leithenvalley.com

Leithen Valley Hunts operates on more than 40,000 acres of private property in the South Island of New Zealand, and the estate is presented as giving hunters the "vast terrain and the space necessary for a fair chase trophy experience." The land is split by species focus: the site cites 10,000+ acres of private stag country and 30,000+ acres of private Tahr country. If you are weighing a New Zealand trophy hunt and want to know whether the ground is large enough and wild enough to feel like a chase rather than a enclosure shoot, those acreage figures and the habitat description are the main things to check.

The Land: Scale and Layout

The property is a single family-owned estate, held and managed by the Stewart family for three generations. The headline figure is over 40,000 acres of private land, and the site breaks that down into two species-specific blocks:

The two figures add up to the 40,000+ acre total, so read them as a division of the same estate rather than as separate properties. The species list across the site is Red Stag, Fallow Buck, Tahr and Chamois, with bow hunting also offered.

Habitat and Terrain

The animals are described as roaming freely over rolling hills and hugging the edge of the beech forest "in which they thrive." That detail matters for fair chase: beech forest edges give cover and escape routes, so game is not standing in open pasture waiting to be collected. The terrain is rolling rather than flat, which shapes both the stalk and the physical demands of the day.

What "Fair Chase" Means Here

The site's own framing is that the property "provides the hunter with the vast terrain and the space necessary for a fair chase trophy experience." In practice, that claim rests on three things you can verify from the description:

• Space to move. Tens of thousands of acres means an animal can be pursued across distance rather than cornered.
• Free-ranging introduced game. Red Stag, Fallow Buck, Tahr and Chamois were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800s and early 1900s and are described as allowed to roam freely across the property.
• Guided pursuit. Professional guides who know the local area lead the hunt, and the site describes the approach in active terms — roaring or grunting to bring a trophy animal in for the shot.

The roaring and grunting detail is worth noting: it indicates an active, call-based approach during the rut rather than spot-and-stalk only. For hunters who have not tried calling stag, that is a different skill set and a different kind of adrenaline than a long glassing stalk.

What the Site Does Not Specify

The description does not state whether the property is high-fenced or open to adjoining land, nor does it give success rates, average trophy sizes, or walk-in distances. If the boundary situation matters to your definition of fair chase, ask directly before booking — it is the single most useful question to put to the outfitter.

The Guiding Team

Three guides are named on the site: Stefan Hope and Jake Phillips as hunting guides, and Rachel Stewart as owner/outfitter, with 25+ years of hunting experience cited for her. The site states that guides "know the country and the game" and prioritize safety and success. For a fair chase hunt on large private ground, local knowledge is the practical difference between a productive week and a lot of walking, so the guide-to-hunter ratio is worth confirming.

Lodging and the Rest of the Trip

The experience is not a tent-and-backpack affair. The site describes luxury accommodation with first-class amenities across lodges that include Leithen Valley Maungawera Lodge and a Tahr Camp, plus homecooked food and local beverages after the day's hunt. A guest testimonial from Kenneth Luschei of California describes beds made daily and compares the stay to a hotel.

The site also flags a June–July specials period and a Young Hunters Program, which are relevant if you are booking around school holidays or traveling with a younger hunter.

Deciding Whether It Fits

Choose Leithen Valley if you want a large, private, family-run estate with guided calling-style stag hunting, comfortable lodging, and a species mix that lets you combine Red Stag with Tahr or Chamois on one trip. Look elsewhere if you require public-land DIY hunting, or if you need confirmed open-boundary conditions before you commit — that detail is not on the site and should be settled by direct inquiry.

For current packages and rates, the site's "Packages and Price list" page is the place to start, and the booking line listed is 833-248-6869.

Start with the Packages and Price list page on leithenvalley.com to review hunting rates, then confirm availability and reserve by phone at 833-248-6869 or through the site's "Reserve Your Spot" request. Before you commit, check the seasons pages and current specials (the site lists June–July specials and a Young Hunters Program), and decide which species you're after — Red Stag, Fallow Buck, Tahr, or Chamois — since that shapes both timing and package choice.

Step 1: Review the packages and price list

The site's pricing entry point is the "Packages and Price list" link (leithenvalley.com/price-list-hunting-rates/). Open it first to see how hunts are bundled and what rates apply.

When reading the list, note:

• Which species each package covers — the property hunts Red Stag, Fallow Buck, Tahr, and Chamois.
• Whether accommodation is included — the lodges (Maungawera Lodge and Tahr Camp) are presented as part of the experience, but confirm what each package includes rather than assuming.
• Party size and guide ratios — guides are named individually (Stefan Hope, Rachel Stewart, Jake Phillips), which suggests guided hunts; check how many hunters per guide a package assumes.

The site does not publish rates directly on the homepage, so the price list page is the only place to get actual figures. Don't treat any number as final until you've confirmed it with the outfitter.

Step 2: Match your trip to the seasons and specials

Timing drives both price and success. The site separates Seasons as its own section and flags June–July specials — worth checking if your travel window is flexible, since specials typically mean different rates or inclusions than standard packages.

Two land areas matter for planning:

• Stag country: 10,000+ acres of private land
• Tahr country: 30,000+ acres of private land

If Tahr or Chamois is your priority, ask which season and which camp (Tahr Camp vs. Maungawera Lodge) applies to your dates. The Young Hunters Program is a separate offering — relevant if you're booking for a younger hunter, and worth asking about eligibility and dates directly.

