Best Hunting Guides in Timaru: South Canterbury and Mackenzie Hunting Trips
Hunting guides around Timaru work across some of the South Island’s best-known big game and waterfowl country, from the foothills behind Geraldine and Pleasant Point to the Mackenzie high country around Fairlie and Lake Tekapo. The guides below run private, guided hunts for red stag, Himalayan tahr, chamois, fallow deer and waterfowl, mostly on private stations, with options for first-time hunters through to experienced trophy hunters.
1Central South Outfitters
Central South Outfitters is a family-owned hunting and fishing guide service run by head guide Conor Carlaw from Lake Tekapo. It specialises in guided waterfowl and duck hunting on high country lakes and rivers, alongside big game hunts on more than 4,000 acres of exclusive private land. Trips are private and planned around each hunter, with Conor’s father helping guide and family hosting non-hunting partners.
Services
- Guided waterfowl and duck hunting across the South Island high country
- Red stag hunts, from 360 SCI trophies to larger stags
- Himalayan bull tahr, chamois, fallow buck, elk, Arapawa ram and wild boar
- Guided fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout
- Touring and sightseeing for non-hunting partners
Highlights
- Based at Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie Country
- Access to more than nine private high country stations
- Hunts tailored to each hunter’s fitness level and style
- Lodge accommodation with chef-prepared meals
- First aid certified for remote environments
Customer Feedback
Location & Contact
Name: Central South Outfitters
Address: Fairlie-Tekapo Road, Lake Tekapo
Phone: 027 381 0950
Website: centralsouthoutfitters.com
Contact Central South Outfitters via Email
2Glendeer Guides
Glendeer Guides is a hunting and fly fishing outfitter run by Paul and Jude McLauchlan, operating across Tekapo, Fairlie and Timaru in South Canterbury. The team guides red stag and bull tahr trophy hunts, along with chamois, fallow buck, elk and Arapawa ram, and also runs guided fly fishing trips, so visitors can combine hunting and fishing in one stay. Accommodation can be arranged as part of a package.
Services
- Red stag trophy hunts
- Himalayan bull tahr trophy hunts
- Chamois, fallow buck, elk and Arapawa ram hunts
- Combined fly fishing and hunting tours
- Heli fly fishing and learn-to-fly-fish trips
Highlights
- Run by Paul and Jude McLauchlan
- Operates around Tekapo, Fairlie and Timaru
- Hunting and fly fishing from one outfitter
- Accommodation available with packages
Location & Contact
Name: Glendeer Guides
Address: Tekapo, Fairlie and Timaru, South Canterbury
Phone: 021 311 745
Website: glendeer.co.nz
3Monarch Pursuits
Monarch Pursuits runs guided big game hunts from its private estate, Fiery Peak Station, near Geraldine in South Canterbury, with guests staying at the company’s Kakahu Lodge. Hunts target red stag, alpine bull tahr, fallow buck, Arapawa ram, elk and chamois in Southern Alps terrain. The business also offers guided fly fishing and scenic helicopter flights, and arranges activities for companions while hunters are out in the field.
Services
- Red stag hunts on a private estate
- Alpine bull tahr and chamois hunts
- Fallow buck, elk and Arapawa ram hunts
- Guided fly fishing and helicopter flights
- In-house taxidermy
Highlights
- Private hunting estate at Fiery Peak Station
- Guest accommodation at Kakahu Lodge
- Activities arranged for non-hunting companions
- Based near Geraldine, South Canterbury
Location & Contact
Name: Monarch Pursuits
Address: Kakahu, near Geraldine, South Canterbury
Website: monarchpursuits.com
4Hunt Tekapo
Hunt Tekapo, run by Go Tekapo Adventure, offers guided hunting safaris on around 50,000 acres of private high country near Lake Tekapo. Small game safaris for rabbits and hares run day and night using thermal scopes, while large animal hunts target red deer, fallow deer, Himalayan tahr, chamois and wallabies, with 4WD transport and helicopter access to remote areas. Safety briefings and firearm instruction are included.
Services
- Small game hunting safaris for rabbits and hares
- Large animal hunts for red deer, fallow deer, tahr and chamois
- Wallaby hunting
- Day and night hunts with thermal scopes
- Half and full day options
Highlights
- Around 50,000 acres of private high country
- Firearm safety instruction on every hunt
- 4WD transport and helicopter access to remote areas
- Chinese-language service available
Location & Contact
Name: Hunt Tekapo
Address: Lake Tekapo
Phone: 03 680 6866
Website: gotekapo.com
5New Zealand Hunting
New Zealand Hunting is a family hunting business run by the Wilson family from Pleasant Point in South Canterbury, with more than 30 years of hunting experience. It offers traditional spot and stalk hunts for free-range red stag, bull tahr and fallow deer, plus elk and wapiti packages, with Kiwi guides who know the land they hunt. Packages can be built for couples, families and youth hunters, and self-drive tours are available.
Services
- Free-range red stag, bull tahr and fallow packages
- Elk and wapiti hunting packages
- Spot and stalk hunting
- Bow hunting season in March
- Custom self-drive tours of the South Island
Highlights
- Run by the Wilson family
- More than 30 years of hunting experience
- Packages for couples, families and youth hunters
- Based at Pleasant Point, South Canterbury
Location & Contact
Name: New Zealand Hunting
Address: Pleasant Point, South Canterbury
Phone: +1 916 813 3006
Website: newzealandhunting.com
Hunting Guides in Timaru at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Central South Outfitters | Based at Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie Country |
| Glendeer Guides | Run by Paul and Jude McLauchlan |
| Monarch Pursuits | Private hunting estate at Fiery Peak Station |
| Hunt Tekapo | Around 50,000 acres of private high country |
| New Zealand Hunting | Run by the Wilson family |
How to Choose the Right Hunting Guide in Timaru
- Decide which species you want to hunt, such as red stag, tahr, chamois, fallow deer or waterfowl, and choose a guide who specialises in them.
- Ask whether hunts are on private land or public conservation land, and what the guide’s access covers.
- Check what is included, such as accommodation, meals, transport, trophy preparation and helicopter access.
- Be honest about your fitness, as high country tahr and chamois hunts can be demanding.
- Confirm firearm arrangements early, especially if you are visiting from overseas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hunting Guides in Timaru
What can you hunt around Timaru and the Mackenzie Country?
Guides in the area hunt red stag, Himalayan tahr, chamois and fallow deer, along with elk, Arapawa ram, wild pigs and small game such as rabbits and hares. Several also guide waterfowl hunts on high country lakes and rivers during the duck season.
Do I need a firearms licence to hunt with a guide?
Anyone using a firearm in New Zealand needs a licence, and overseas visitors can apply for a visitor firearms licence before they arrive. Details are on the Firearms Safety Authority website, and most guides can explain the process when you book.
Can you hunt on public conservation land near Timaru?
Yes. The Department of Conservation issues hunting permits for many blocks in Canterbury, including parts of the Mackenzie Country. See DOC’s hunting information for Canterbury for areas and permit rules. Many guided hunts run on private stations instead.
When is the best time for a red stag hunt?
The roar, when stags are most active and vocal, usually runs from late March into April, and it is a popular time for trophy hunts. Guides can advise on timing for other species such as tahr, which are often hunted in the cooler months.
Are guided hunts suitable for beginners?
Many are. Guides usually include safety briefings and firearm instruction, and some offer shorter small game hunts that suit first-time hunters before moving on to big game.
How We Chose the Best Hunting Guides in Timaru
Every business in this guide was found by searching for hunting guides in Timaru, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Timaru, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.
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