Thinking of a return trip in 2019

I took a great free range Red on my last trip with a guide as well as a reasonable Fallow. On my own hunting public land I managed a very small Chamoi. Thinking of returning a couple years out. I love to hunt and enjoy the experience and am not looking for huge trophies. That said, mature animals are the goal. Sika would be a huge bucket list item as would Thar. Thinking about at least two weeks. As much DIY hunting as possible and I would consider some reasonably priced free range hunting with a guide. I build custom guns for a living and spend lots of time in the field both here in Colorado and in South Dakota. Hunt or other trades are very possible as well. Do any of you hunt with black powder? A Red or Sika with a Percussion rifle would truly delight me. Thanks in advance for any input you may have.
Steve Bertram

Welcome Steve. Good that you are planning so far in advance. Contribute on here over that time and I am sure you will get to open a few worthwhile doors. First off you will need to plan to visit both main islands as the Sika are in the North and the Thar are in the South.

Welcome on the forum. You find guys here hunting with all sorts ,am sure you will be able to hook up with someone who's hunting with BP. I might give it a go next year too. Get in touch before you come over am sure we can sort out something.

Thank you for your input and the welcome Rushy. This will be my third trip but I have never spent time on the North Island. I'm in no hurry and enjoy researching my options. I have been reading through old posts on the forum and my Spot X guide from my last trip. The costly part is the flight so I am thinking about staying as long as I can, enjoying myself and taking as many animals as I can.
Steve

what type of custom guns do you mostly build steve ?

TAHR.

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

TAHR.

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CHRISTCHURCH CITY :P

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

TAHR.

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Depends on what dialect you use.
I prefer urdu/hindu

So I will always spell it Thar.
And I can do what I want.



Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I build mostly in the British style. Walnut and rust blue. I do quite a few single shot rifles on falling block actions with some bolt guns as well. I build a few double shotguns here and there as well.
Steve

First attempt posting a picture here. I took this Black Bear in Alaska this Spring with the rifle pictured which is a .375 H&H on a standard Mauser that I built.

http://i.imgur.com/SnZnSu7.jpg

Very nice

Lovely Mauser 375 Mag.
Won't need anything that powerful here - others will share their opinions as to what will do best on your target species.
Been to both SD (Sturgis) and CO in 2013, but on a motorcycle guided tour.
Loved both and met a guy (in Steamboat, CO), who offered to take me Elk hunting in season in CO.
Think it was the Kiwi Sav Blanc talking - or maybe it was the Tequila?
Lost contact with him as we moved the following year back to NZ from Australia.
Wherever you decide to go, there'll be someone on here with excellent advice on rifle, calibre and what gear you should be thinking about.

Thanks much for the input. Took my Red last trip with a .25/06 I built. Fun hunt and great animal but I love shooting things up close. The closer the better in my mind. That was why I asked about black powder shooters and was looking at sometime on the North island maybe during the roar. I also love to hunt with open sighted single shots, my favorite being my .30 super H&H. This is not my best Whitetail but he was taken at a lasered 205 yards with open sights.

http://i.imgur.com/BXXtI1U.jpg

my stag taken with the .25/06 I built at about 260 yards.

http://i.imgur.com/jqaiSUK.jpg

A nice representative stag with an old rifle and up close would really be the bees knees or I guess as some say the Mutts nutts.

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Originally Posted by Sbertram

First attempt posting a picture here. I took this Black Bear in Alaska this Spring with the rifle pictured which is a .375 H&H on a standard Mauser that I built.

http://i.imgur.com/SnZnSu7.jpg

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Welcome.