Step 3: Confirm what's included in lodging and guiding

The lodges are described as luxury accommodation with first-class amenities, and a guest testimonial (Kenneth Luschei, California) notes daily bed-making and meals — useful signals, but testimonials aren't a substitute for the package terms. Before booking, confirm:

Step 4: Book through the stated channels

Two routes are given on the site:

1. Phone: 833-248-6869 — the fastest way to confirm dates, species availability, and current rates.
2. Reservation request: the "Reserve Your Spot!" call-to-action on the homepage.

Have ready: your preferred dates, target species, number of hunters, and whether anyone in your party qualifies for the Young Hunters Program. Expect to discuss deposit terms and cancellation policy by phone — the site doesn't publish these, so ask explicitly.

Common sticking points

• Rates aren't on the homepage. Go straight to the price list page; don't estimate from the marketing copy.
• Specials change. June–July specials are seasonal — confirm they still apply to your dates rather than assuming.
• Species availability varies by season. Tahr and Chamois hunts are tied to specific terrain and camps; Stag and Fallow Buck hunts run on the stag country. Ask which is realistic for your window.
• Booking is human, not instant. This is a family-run outfitter (three generations, 35+ years in business), so plan for a conversation rather than an online checkout.

For a first pass, read the price list, pick a season and species, then call with specific dates — that sequence gets you a firm quote fastest.

Leithen Valley Hunts provides luxury lodge accommodation with first-class amenities and professional, locally knowledgeable guides who prioritize safety and success. The site names three lodges or camps—Leithen Valley Maungawera Lodge, Tahr Camp, and a general "Our Lodges" listing—and identifies the owner/outfitter plus two hunting guides. Hospitality is part of the package: homecooked food, local beverages, and hosted company after a day in the field.

Lodging: Lodges and Camps

The site describes its lodges as offering "luxury accommodation with first-class amenities." The named options are:

A guest testimonial from Kenneth Luschei (California, USA) describes the stay as "like staying in a hotel," with the bed made each day and "amazing food." That is one guest's account, not a published amenity list—use it as an experience signal rather than a confirmed service inventory.

The site does not publish room counts, specific in-room amenities, or which lodge is assigned to which hunt. If those details matter for your trip, ask directly when you inquire.

Guiding: Who Guides and What They Emphasize

The site lists the guiding team by name:

• Stefan Hope — Hunting Guide
• Rachel Stewart — Owner/Outfitter
• Jake Phillips — Hunting Guide

The site says its guides "know the country and the game" and "prioritize your safety and success." It also states that guides have extensive knowledge of the local area and a passion for hunting. Rachel Stewart's profile notes 25+ years of hunting experience, and the family business is described as 35+ years old.

The hunting itself takes place across more than 40,000 acres of private land—described as 10,000+ acres of private stag country and 30,000+ acres of private tahr country—with the stated aim of a fair-chase trophy experience. Species include Red Stag, Fallow Buck, Tahr, and Chamois, plus bow hunting.

Hospitality and the Stay Experience

Beyond the room and the guide, the site frames the trip around hosted hospitality: after a day hunting, guests are offered "the chance to relax and unwind in comfort, with great company, homecooked food and local beverages." The tone is family-run—"When you join Leithen Valley Hunts you become family."

How to Evaluate Before Booking

Because the site gives atmosphere and team names but not a detailed service schedule, confirm these points when you inquire:

1. Which lodging applies to your dates and species—Maungawera Lodge versus Tahr Camp.
2. Guide-to-hunter ratio and whether you can request a specific guide.
3. What is included in food, beverages, and daily housekeeping, since the "hotel-like" description comes from a guest, not a published list.
4. Season and package fit—the site references seasons, June–July specials, and a young hunters program, and links to a packages and price list page for rates.

The site's contact number is 833-248-6869, and there is a "Reserve Your Spot!" prompt for booking inquiries.

Leithen Valley Hunts is a family-owned, guided hunting safari operation on a private property in the South Island of New Zealand. It offers fair-chase trophy hunts for Red Stag, Fallow Buck, Tahr and Chamois, plus bow hunting, and pairs the hunting with lodge accommodation and home-cooked hospitality. It suits hunters looking for a guided, multi-day trophy experience on private land rather than a self-guided public-land trip.

What the operation offers

The property is described as more than 40,000 acres of private land, split in the site's own figures into 10,000+ acres of "private stag country" and 30,000+ acres of "private Tahr country." The four game animals — Red Stag, Fallow Buck, Tahr and Chamois — were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800s and early 1900s and roam freely across the terrain, holding to the edges of the beech forest.

Who it is for

The setup points to hunters who want a guided experience with lodging included, and who value a family-run operation over a large commercial outfitter. The site's own guest testimonial (from a California client) emphasizes hotel-like comfort — daily bed-making and food — alongside the hunt, which suggests the appeal is as much the hospitality as the stalk. The Young Hunters program and June–July specials indicate options for younger or first-time hunters and for off-peak timing.

What to check before booking

• Pricing and packages: the site links to a dedicated "Packages and Price list" page; confirm current rates and what each package includes there rather than assuming.
• Season timing: seasons are listed as a site section, so match your dates to the species you want and to any specials.
• Travel and logistics: the property is in the South Island; the site lists a US phone number (833-248-6869) for planning, which is the practical starting point for questions about arrival and trip length.
• Bow hunting: confirm bow-specific arrangements directly, since the site lists bow hunting as an offering but not its separate terms.

For a first step, use the site's contact number or its "Reserve Your Spot" prompt to ask about dates, species availability and the current price list.

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

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.