| NEW ZEALAND SUMMER HOLIDAY |
| Fred Kloos - Annual Member #A-144 |
Just about the time New Zealand started to be mentioned seriously in the various hunting circles, I made my
first trip there in May 2001. I had met Gary Herbert of New Zealand Mountain Hunting Ltd. at the previous
year’s National FNAWS Convention and honestly liked his approach of hunting for, rather than a specific
trophy based on the price. I hadn’t thought about New Zealand before, as there are a lot of places to go in
North America alone. But after we visited a few times discussing the trip, I decided this was a ‘must do’
destination for me. And that trip was a very memorable one indeed. Not only did I have a wonderful hunt,
taking two Red Stag, a Fallow Deer, a Bull Tahr, and an Alpine Chamois, I was able to tour an absolutely
beautiful part of the world that at times, seems almost too good to be true. Furthermore, Gary and I become
friends and then my passion for travel and hunting seemed to suggest to us both that he and I had a further
calling together. From there onwards, I have been a part of his organization, doing some of his marketing
shows in the USA, including ECFNAWS, for the last few years while he is occupied personally taking care of
his clients.
I also found that I enjoyed the trip so much that I was looking for a good excuse to return to this hunting
paradise. After Tanya and I returned from a wonderful safari in Namibia 2004, she actually wanted to go on
another hunting adventure. As our son Nikita was now approaching ten, it was also time for him to be a part
of our next adventure. So it was only natural that a return trip to New Zealand would fill the order. The timing
is right, school is out, we needed a ‘summer’ holiday destination, and what better prospect than to have a
‘summer’ hunting trip as well! We started our holiday on the North Island end July, and in short, toured over
3000 kms of both the North and South Islands. We spent three weeks there, and I can honestly say we
never ran out of things to do, or places to see, but only the time to do them! I think we now know New
Zealand a little better than most of the Kiwi’s who live there! It was an absolutely memorable trip for each of
us.
As for the hunting, Gary continues to offer the very best. We actually were the very last clients for the 2006
season, during the 1st week in August. We were not disappointed in any way. My plans were to hunt a Gold
Medal Red Stag and a couple of heavy winter-maned Bull Tahr. I admit that I fretted a bit about hunting Red
Stags so late in the season, as this time would be just before their impressive horns would be shed. But
Gary showed me a good number of top class stags, quickly dispelling all of my concerns. Without telling you
the hunting story, ended up with an awesome Red Stag scoring just at 387 SCI. As for the Tahr hunting,
conditions were perfect. The snow had started its retreat and the tahr were mostly at the edge of the scrub,
waiting out the rest of winter. We hunted two different areas and saw excellent numbers of Tahr everyday.
We ended up taking both a dark (Scrub) Bull and light-colored (Rock) Bull Tahr in about four days of
hunting. In fact, I was very impressed with both the numbers and the quality of both the Stags and Tahr
available so late in the season. While back in Maryland the temperatures hovered in the 90’s, we
experienced near perfect weather with cold nights and cool days to hunt or tour by. As expected, Gary and
his staff once again provided superb service and hospitality during our entire stay.
In short, the charm and beauty of the islands and our hunt with New Zealand Mountain Hunting Ltd. have us
already planning a return. For us hunters, the trophies alone can be the perfect excuse to plan that family
‘summer’ holiday to visit our Kiwi friends again. It worked for me!
I hope to see you at this year’s convention in support of your chapter. Stop by and see me. I have some
great photos and stories to share with you.
Fred R Kloos
Smithsburg, Maryland
first trip there in May 2001. I had met Gary Herbert of New Zealand Mountain Hunting Ltd. at the previous
year’s National FNAWS Convention and honestly liked his approach of hunting for, rather than a specific
trophy based on the price. I hadn’t thought about New Zealand before, as there are a lot of places to go in
North America alone. But after we visited a few times discussing the trip, I decided this was a ‘must do’
destination for me. And that trip was a very memorable one indeed. Not only did I have a wonderful hunt,
taking two Red Stag, a Fallow Deer, a Bull Tahr, and an Alpine Chamois, I was able to tour an absolutely
beautiful part of the world that at times, seems almost too good to be true. Furthermore, Gary and I become
friends and then my passion for travel and hunting seemed to suggest to us both that he and I had a further
calling together. From there onwards, I have been a part of his organization, doing some of his marketing
shows in the USA, including ECFNAWS, for the last few years while he is occupied personally taking care of
his clients.
I also found that I enjoyed the trip so much that I was looking for a good excuse to return to this hunting
paradise. After Tanya and I returned from a wonderful safari in Namibia 2004, she actually wanted to go on
another hunting adventure. As our son Nikita was now approaching ten, it was also time for him to be a part
of our next adventure. So it was only natural that a return trip to New Zealand would fill the order. The timing
is right, school is out, we needed a ‘summer’ holiday destination, and what better prospect than to have a
‘summer’ hunting trip as well! We started our holiday on the North Island end July, and in short, toured over
3000 kms of both the North and South Islands. We spent three weeks there, and I can honestly say we
never ran out of things to do, or places to see, but only the time to do them! I think we now know New
Zealand a little better than most of the Kiwi’s who live there! It was an absolutely memorable trip for each of
us.
As for the hunting, Gary continues to offer the very best. We actually were the very last clients for the 2006
season, during the 1st week in August. We were not disappointed in any way. My plans were to hunt a Gold
Medal Red Stag and a couple of heavy winter-maned Bull Tahr. I admit that I fretted a bit about hunting Red
Stags so late in the season, as this time would be just before their impressive horns would be shed. But
Gary showed me a good number of top class stags, quickly dispelling all of my concerns. Without telling you
the hunting story, ended up with an awesome Red Stag scoring just at 387 SCI. As for the Tahr hunting,
conditions were perfect. The snow had started its retreat and the tahr were mostly at the edge of the scrub,
waiting out the rest of winter. We hunted two different areas and saw excellent numbers of Tahr everyday.
We ended up taking both a dark (Scrub) Bull and light-colored (Rock) Bull Tahr in about four days of
hunting. In fact, I was very impressed with both the numbers and the quality of both the Stags and Tahr
available so late in the season. While back in Maryland the temperatures hovered in the 90’s, we
experienced near perfect weather with cold nights and cool days to hunt or tour by. As expected, Gary and
his staff once again provided superb service and hospitality during our entire stay.
In short, the charm and beauty of the islands and our hunt with New Zealand Mountain Hunting Ltd. have us
already planning a return. For us hunters, the trophies alone can be the perfect excuse to plan that family
‘summer’ holiday to visit our Kiwi friends again. It worked for me!
I hope to see you at this year’s convention in support of your chapter. Stop by and see me. I have some
great photos and stories to share with you.
Fred R Kloos
Smithsburg, Maryland
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
