Thread: Stags shot 2026

Originally Posted by T.w

I find alot of hunters are only meat hunter untill a good stag walks in front of them. Then say they arnt a trophy hunter but shoots a good stag? Don't get it

Simple, they go out to kill, regardless.

Originally Posted by Larskramer

Im after anything really, if i can feed my family, put a memory on the wall at the same time, then great, If my kids come with me, theyll have an opportunity to bag one, or one of my mates. but i dont need to explain my situation. I hunt, I remove pests, I keep a trophy and I feed my family and friends. I think this is explanation enough to not start a flame war keep it green! Ive let plenty go in the past!

Shot what ever you like for meat.If it happens to be a trophy,thats a bonus.Its hard enough getting out to chase deer,enjoy your venison steaks.

Free choice. They are a 'shared resource' too though, so others are free to question those choices.

I would point out that sharing photos of a velvet head, estimating a DS, carrying it out to be cured and put on the wall makes it the very definition of a hunting trophy.

And there is nothing wrong with taking hunting trophies.

Im more concerned at the pest justification. I wish hunters wouldn't do that. It's hard enough to get them considered a valued resource as it is. And it's very contradictory. On one hand it's valued as a trophy worth preserving and a way to feed the family. But when challenged on reason, it's just a pest.

I would only pass up a velvet stag or buck if the private property owners asks to leave them or Fiordland Wapiti block but thats not going to happen - velvet time means the stags generally are in good nick - the places I hunt fallow only one in 50 could be called a trophy really ( over 220 ) mainly just rubbish heads so over they go except in the roar and thats more about eating quality - we can be to precious

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Im more concerned at the pest justification. I wish hunters wouldn't do that. It's hard enough to get them considered a valued resource as it is. And it's very contradictory. On one hand it's valued as a trophy worth preserving and a way to feed the family. But when challenged on reason, it's just a pest.

100% a valued resource! my family of 8 groceries bills is in half due to harvesting our own venison - let alone our friends who are struggling etc.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Im more concerned at the pest justification. I wish hunters wouldn't do that. It's hard enough to get them considered a valued resource as it is. And it's very contradictory. On one hand it's valued as a trophy worth preserving and a way to feed the family. But when challenged on reason, it's just a pest.

It's the eternal question, especially in New Zealand - when hunting, and choosing what to kill, how much weight do you give to your own values, versus the values of others? That's the big issue for HOSIs I think.

Hence why these threads keep cropping up. Especially in velvet season.

Originally Posted by Oscar

It's the eternal question, especially in New Zealand - when hunting, and choosing what to kill, how much weight do you give to your own values, versus the values of others? That's the big issue for HOSIs I think.

Hence why these threads keep cropping up. Especially in velvet season.

It’s a tough one. I try. I’m of the opinion I’m not so much a trophy hunter in that I don’t go looking for big stags , it consider the few I have shot as measures of how much time I e spent hunting. 90% of which has been for meat and just to be hunting, as I’ve shot animals when I don’t need meat particularly. But I e allways walked away from velvet trophy potential stags. However who’s to say the spiker or 6 point stags i ended up shooting were not of the same class given a year or two? But I allways hope someone got the stags I left and valued them. Not a guy who just hung them in a shed along side 5 other similar heads to be forgotten and to get borer riddled.
It’s a tough discussion.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

It’s a tough one. I try. I’m of the opinion I’m not so much a trophy hunter in that I don’t go looking for big stags , it consider the few I have shot as measures of how much time I e spent hunting. 90% of which has been for meat and just to be hunting, as I’ve shot animals when I don’t need meat particularly. But I e allways walked away from velvet trophy potential stags. However who’s to say the spiker or 6 point stags i ended up shooting were not of the same class given a year or two? But I allways hope someone got the stags I left and valued them. Not a guy who just hung them in a shed along side 5 other similar heads to be forgotten and to get borer riddled.
It’s a tough discussion.

perfect thoughts and equiette, and i have also left several stage behind for others.

I just dont see a velvety as a trophy just does not look right on wall at all unless fully hard underneath and stain it up - so now I guess a real good one in velvet I might leave but it would have to be a real good one- red well over 12 points and again only because a 2-6 year old stag better eating - stags over 6-7 years old- lot of mince and sausages - I do leave big boars- let the dog boys have a go at them - sooner have a 40-60lb porker

Originally Posted by Jaybe

Is this the stag from the vid recently posted on YouTube?

Sent from my SM-A536E using Tapatalk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5gViKCgXLg

Will try this again had no luck with pic last time here goes. I took my great grandson away for a weeks camp first few days in the king country where he got himself some firsts, hare, possum, turkey, and goat. Later up to an area close to pureora and we nailed this fellow. then off to Clements for a couple of nights,fitted a bungy jump for him before that. nothing shot up clements but a good time had with him, he is 13, we had no camera so pic is in killing house .now to try upload the stag looks like success