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NORTH CANTERBURY
Special
Feature: Prime chamois habitat in Southern Alps
South Island’s major city, Christchurch, is a good base for
exploring fascinating inland places like Lake Coleridge, Hanmer
Springs, Lewis Pass and Lake Sumner.
North Canterbury is a veritable wonderland of mountains, rivers
and lakes that have that special quality of isolation that makes
you feel like their original discoverer. Many of these idyllic
hidden places in the foothills of the Southern Alps, have a
magnetic attraction for New Zealand’s introduced big game
animals.
Red deer are pretty much a universal feature of this region but
they are never far from bush cover because of the pressure of
helicopter shooting operations. The main concentrations are in
the remote headwaters of the Rakaia, Waimakariri, Hurunui and
Waiau rivers.
Chamois range freely along the main divide north and south of the
Lewis Pass, which is a primary access route. These unpredictable
Austrian mountain goats require dedicated stalking on the open
tussock tops. The lead doe keeps good watch while the herd
forages, and she whistles a warning when disturbed, which causes
the herd to explode in every direction.
Wild pigs frequent scrub covered areas on the coastal ranges and
the vast complex of subsidiary ranges in the Southern Alps. They
are generally in low numbers with moderate sized groups around
the Lake Sumner area. Goats are fairly sparsely scattered in this
region but tend to congregate in remote parts of the southern
Kaikoura Ranges.
Mallard ducks are abundant, having adapted to the developed
agricultural land throughout the region, from the Rakaia River to
the Waiau headwaters. Paradise shelduck are a popular species
among hunters, and the extensive shallow wetlands, coastal dune
lakes as well as high country lakes offer the best Canada geese
hunting in the country. Grey and shoveler ducks are present but
prefer swampy areas. Upland game birds are less prolific but
pheasant, quail and a few partridge are present on braided
riverbeds.
Helicopter hunting safaris and specialised free range guided
hunting tours for trophy red and fallow deer, chamois and thar
are available in Christchurch and Rakaia. Fly-in hunting trips to
DOC estate and private stations are also available in Hanmer
Springs. Professional guides operate from Methven and Rangiora.
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