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 were released in New Zealand for sport hunting. Most of this 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, they spread quickly throughout the country.
The pinnacle of antlered game
Venator is globally recognized for producing the world’s largest and highest-quality red stag trophies. While we proudly hold multiple world records, our true distinction lies in the exceptional consistency and unparalleled quality of our trophies across all scoring ranges.
Through decades of strategic herd management, we’ve consistently delivered trophies that set the benchmark in New Zealand and beyond. Simply put, our trophies are unmatched anywhere.
A larger than
life experience
We know that the attraction of an individual trophy is based on personal taste. Therefore, we take great pride in providing a variety of eye-catching stags, with great mass, exceptional width, and long scoring points.
Our team will help guide you to your target with the ‘spot and stalk’ style of hunting. Our approach is to always strive to exceed expectations, from the start of each day, throughout the hunting experience, right up until the final trophy harvest.
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 breath taking 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.
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.
Hunting is solid February through August. Pre-roar (early season) is great for thicker cover; the roar peaks late March through late April; May onward pairs well with winter-coat tahr/chamois.
Book now for the
hunt of a lifetime
Partners & associations
