A Dream Realized: My Red Stag Bow Hunt in South New Zealand
It’s hard to believe it has been almost nine years since that trip. A trip that changed how I see hunting forever.
For as long as I can remember, bowhunting a red stag sat at the top of my list. My wife made that dream come true for my 40th birthday. She planned the whole thing, reached out to friends, and surprised me with an email from an outfitter in South New Zealand.
When I first spoke with Wyatt, the guide and part owner of Spey Creek Outfitters, I knew this was the right place. I had a year to get ready, and I made every shot count. I practiced with my bow anywhere from ten yards to ninety, day after day, because I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
Then, two days before departure, disaster hit. The limb on my trusted BowTech 101st Airborne delaminated. My heart sank. I reached out to BowTech, but that model was long out of production. I didn’t have time to wait for factory parts. So I went to Scheels in Omaha and bought a brand-new BowTech, same brand, same confidence. With help from a friend in the archery department, we built it from the ground up, tuned it, and sighted it in. After two long days of practice, it shot as true as my old one.
Arriving in New Zealand
The travel was brutal, with multiple connections that felt like days in the air, but when we arrived at the lodge and met Wyatt, his wife Tonya, his dad, and the crew, it was worth every minute. The place looked like something out of a painting with rolling green hills, crystal streams, and stags in the distance.
Despite being exhausted, I couldn’t resist the urge to get out. Wyatt offered to take us for a quick ride to glass the ranch. I told him if there was even a chance we might see a stag, I wanted my bow with me. He laughed, told me I was crazy after twenty-four hours of travel, but agreed.
He set a target at eighty yards. I sent a few arrows downrange and every one hit home. “All right,” he said, “let’s go.”
Moments later we spotted a bachelor group. One stag stood out immediately, dual drop tines, something I’d never seen before. We left the side-by-side, moving slow through the brush. My wife Carmen was behind me, and Wyatt led. After forty minutes of creeping, we found the group again. The stag had moved up another hundred yards onto a plateau.
Wyatt whispered that we could probably get closer, but I told him I was ready if the range was inside ninety. He peeked over the edge, eighty-five yards. I drew, settled my pin, and let the arrow fly. I could see the Lumenok glowing through the air. The hit was a touch high but double-lung. The stag spun and ran uphill like nothing had touched him.
We looped around a rock outcrop, and I nocked another arrow. This time the shot was true, center lungs. Again, he charged forward. These animals are unbelievably tough, strong, thick-muscled, and built for the mountains.
Finally, we watched him stiffen, stumble, and tumble down the hillside, his antlers catching in the brush. Wyatt and I shouted and high-fived, pure relief washing over us.
My wife had stopped lower on the mountain when the terrain got sketchy. Wyatt radioed another guide, Art, to meet her and bring her down safely. When I finally reached my stag, I was speechless. I laid my hands on those massive antlers with dual drops and perfect symmetry, and for a moment all I could do was thank God for allowing me to live this dream.
That evening, back at the lodge, Carmen met us with tears of joy. We raised a glass to a perfect first day.
Reflections from the Hunt
Hunting in New Zealand taught me humility. The land itself commands respect with steep mountains, unpredictable weather, and animals that live harder than most of us could imagine. Wyatt and his crew at Spey Creek Outfitters treated us like family, and they handled every detail from start to finish.
We saved the cape and antlers for daylight photos the next morning. I’ll never forget those shots, standing on the side of that mountain with mist rolling through the valley, knowing I’d just completed a dream hunt.
But the hunt wasn’t the only thing that left a mark. Sharing that experience with my wife, seeing her excitement, her support, and the connection it built between us, that was the true gift.
Overseas Hunting Tips and Lessons Learned
1. Start Preparation Early
Give yourself at least a year. Practice at realistic distances and in real hunting conditions.
2. Double-Check Gear and Backups
Have a backup plan for your bow or rifle. Things break, and it’s easier to fix problems at home than in another country.
3. Know the Rules
Every country has its own regulations on firearms, bows, broadheads, and even clothing. In New Zealand, hunting gear must be clean and free of dirt or seeds.
4. Broker Your Trophies
Work with an import broker before you travel. Most outfitters can recommend someone, but it’s your responsibility to ensure your trophy gets home legally.
5. Expect the Unexpected
Even small things, like my chewing-tobacco story, can surprise you overseas. Do your homework and pack with flexibility.
6. Share the Experience
If possible, take a loved one. Having my wife there made the hunt richer, more meaningful, and something we’ll both talk about for the rest of our lives.
Final Thoughts
When I think back to that trip, I remember more than the hunt. I remember the friendships, the laughs, and the awe of seeing those red stags on their home ground. It reminded me why I hunt, not for inches of antler, but for the stories, the memories, and the connection to the outdoors.
That trip will always be one of the highlights of my life, proof that sometimes dreams really do come true when you chase them with heart.
