Overwhelmed! I just won my #1 bucket list hunt!
- Thread starter Umpqua Hunter
- Start date
dustin ray
Veteran member
DH56
Active Member
hoshour
Veteran member
I have had the same experience more than once, and you're right, the real kicker is the way God works it out. Twice I have put in for a long shot hunt and just knew from that unique calm assurance that believers are familiar with that I was going to draw it and did. Both times I had not put in for that species before but just felt I should. Times like that when it is so obvious that the Creator of the universe cares and loves you...well there's nothing to compare with it, not even a NZ hunt. Congratulations.
JEandAsGuide
Active Member
That?s so cool and I really like your story!! Can?t wait to hear the rest of it... Congratulations!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thank you, thank you everyone!
Today, I spoke to the booking agent from Link's Wild Safaris. Jay Link was CEO of Jack Link's Jerky...you know the Sasquatch commercials. Pretty cool. I learned from my contact person there that the New Zealand outfitter will be Wilderness Quest (Zion Pilgrim).
I have been researching red stag outfitters for years and the stags from Wilderness Quest were among my favorites, and have the "look" I have always hoped to hunt for. Their property is in a wet, jungle like part of the west coast of the South Island. The vegetation looks similar to the coastal range here in Western Oregon not far from home. Their stags get the beautiful dark reddish brown color that I love on Roosevelt elk here. A lot of outfits are in more arid areas and don't get that antler color that I am so fond of. Here is a promo video from Wilderness Quest if you're interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrvjelLn5cw
The more I thought about the hunt, and that it was for three species, the more I am leaning to hunting for two species and put more of the budget into an even bigger stag. The hunt is already for an exceptional stag, but that would allow me to push the trophy size considerably. I'm not sure if you all know, but pretty much any place on earth that you hunt big stags, the trophy fee is based on trophy quality. I realize my "dream" has always been about a big stag, so I would rather not get spread too thin. This will be a one of a kind opportunity to hunt a special animal.
We are also seriously considering delaying the hunt until 2020. I can then get prime rut dates and it will also be my wife's and my 10th anniversary. That will give us 18 months to plan since we want to take plenty of extra time to tour the South Island. If you have any "must see or do" ideas, I am all ears!!!!
Last night we also learned New Zealand has some of the best areas to "swim with the dolphins". My wife was nearly in tears because that has been her lifelong dream.
God is good...ALL the time!
Today, I spoke to the booking agent from Link's Wild Safaris. Jay Link was CEO of Jack Link's Jerky...you know the Sasquatch commercials. Pretty cool. I learned from my contact person there that the New Zealand outfitter will be Wilderness Quest (Zion Pilgrim).
I have been researching red stag outfitters for years and the stags from Wilderness Quest were among my favorites, and have the "look" I have always hoped to hunt for. Their property is in a wet, jungle like part of the west coast of the South Island. The vegetation looks similar to the coastal range here in Western Oregon not far from home. Their stags get the beautiful dark reddish brown color that I love on Roosevelt elk here. A lot of outfits are in more arid areas and don't get that antler color that I am so fond of. Here is a promo video from Wilderness Quest if you're interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrvjelLn5cw
The more I thought about the hunt, and that it was for three species, the more I am leaning to hunting for two species and put more of the budget into an even bigger stag. The hunt is already for an exceptional stag, but that would allow me to push the trophy size considerably. I'm not sure if you all know, but pretty much any place on earth that you hunt big stags, the trophy fee is based on trophy quality. I realize my "dream" has always been about a big stag, so I would rather not get spread too thin. This will be a one of a kind opportunity to hunt a special animal.
We are also seriously considering delaying the hunt until 2020. I can then get prime rut dates and it will also be my wife's and my 10th anniversary. That will give us 18 months to plan since we want to take plenty of extra time to tour the South Island. If you have any "must see or do" ideas, I am all ears!!!!
Last night we also learned New Zealand has some of the best areas to "swim with the dolphins". My wife was nearly in tears because that has been her lifelong dream.
God is good...ALL the time!
dustin ray
Veteran member
Hilltop
Veteran member
Sounds like a solid plan waiting until 2020 and dropping to two species. I think I would do the same. That rut hunt would sure be something to experience! Congrats to you Jim!
RedRaider13
New Member
- Jul 25, 2017
- 12
- 0
hoshour
Veteran member
I agree with dropping to two species. I went on a Dall's sheep, mountain goat and moose combo hunt a couple years ago and would not do that again. Most times, it is better to focus your time, energy and money on what you are most interested in. Focus and go big.
JimP
Administrator
I'll jump on the bandwagon with the rest of them and your idea to drop a couple of species. If for some reason you are not seeing what you want to shoot then it can get real stressful towards the end of the hunt trying to fill all the tags with respectable animals.
Montana
Veteran member
First congratulations. Agreed with a previous post, couldn?t have gone to a nicer guy.
I?m going to say wait until 2020 and don?t limit yourself. Do what time and money will allow. I was over there in 2012 and LOVED it. I connected on a good stag, not great, and I was on a giant Fallow but never connected. At the time, I thought no big deal, I?ll be back. Well 6 years has past and it?s no where on my radar. It?s considerable effort and cost just to get there. If I had mine to do again, I would have taken more time and hunted more.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I?m going to say wait until 2020 and don?t limit yourself. Do what time and money will allow. I was over there in 2012 and LOVED it. I connected on a good stag, not great, and I was on a giant Fallow but never connected. At the time, I thought no big deal, I?ll be back. Well 6 years has past and it?s no where on my radar. It?s considerable effort and cost just to get there. If I had mine to do again, I would have taken more time and hunted more.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
BKhunter50
Member
I love this story and that you acknowledge God's hand in it. Thank you for sharing! Hoshour said it pretty well earlier on this thread - so I won't repeat it other than to say it's so awesome when God sort of wakes you up with something like this to reassure you that he is in control. Good luck to you! I'm sure it will be a blast.
Winchester
Veteran member
Congrats!!
I really like your plan to wait until 2020 and drop to two species. I think I would do the same.
Good luck !!
I really like your plan to wait until 2020 and drop to two species. I think I would do the same.
Good luck !!
Ghostrider6
Member
The plan is coming together! Instead of three species, I will be combining all the trophy fees to hunt only for a big Red Stag. This will let me hunt for a 475 to 500 class super stag! Dates are set for March 23-28, 2020 coinciding with the peak of the "roar" (rut). We will be finishing the hunt just in time for the April 1st low season rates to rent a motor home. We hope to spend a couple weeks exploring the south island.
I love the look of the stags at Wilderness Quest (Zion Pilgrim) where we will be hunting. Here are a few of their pics....
http://www.wildernessquestnz.com/photos-red-stag-deer-trophy-new-zealand.php
Dates are set for March 23-28, 2020 coinciding with the peak of the "roar" (rut). We will be finishing the hunt just in time for the April 1st low season rates to rent a motor home. We hope to spend a couple weeks exploring the south island.I love the look of the stags at Wilderness Quest (Zion Pilgrim) where we will be hunting. Here are a few of their pics....
http://www.wildernessquestnz.com/photos-red-stag-deer-trophy-new-zealand.php