NEW ZEALAND FREE RANGE OTAGO RED STAG

Become a part of New Zealand history

The origins of the Otago red stag are closely tied to the earliest European settlement of New Zealand and the desire to establish familiar game species for sport. Red deer were introduced from Britain, Scotland and Europe during the mid to late 1800s, with one of the first successful releases occurring in Otago in 1871. These animals were typically liberated in remote alpine valleys and high country basins, chosen deliberately for their similarity to the Scottish Highlands and European mountain ranges the settlers knew so well.

Early Otago releases were small and carefully managed. Deer were protected by law for decades, allowing populations to establish without pressure. With no natural predators and abundant native grasses, tussock country, and beech forest, red deer flourished. The Otago environment proved ideal for producing large-bodied stags with heavy, symmetrical antlers. By the turn of the 20th century, the herds had expanded well beyond their original release sites, spreading through Central Otago, the Southern Alps, and surrounding ranges.

As deer numbers and trophy quality increased, Otago became the birthplace of New Zealand’s first true guided hunts. In the early 1900s, wealthy European and British sportsmen traveled to Otago specifically to hunt red stags during the roar. These hunts were often organized by local runholders, shepherds, and professional stalkers who knew the country intimately. These early guides operated on foot and horseback, living in basic high country huts and spike camps, and relying entirely on fieldcraft, patience, and endurance.

These original guided hunts laid the foundation for New Zealand’s professional hunting industry. Otago guides gained international recognition for their ability to locate mature stags in extreme terrain and consistently produce world class trophies. Many of the region’s famous bloodlines trace directly back to these early herds, which were managed informally but carefully by landowners who understood the long term value of quality stags.

By the mid-20th century, Otago red stags were firmly established as some of the finest wild red deer in the world.

Although commercial deer farming and helicopter based recovery later changed the landscape of New Zealand deer management, Otago’s wild red stag heritage remains deeply rooted in those original introductions and the pioneering guided hunts that followed. Today’s Otago hunts still echo that history steep country, hard-earned stalks, and stags that reflect generations of natural selection in one of the world’s most demanding environments.

John Forbes with his thirteen pointer taken in Otago in 1927.

Frank M. Kitto carrying out Archie Kitto's "Big Chief" Otago, 1920

John Forbes and his Otago trophies from the 1911 stalking season.

Glassing down into the basin below.

The Studholmes packing out their trophies.

In 1851 a painting was unveiled at the Royal academy of a life sized red stag native to the Scottish highlands. The piece was named “The monarch of the glen”, 20 years later in 1871 the very first introduction of red deer to the Otago region began by wooden sailing ship, with 8 calves of the very same herd as the stag represented in the painting. Two calves died on the way with six making it to Port Chalmers in Dunedin, from here they were transported by land to Morven hills.

As the herd began to establish in the area, hunters came from across the world to hunt these majestic animals. With large trophies being taken throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Now 174 years later we find ourselves apart of history. Guiding hunts in the same country as our forebears.

Below is a picture of a stag named wide twelve which was shot in 2024. It’s quite uncanny how much he resembles his highland ancestor in the painting.

Wide Twelve

Monarch Of The Glen

The red stag hunts in Otago kick off in mid-March as the roar begins and continue through to early May on a 49-day schedule. Throughout the season, the full focus remains on free-range red stags, which are the cornerstone of every hunt that is run.

Hunters also have the option to add fallow deer, while tahr and chamois are available from mid-April once their rut starts. From mid-April into early May, we experience an overlap when all four species are rutting at the same time. These specific dates are reserved for free-range combination hunts, offering an exceptional opportunity to pursue multiple species during their peak.

A Hunt You'll Remember For a Lifetime

The Hall Trophy Of 2025

The Reid Trophy Of 2023

The Sopp Trophy Of 2025

First-Class

NQF (Not Quite First Class)

Second-Class

The free range Otago red stags are defined by 3 separate classes.

Stags are Measured under an official measuring system native to New Zealand specifically designed for free range stags called the "Douglas Score". This measuring system awards symmetry as compared to SCI which calculates total mass without deductions.

In essence when looking at a First Class stag we are looking for typical corresponding points, length, spread, plus many other finer details specific to every stag as every animal is different. The benchmark for a First Class stag under this system to qualify for the records is 300inches or 300DS, however it is common to see stags upwards of 320DS with 2 stags from the 2025 season being in the 350DS category which is exceptional for a wild herd. There are limited tags available for this class of stag each season and they sell out fast so be sure to book in advance.

The next category is NQF (Not Quite First Class) A stag in this class falls under guide discretion and is an optional upgrade for a Second-Class stag, these types of stags can be rare and usually fall just short of the 300DS mark making them hard to call first or second class.

The third category is Second Class, defined as non-typical. These stags are not scored but are chosen based on character, frame size and length. Often just as big in size to a first class stag but missing something, this could be for example. A missing point on one side, weaker crowns, or a completely different side to the other, not to discredit these animals they are just as impressive as all the other classes of stag and a personal favorite.

This is not a needle in a haystack hunt, there will be the opportunity to glass over many different stags of your chosen class throughout your 5-day hunt.

Classes Of Stag

The name Governor’s Tag we have adopted from the American Tag and license system where the purchaser is exempt from any application, drawing / ballot process, or waiting period to secure a hunt for a limited opportunity species and potentially for one of the largest trophies available. A big attraction of purchasing this tag is that the hunter is contributing to the conservation of the species that they care about. These same principles apply to the Otago Stag Governors Tag. One Governors tag available per season. Available 2026. Available 2027.

The stag in the photo above was named Goldie, a regular to his rutting grounds and a pleasure to witness each season. He was shot in 2025 and scored an exceptional 354 Douglas score putting him in a class above the majority of our First Class Stags and well within the top 50 of all time records for the herd.

Currently one Governors tag remains for a stag first spotted in 2019, called Brutis. He is the spitting image of a famous Otago red stag shot in 1924 almost exactly 100 years ago. The 1924 Trophy was shot in the Macfarlane valley of Otago scoring an astonishing 394 3/4 Douglas score making him the second highest scoring stag in New Zealand history.

Notice how Brutis has almost exactly the corresponding points as the 1924 Macfarlane trophy.

A truly once in 100 year trophy.

See for yourself.