Review rating 8.5 out of 10.
Originally published as a series of 20 articles for Rod & Rifle magazine, Whitelaws interesting stories about notable, historical New Zealand hunting figures have been compiled and printed under one binding … read more
Record Book
Newton McConochie: You’ll Learn no Harm from the Hills
Review rating 9 out of 10.
A kiwi hunting classic, Newton’s epic stories about a bygone time should be read by all hunters. His stalking exploits are legendary and his trophies are some of the most recognised in New Zealand hunting circles. He recounts stalks for majestic red stags and wapiti bulls, in each case taken under testing circumstances … read more
D. Bruce Banwell & Marcus Pinney: The Himalayan Tahr
Review rating 8 out of 10.
The Himalayan Tahr is the 8th and final book which completes the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association “big game records series”. It is the great author, D. Bruce Banwell’s final and fitting contribution to New Zealand’s hunting literature … read more
Philip Holden: Pack and Rifle
Review rating 8 out of 10.
Philip Holden’s first book, Pack and Rifle, has been reprinted in four editions and many thousands of copies since it first hit book shelves in 1971 — and with good reason, it is often quoted as being a hunter’s favourite book and the book which inspired them to seek the thrill of the hunt. It is quite simply a classic New Zealand hunting book … read more
Bruce Banwell: Wapiti in New Zealand
Review rating 9.5 out of 10.
This is the book that kick started Bruce Banwell’s distinguished career as an author. In it Bruce documents the early days of Wapiti hunting at the turn of last century through to the 1960s. This period is now known as the best years of the New Zealand wapiti herd … read more
D. Bruce Banwell: The Red Stags of the Rakaia
Review rating 8.5 out of 10.
In his third book, The Red Stags of the Rakaia, Bruce Banwell records the history of the trophy red deer herd released among the Southern Alps at Manuka Point station in the Rakaia gorge. Again, he has added an invaluable work on New Zealand’s deerstalking heritage … read more
Peter Harker: Protectors of Our Environment
Review rating 7.5 out of 10.
Prepared on behalf of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, Peter Harker records the history of the introduction of deer to Otago in this profusely illustrated book. With a focus on red deer and their famous trophy heads, there are also interesting chapters about fallow deer, sika and chital … read more
Vern Wilson: From Hoon to Hunter
Review rating 4.5 out of 10.
From Hoon to Hunter is an autobiographical yarn about the stalking highlights of Vern Wilson’s hunting career. Its focus is New Zealand’s big game animals as opposed to his second book which covers overseas hunts … read more
Howard Egan: Hunting Fallow Deer in New Zealand
Review rating 5.5 out of 10.
Here The Hunter reviews Howard Egan’s second and most recent book, Hunting Fallow Deer in New Zealand: The Fallow Deer Herd, which covers Howard’s personal fallow deer hunting and farming experiences. Howard has had a passion for fallow deer for over 60 years and that passion has manifested in this book, dedicated to his favourite big game animal … read more
D. Bruce Banwell: The Golden Days of Stalking
Review rating 9 out of 10.
Bruce Banwell has complied and edited the diaries written by great deerstalker, Archie Kitto, to produce this work about stalking trophy red deer heads of the Otago and South Westland herds during the 1920s and 1930s … read more
D. Bruce Banwell: Highland Stags of Otago
Review rating 9.5 out of 10.
Bruce Banwell’s highly recommended, desirable, and classic work, Highland Stags of Otago (1968), embodies all the characteristics of its subject matter, the trophy royal red deer stag, and is so eloquently illustrated by its cover image “The Monarch of the Glen“. It is a “trophy book” of the highest order … read more
Colin Davey: Deer on my Doorstep
Review rating 8.5 out of 10.
Fifty years since original publication, Deer on my Doorstep by Colin Davey has been re-released. It is one of New Zealand’s greatest hunting books, full of stories about trophy hunting for red deer stags and wapiti bulls, and much more. All keen readers should get their hands on it or dust off the copy sitting on their bookshelf … read more
Max Curtis: Beneath the Mountain Mist
Review rating 6 out of 10.
We review Max Curtis’ second and last autobiography entitled ‘Beneath the Mountain Mist’, where he covers personal trophy hunting adventures to Westland in search of elusive 40 x 40 royal red deer stag heads. It is a solid follow up book to his first, about a different phase in his hunting career, but does not quite deliver the same thrills and rewarding hunts of his first book ‘Beyond the River’s Bend’ — nevertheless, it is a worthwhile read … read more
Peter Hoar: New Zealand Hunting and Associated Books (A Bibliography)
Review rating 8 out of 10.
Finally, a book about New Zealand hunting books. Peter Hoar has compiled and edited the ultimate reference companion for hunting book collectors. You can cross-check your own collection against his comprehensive bibliography and even value it based on his guide prices … read more
Max Curtis: Beyond The River’s Bend
Review rating 7.5 out of 10.
Max Curtis, of Fiordland moose hunting and red deer culling fame, writes about his hunting experiences in his autobiography (the first of two), ‘Beyond the River’s Bend: Tales of Red Deer, Moose and Wapiti in New Zealand’. It includes the only first-hand account about the third and last ever bull moose shot in Fiordland … read more
Dave McClunie: Classic New Zealand Mountain Hunts
Review rating 8.5 out of 10.
In his first book Dave McClunie has written a fantastic account of his time trophy hunting for wapiti, tahr and chamois. Dave also recounts stories about his guided clients’ bucks and bulls secured on free range expeditions in South Westland … read more
Dave McClunie: Classic New Zealand Game Trails
Review rating 8 out of 10.
Classic New Zealand Game Trails by Dave McClunie inspired my passion for hunting books and was the start of my own hunting book collection. His book makes it on to The Hunter’s Classic Hunting Books list and is a must read for all New Zealand big game hunters, especially those alpine hunters who dream of big bull tahr and buck chamois in high places … read more
Hans Willems: The Hunting Tales of Percy Lyes
Review rating 8 out of 10.
The Hunting Tales of Percy Lyes is a biography authored by Han Willems about Percy’s legendary hunting exploits during the ’40s and ’50s when Percy both culled red deer for the Internal Affairs Department and secured some of New Zealand’s most important big game trophies – a red deer stag with the longest antlers of 50 inches and the 3rd and last bull moose shot in Fiordland … read more
Simon Gibson: Wapiti Hunting in New Zealand
Review rating 8.5 out of 10.
Wapiti hunting is widely regarded as the ultimate challenge for New Zealand deer-stalkers and a quality guide book on the subject is long overdue. Simon Gibson’s comprehensive book is sure to be a classic, well thumbed hunting book … read more
Vern Wilson: The Travelling Hunter
Review rating 6 out of 10.
In The Travelling Hunter, one of New Zealand’s master trophy hunters writes about his personal experiences stalking North American and African big game animals — within its pages you’ll find entertaining and enlightening chapters on shooting trophy caribou, moose, Dall’s sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk (wapiti), Cape buffalo, sable, impala, oryx (gemsbok) and kudu … read more
Alex M. Gale: The Sika Hunters
Review rating 6.5 out of 10.
The Sika Hunters is a compilation of stories and photos featuring exceptional trophy sika heads shot between 1993 and 2008. The heads were all entered into the annual Sika Show at Taupo near the deer’s home range in Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forrest Parks. This book also includes insightful chapters from renound modern day sika hunters … read more
D. Bruce Banwell: The Alpine Chamois
Review rating 8 out of 10.
The Alpine Chamois is the definitive book written about chamois and chamois hunting in New Zealand — compiled by respected author, Bruce Banwell, for the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association, it details New Zealand’s chamois hunting and documents the best chamois “heads” shot in New Zealand … read more
Peter Harker: Hunting with Harker
Review rating 8 out of 10.
Here we review Peter Harker’s first book, complied and published in 1976. This classic hunting book records the many experiences, successes, close calls and characters that Peter endured as a meat and skin hunter, trophy hunter, big game guide and live game recovery specialist in the South Westland region (affectionately referred to as the “Coast” in the book). This is a must read for all New Zealand hunting book fans… read more
Peter Ryan: Wild South
Review rating 8.5 out of 10.
Being compared to great outdoors authors like Ruark, Hemingway and Leopold is high praise but there is no doubt that Peter Ryan’s book is an instant New Zealand, if not worldwide, hunting classic. Wild South is the kind of book that makes you want more and one that you wish would never end … read more
Major R. A. Wilson: My Stalking Memories
Review rating 9 out of 10.
In this book review we take a step back in time to read Major Wilson’s epic accounts of his time red deer and wapiti deerstaking during the 1920s to 1940s. First published in 1961 the latest edition can be purchased only directly from the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA Publications) … read more
Gary Joll: 50 Years of Trophy Hunting
Review rating 7 out of 10.
For The Hunter’s first book review we look at Gary Joll’s fourth book. This book showcases one of New Zealand’s premier hunting guides’ personal trophy collection and contains many epic stories from his years hunting around the world. Visually striking with many colour photos, this larger than standard hunting book is ideal for any coffee table … read more
