What Game Animals Can You Hunt with Leithen Valley Hunts?

Updated

Leithen Valley Hunts offers four main trophy species on its private South Island, New Zealand property: Red Stag, Fallow Buck, Tahr, and Chamois. Both rifle and bow hunting are offered. The animals were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800s and early 1900s and roam freely across the property, which the outfitter describes as more than 40,000 acres — split into roughly 10,000 acres of private stag country and 30,000 acres of private tahr country.

The Four Trophy Species

Species Notes from the outfitter
Red Stag Known for large, dark antlers; hunted in the stag country
Fallow Buck Roams the rolling hills alongside the other species
Tahr Hunted in the dedicated tahr country; a separate Tahr Camp lodge is listed
Chamois Part of the free-roaming trophy animals on the property

The property description notes that the animals "hug the edge of the beech forest in which they thrive," so the terrain mixes open rolling hills with forest edge — relevant if you are deciding between spot-and-stalk style hunting and hunting closer cover.

Hunting Style: Fair Chase on Private Land

The outfitter frames the experience as a "fair chase trophy experience" on vast private terrain, with professional guides accompanying hunters. The property page describes the approach as roaring or grunting to bring a trophy animal in for the shot — a calling-based style most associated with red stag during the roar. If you are a bow hunter, bow hunting is explicitly listed among the offerings, so you are not limited to rifle.

Choosing Based on Your Goal

  • If a red stag is the priority: the stag country is the largest single block described (10,000+ acres), and stag is the first species named on the site.
  • If you want a mixed-bag trip: all four species share the same property, so a single visit can plausibly target more than one — confirm with the outfitter when booking.
  • If tahr is the priority: the dedicated tahr country (30,000+ acres) and separate Tahr Camp suggest this is a distinct part of the operation, possibly a different season or lodge than stag hunting.
  • If you hunt with a bow: state this when enquiring, since guide assignment and terrain choice may differ.

What to Confirm Before Booking

The site lists a "Packages and Price list" page and a seasons section, but the excerpt does not state species-specific seasons, trophy fees, or whether each species is available year-round. Before committing, ask the outfitter directly:

  1. Which species are available during your intended travel dates.
  2. Whether a multi-species package is possible in one trip.
  3. Bow hunting suitability for your chosen species and season.
  4. What is included at each lodge (Maungawera Lodge vs. Tahr Camp).

The outfitter also advertises June–July specials and a Young Hunters Program, which may affect availability or pricing for those dates — worth mentioning when you enquire. Contact details listed on the site include the phone number 833-248-6869.