New Zealand Safaris experiences???

[ozyclint]

Did you do a write up on it? I think I remember that. It's a very cool place. Insane that you hiked in there. That would be some work but would be a blast

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Yeah I did do a write up. It might be in the Mtn goat forum?
Where did the chopper drop you off? Where your tents were?

 

[Jeffusmc]

I hunted with Jim this season for Tahr and I can say without any doubt that he is the single worst outfitter that I have ever hunted with. That being said, I DID get my Tahr. I did his free-range mountain hunt without the aid of a helicopter. This was what I wanted, and this was what he provided. The mountains in NZ are some of, if not the most rugged and difficult to navigate that I have ever encountered. I have hunted all over the world. I was wrecked by the third day. This is not my complaint. This is just fair warning for anyone considering this type of hunt. Very few people hunt Tahr without a helicopter and for good reason. The problems started long before I even got to NZ. I go to the SCI convention each year and Jim has a booth. Six months prior to my hunt, I went to Jim's booth to meet and talk to him. He was rude and couldn't bother to give me the time of day. He brushed me off and couldn't bother to put his phone down. I emailed him a couple times in between that convention and the hunt with just a couple basic questions and he barely replied. His answers were short and terse. I clearly knew that something was wrong. I suspected but was not certain that he was treating me this way because I was hunting only a single species and he was unable to upsell me on more expensive species like Stag and other combo hunts.

The serious problems started as soon as I landed in Christchurch. We confirmed that his guide would pick me up at the airport at 9:30AM on the day of my arrival. By 10AM no one was there to meet me. I called him, texted him, Whatsapp'd him and emailed him and he did not pick up or reply. Finally, after about an hour he emailed me back stating that he would not be picking me up until the next day and that I was to get a hotel near the airport, tell him where I was and the guide would collect me in 24 hours. He stated I was to be in my hunting clothes and be ready to hunt. I paid $200.00 for a hotel room plus meals that night. At 8:30 AM the next morning the guide did show up and get me. We then drove 2.5 hours to Jim's house, dropped my bags in a small external guest room and then drove another 1.5 hours to the hunting area. We hiked up into the mountains, hiked around for a few hours, glassed a bit and spotted a couple Tahr about 1600 yards away. We then hiked back to the truck and drove to Jim's house. Jim fed me a hamburger. We barely spoke and then I went to bed.

Two more days of the same routine. Drive to the same area. Climb, hike, glass and never get within 1200-1600 yards of the Tahr. My guide stated I was the last hunter of the season, so we were climbing and hiking farther and higher than any other hunter all year because the Tahr were getting shot at all season long and had retreated. A discussion with my guide lead to the conclusion that harvesting a Tahr was highly unlikely. I asked what could be done and he texted Jim. Jim replied that there was one "Better" area available, but it was an "Upgrade" and would be a $2500.00 US additional fee to hunt there. I really had no choice but to agree. The next morning the process began again but in the new "Upgraded Area" and low behold I killed my Tahr in the first 90 minutes of the day.

We then drove back to Jim's house. I had that night and one more until my flight back home to the US so I figured that I would just sit in my room and watch movies until I was driven back to the airport, but Jim had a different idea. He immediately got six inches from my face, became hostile and told me that my hunt was concluded, that I got what I came for and that I needed to leave since I was not hunting any other species. He had just confirmed exactly what I originally believed. When I asked how I was to get 2.5 hours to the airport he told me that my guide would drop me off in the nearest town and I could take a tourist bus back to Christchurch in the morning. My guide, who was great to hunt with and did a good job, was mortified by all of this behavior and offered to drive me to Christchurch right then and there. I went to my room, changed my clothes, packed my bags and we drove back to the airport hotel where I paid for another room and meals. For a cost of $800.00 I was able to change my flight and fly home one day early.

I suspect that if you are going to spend a small fortune hunting with Jim, you will get different treatment than I did but know that my story tells you what type of person he truly is. I care as much about the experience and people I hunt with as I do about the harvest. Read my review and make your own decision.

 

[Torrent50]

Wow, that is not the experience that I had. I did do a stag and tahr hunt, however. That is disappointing to hear.

I will definitely agree that those mountains will eat you alive, though.

 

[mooster]

I hunted with Jim this season for Tahr and I can say without any doubt that he is the single worst outfitter that I have ever hunted with. That being said, I DID get my Tahr. I did his free-range mountain hunt without the aid of a helicopter. This was what I wanted, and this was what he provided. The mountains in NZ are some of, if not the most rugged and difficult to navigate that I have ever encountered. I have hunted all over the world. I was wrecked by the third day. This is not my complaint. This is just fair warning for anyone considering this type of hunt. Very few people hunt Tahr without a helicopter and for good reason. The problems started long before I even got to NZ. I go to the SCI convention each year and Jim has a booth. Six months prior to my hunt, I went to Jim's booth to meet and talk to him. He was rude and couldn't bother to give me the time of day. He brushed me off and couldn't bother to put his phone down. I emailed him a couple times in between that convention and the hunt with just a couple basic questions and he barely replied. His answers were short and terse. I clearly knew that something was wrong. I suspected but was not certain that he was treating me this way because I was hunting only a single species and he was unable to upsell me on more expensive species like Stag and other combo hunts.

The serious problems started as soon as I landed in Christchurch. We confirmed that his guide would pick me up at the airport at 9:30AM on the day of my arrival. By 10AM no one was there to meet me. I called him, texted him, Whatsapp'd him and emailed him and he did not pick up or reply. Finally, after about an hour he emailed me back stating that he would not be picking me up until the next day and that I was to get a hotel near the airport, tell him where I was and the guide would collect me in 24 hours. He stated I was to be in my hunting clothes and be ready to hunt. I paid $200.00 for a hotel room plus meals that night. At 8:30 AM the next morning the guide did show up and get me. We then drove 2.5 hours to Jim's house, dropped my bags in a small external guest room and then drove another 1.5 hours to the hunting area. We hiked up into the mountains, hiked around for a few hours, glassed a bit and spotted a couple Tahr about 1600 yards away. We then hiked back to the truck and drove to Jim's house. Jim fed me a hamburger. We barely spoke and then I went to bed.

Two more days of the same routine. Drive to the same area. Climb, hike, glass and never get within 1200-1600 yards of the Tahr. My guide stated I was the last hunter of the season, so we were climbing and hiking farther and higher than any other hunter all year because the Tahr were getting shot at all season long and had retreated. A discussion with my guide lead to the conclusion that harvesting a Tahr was highly unlikely. I asked what could be done and he texted Jim. Jim replied that there was one "Better" area available, but it was an "Upgrade" and would be a $2500.00 US additional fee to hunt there. I really had no choice but to agree. The next morning the process began again but in the new "Upgraded Area" and low behold I killed my Tahr in the first 90 minutes of the day.

We then drove back to Jim's house. I had that night and one more until my flight back home to the US so I figured that I would just sit in my room and watch movies until I was driven back to the airport, but Jim had a different idea. He immediately got six inches from my face, became hostile and told me that my hunt was concluded, that I got what I came for and that I needed to leave since I was not hunting any other species. He had just confirmed exactly what I originally believed. When I asked how I was to get 2.5 hours to the airport he told me that my guide would drop me off in the nearest town and I could take a tourist bus back to Christchurch in the morning. My guide, who was great to hunt with and did a good job, was mortified by all of this behavior and offered to drive me to Christchurch right then and there. I went to my room, changed my clothes, packed my bags and we drove back to the airport hotel where I paid for another room and meals. For a cost of $800.00 I was able to change my flight and fly home one day early.

I suspect that if you are going to spend a small fortune hunting with Jim, you will get different treatment than I did but know that my story tells you what type of person he truly is. I care as much about the experience and people I hunt with as I do about the harvest. Read my review and make your own decision.

wow, hate that was your experience. not what one would hope for given the time & money invested, nor what he portrays it when I've visited with him at shows. surely if this was routine others would also be sharing such feedback.