Now that you know how to post pictures please put some up of the single shots.
Im a fan of nice single shots and here is my favorite with a couple of red stags I shot this roar.
Left hand Blaser k95 6.5x65R

Attachment 71470

Attachment 71471

Since you asked I'm happy to show some work I have done. Clients gun, completely restored, engraving picked up, new barrel in .500 NE, shop built sights, I restocked it as well. More gun than I need but the client was pleased.

http://i.imgur.com/o4dUaDI.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/nCyALyt.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/OBBTWNw.jpg

I took pity on this old gun and restored it. 16 bore rifle converted from a muzzleloader. I straightened the barrel, built a new briddle and fly for the lock, new front sight, browned the barrel and re-finished the stock

http://i.imgur.com/KrAn7st.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BcLtMyv.jpg

and freezer filler

http://i.imgur.com/Q0WNDVj.jpg

a Remington Rolling block converted to side-lever opening and inline muzzleloader. It is very accurate and I have taken quite a few animals with it. (I should finish that fore end but never have)

http://i.imgur.com/yVwav63.jpg

very nice stuff Steve
heirloom looking pieces

Welcome to the forum I like the pictures you have posted, good to see you hunt with what you build, keep the posts coming.

Steve is a good guy to deal with, I recently got a great little 16ga from him and I can't be happier.
Welcome to the forum Steve, keep me in the loop on your plans
Cheers
Hendrik

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Originally Posted by Sbertram

Thanks much for the input. Took my Red last trip with a .25/06 I built. Fun hunt and great animal but I love shooting things up close. The closer the better in my mind. That was why I asked about black powder shooters and was looking at sometime on the North island maybe during the roar. I also love to hunt with open sighted single shots, my favorite being my .30 super H&H. This is not my best Whitetail but he was taken at a lasered 205 yards with open sights.

http://i.imgur.com/BXXtI1U.jpg

my stag taken with the .25/06 I built at about 260 yards.

http://i.imgur.com/jqaiSUK.jpg

A nice representative stag with an old rifle and up close would really be the bees knees or I guess as some say the Mutts nutts.

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If ya ever come to the North Island Hawkes bay Kawekas to get sika a good ol Remington 700 or tika t3 20" bush rifle in 308 will do ya right

A pretty nice Whitetail taken at under 10 yards. I was in a tree stand for this one and used my .26/06 I built

http://i.imgur.com/Qd1aAuO.jpg

This one was a great hunt. Found him bedded up with a doe and did about a half mile stalk, belly crawling for a big portion of it. Shot him at about 125 yards and put the bullet right at the base of his spine. He never knew I was there. Used the old Holland in .30 Super and a Nosler partition 180 Gr bullet. Love those projectiles!

http://i.imgur.com/z8dUnpm.jpg

Pronghorn buck taken with my .25/06. Another long range shot.....he might have been 15 yards away. I do love the stalk.

http://i.imgur.com/G8zQp1y.jpg

My itty bitty wee lil Chamoi.....I need to do better.

http://i.imgur.com/XdmEKK0.jpg

Fallow on my last NZ trip taken w the .25/06. So long ago my hair was still brown......those were the days.

http://i.imgur.com/UDydlUJ.jpg

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

TAHR.

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Take your political correctness elsewhere :XD:

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Originally Posted by Sbertram

I build mostly in the British style. Walnut and rust blue. I do quite a few single shot rifles on falling block actions with some bolt guns as well. I build a few double shotguns here and there as well.
Steve

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Do you strike up the barrels? Our have them made? Sounds pretty cool.

I order Krieger barrels to my contour, then hand polish them before rust blue. The .500 NE is a good example. The rear sight is also sleeved on in the Rigby fashion and it is shop made with a taper to match the remainder of the barrel and the fore end hanger integral.

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Originally Posted by R93

Depends on what dialect you use.
I prefer urdu/hindu

So I will always spell it Thar.
And I can do what I want.



Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

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Did you stamp your foot and pull a face too?:P

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Did you stamp your foot and pull a face too?:P

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Na. Just blew a raspberry😉

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sbertram

I order Krieger barrels to my contour, then hand polish them before rust blue. The .500 NE is a good example. The rear sight is also sleeved on in the Rigby fashion and it is shop made with a taper to match the remainder of the barrel and the fore end hanger integral.

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Very, very cool - old, classic rifles re-built and restored using top quality barrels! :thumbsup: