldic crests, and royal courts. Introduced to New Zealand from Britain in the 19th century, these majestic animals adapted seamlessly, becoming the pinnacle of trophy hunting.
A legacy from
royal lands
Between 1861 and 1919, more than 250 red stag (Cervus Elaphus) were released in New Zealand for sport hunting. Most of the red stag stock came from the great English parks, with some sourced from the Scottish Highlands. With no natural predators, plenty of food and initial protection from hunting, red stag deer populations in New Zealand spread rapidly throughout the country. Today, New Zealand red stag deer are considered one of the world's most coveted big game trophies.
The pinnacle of antlered game
Venator is globally recognized for producing the world’s largest and highest-quality trophy red stags. While we proudly hold multiple red stag deer world records, our true distinction lies in the exceptional consistency and unparalleled quality of our red stag trophies across all scoring ranges.
Through decades of strategic herd management, we’ve consistently delivered New Zealand stag trophies that set the benchmark in New Zealand and on the world stage. Simply put, our trophies are unmatched.
Red stag hunting.
A larger than
life experience
From their deep bellowing roars, unbelievable body size, and massive antlers, red stag hunting in New Zealand is a truly larger-than-life experience. We know your dream hunt is completely unique to you, which is why we tailor every detail to your exact preferences and personal taste. With trophy stags available across a full range of scoring sizes, we take great pride in providing a variety of eye-catching stags, with great mass, exceptional width, and long scoring points.
Our expert team will guide you using the classic ‘spot and stalk’ style of hunting. We always strive to exceed expectations—from the start of each day, throughout the hunting experience, right up until the final trophy harvest.
New Zealand red stag gallery
"Our time spent with Venator has been spectacular! We received a warm welcome from the Fraser’s and all of the staff, our away from home family. We spent our time enjoying the breathtaking beautiful outdoors, glaciers, fjords, mountains, valleys and the Tasman Sea seen from the air, buggy and on foot. Hunting some days, sightseeing others or simply relaxing by a warm and cozy indoor fire or being entertained under the open sky and outdoor fire. The chefs and their food were amazing, the accommodations and professionalism top notch and the guides extremely knowledgeable. We look forward to returning and hope to have the Frasers and Venator family visit us in Florida."
“We understand that a red stag trophy is personal to every hunter. At Venator, we take pride in offering a range of world-class trophies to suit each hunter’s own taste and preferences.”
Frequently asked questions
Please see below for frequently asked questions about hunting red stag in New Zealand.
Our luxury hunting experiences start from USD $18,000 for a 4-day, 500 SCI red stag hunt and USD $30,500 for a 6-day, 500 SCI red stag and multi-species hunt. We specialise in tailoring each hunt to suit the individual needs and tastes of our hunters, so these red stag hunting packages are simply a starting point for shaping your ideal experience. Talk to one of our experienced hunting consultants and begin building your customised itinerary.
Venator pairs world-record trophy genetics and seamless private preserve hunting with five-star luxury lodges just minutes from Wānaka.
Venator offers premier red stag hunts on exclusive private preserves in Wānaka, New Zealand, and Southeast Oklahoma.
The main season runs from late February through August, featuring the peak roar from late March to late April.
Yes, this is a common add-on, best planned at the start to work around weather windows.
A deep bellowing roar during the rut, often likened to a lion.
Same species, just different terminology based on where you are from.
Book now for the
hunt of a lifetime
Partners & associations
