Neil Davies hunts New Zealand with outfitters, Glen Dene

Embarking on a journey to the captivating landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island, Neil Davies, the marketing director of Hornady, shares his remarkable hunting adventure with Glen Dene Hunting & Fishing. With rugged terrain, abundant wildlife, and unparalleled beauty, join us as we delve into his extraordinary expedition and glean valuable insights for those considering their own adventure to this remarkable corner of the world.

Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud, known to most of us as New Zealand is commonly considered a far away, mythical place at the bottom of the Earth. Most know that these islands feature such stunning topography and that it was a singular location for the Lord of the Rings movie franchise. Aside from that, it’s shrouded in mystery for so many that have never made the pilgrimage to one of the most beautiful locations on the planet.

Our trip began several years ago, but like so many other international events, COVID made a mockery of our plans. The world finally opened and so did New Zealand. We hunted with Glen Dene Hunting and Fishing New Zealand. We had a large group of hunting industry marketing folks and editorial guests and to say that the trip lived up to everyone’s expectations and then some would still be an understatement.

For many, this was their first time to New Zealand. Everyone was in awe of the scenery and overwhelmed with the magnificence of the hunting experience. Stags and tahr were on the list and to a man and woman, success was had by all within a matter of days, leaving time to experience more of the ancillary features of hunting on the South Island of New Zealand.

I have known Richard and Sarah Burdon, owner and operators of Glen Dene for about a decade and have hunted with their company on three separate occasions. I’ve seen the company expand to accommodate new hunting properties, as well as new accommodations — namely the luxury geodesic domes located at the Cross Hill Lodge property. These new structures feature stately bedrooms with a small kitchenette, personal shower and fireplace. These comfortable rooms are a welcome respite following a tough day on the hill. There’s also a hot tub and sauna up the hill at the lodge that overlooks beautiful Lake Hawea and the surrounding mountain views. Lest I forget, they routinely have a masseuse available should one need deeper relaxation.

The main camp is located close to the hereditary Burdon property of Glen Dene, a working sheep station and farming operation near the small town of Hawea, not too far from the slightly larger Wanaka located on the shores of the adjoining Lake Hawea. The Glen Dene property spans the distance between Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka. Once atop the property, you can see both lakes and the encircling steep peaks of the greater Southern Alps that rise abruptly from the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Hunting on the South Island of New Zealand must be experienced to be appreciated. The island teems with red deer, fallow deer, tahr, chamois, elk (referred to as wapiti in New Zealand), whitetail deer, feral goats, Arapawa sheep, wild pigs, upland birds such as quail, chukar, and pheasants, as well as waterfowl like the unique paradise duck, black swan, and common species such as Canada geese and mallard ducks. Additionally, hunters can pursue small game like possums and wallabies, both originally from Australia

Now it must be said that the only thing flat in New Zealand is the water, but don’t let that ruin your expectations. You’re undoubtedly capable of more than you think you are, and excellent operators like Glen Dene will accommodate anyone’s physical capabilities. However, if you want to do it the hard way, they will be happy to oblige. On the other hand, helicopter operations are available for anyone wanting the elevator ride to the top and back.

The red deer and the fallow deer live in the lower country. The tahr are in the intermediate elevations, and the chamois are at the top. I assume that this changes at some times of the year, but overall, this seems to be how it has played out for me. Again, one can do it the hard way or the easy way. Regardless how rugged the terrain is, one thing that you won’t have to fight is the altitude. You’re starting from sea level or thereabouts, so the air rarely thins out enough to cause issue. Bring rugged, broken in boots, a good walking stick and go for a hike. You’ll be surprised at how fit you truly are. Plus, there’s nothing like a bit of heavy breathing to blow the office cobwebs out of your lungs!

Lastly, the guides and the people of the operation make the place what it is — amazing! You will start as friends and leave as family. The guides are consummate professionals charged with ensuring that everyone thoroughly enjoys their experience. I simply can’t say enough about the people that make up Glen Dene. You will meet some first-class people that will ultimately enrich your life for having known them. And boy are they tough! I swear they can glide across hilltops, but they are always kind, patient, accommodating and work diligently to provide the best opportunity for client success.

As for rifles and gear, if you don’t want to travel with a firearm, Glen Dene can provide firearms for guests to use. If you do travel with a firearm, be sure to start early on your firearm license — I recommend you give it six months. Non-citizens of New Zealand or Australia must obtain a travel visa. The process is simple via an app, but I recommend working with a reputable travel agency like Gracy Travel that can help with all visa and firearm paperwork along with travel plans.

Many calibers will work well for New Zealand. Red stags are larger animals, but with the right Hornady bullets, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester and almost anything based on the 30–06 case and up will be perfectly adequate. However, if push comes to shove, I surmise that the Hornady 6.5 PRC 143 gr ELD-X Precision Hunter is the ultimate cartridge for these islands.

Boot selection matters so choose good quality boots from a company that specializes in mountain hunting footwear, such as Kenetrek, Meindl, Lowa, Danner, ASOLO or SCARPA. You would be well suited to use fairly stiff boots with excellent ankle support.

Tahr and chamois hunters should be discerning. These animals live in rocky, often snow-covered alpine environments. Ancillary equipment should include a good pair of gaiters, as the grass covered hills can often be wet and you may cross small creeks and experience some snow. A good walking stick or set of hiking poles is advised. Aside from that, pack layers as one would for an early season hunt in the Rockies to include a waterproof layer and take a quality three-day backpack, such as the likes from KUIU, Mystery Ranch and Stone Glacier that can be used to transport meat or trophy if need be. The guide will carry everything off the hill, but some folks like to assist with the pack-out.

Standard 10 power binoculars and a quality rangefinder will help, but the guides are all well-equipped too. If you have a preferred pair of shooting sticks, you wouldn’t be wrong to bring them. However, many shots are from prone or modified prone off a backpack or impromptu rest. Shot ranges can vary but being prepared to shoot from improvised positions out to 400 yards should suffice for everyone. Most of the shots will be a lot closer. As open as that country is, there’s lots of micro-terrain and you can always get closer ideally guaranteeing success.

In addition to the main Glen Dene lodge, they have spike camps for tahr and chamois to include some rustic wood cabins built in the Glen Dene backcountry, as well as remote camps at Glen Lyon and the Godley Valley. Hunters can also opt for wilderness camps up in the mountains for a few days. Again, this can be as hard or as easy as anyone wants it to be. Regardless of what camp one ends up in, each camp has all the views! I certainly don’t have the words to explain the beauty of New Zealand — but you should go check it for yourself.

Stop by the Glen Dene booth at the Dallas Safari Club or Safari Club International show and ask Richard or his team any other questions you may have… or just email him now and book your trip!