NEW CALEDONIA - JAVAN RUSA STAG HUNT

The prime Rusa Deer hunting season and peak roar spans from mid-July to mid-September.

-Additional Javan Rusa Stag: Normally pre-booked in advance to secure quota, but can, at times, be taken as targets of opportunity for a flat-rate trophy fee, payable upon success or mortal wounding/loss.
-South Pacific Wild Turkey: Can, at times, be taken as targets of opportunity for a flat-rate trophy fee, payable upon success or mortal wounding/loss.
-Spearfishing/Fishing Day charters: Subject to schedule and availability, can be added in advance or during the hunt should it conclude quickly and charter captains are available.

Javan Rusa Deer hunting typically occurs morning and evening, primarily conducted using classic spot and stalk hunting tactics. These are vehicle-assisted hunts, requiring only short hikes while glassing from vantage points, or sitting in strategic areas. Meticulous judging of mature quality trophies is of paramount importance. Middays are typically spent having lunch, napping, or processing trophies for export.

Rifle rental and ammunition are included in every New Caledonia Rusa Deer hunting package. Lodge rifles are .270 Win bolt action Ruger, Bergera or Tikka rifles, with Zeiss or Leupold optics. Bringing rifles from home is not needed nor advised.

Archery is currently not available.

New Caledonia is a semi-tropical island surrounded by a barrier reef that is continental shelf versus volcanic. The western coast of the island where hunts occur is a rain shadow with an arid, savannah-grassland-type habitat, complete with steep ravines and brushy coulees. Rivers create dense mangrove flats at estuaries, providing Javan Rusa Deer with excellent cover along the coast. Big Rusa also love the Gumtree and Machia forests higher in the foothills for the more adventurous hunters happy to do some hiking.

The Javan Rusa Deer roar occurs during winter in the southern hemisphere. Little to no rain, at times windy along the coast in the evenings, but overall mostly sunny and warm with temps hovering around 20-25C/65-75F.

Lodgings for Rusa Deer hunts usually include a luxurious bed and breakfast-style main lodge with all the amenities. The lodge is set on a 40-hectare botanical garden nestled in a jungle valley. Hunters stay in private villas, complete with full bathrooms with rain showers, a kitchenette, AC, and Wi-Fi, with a jacuzzi and sun chairs on the veranda. Wander to the restaurant for a full bar, infinity pool, spa, exotic fruit orchards and koi ponds. Not too shabby for deer camp! For some select and more remote hunts, there are equally comfortable but more rustic outbuildings on working ranch homesteads.

The food here is wonderful, comprised of a unique blend of French gourmet culinary influence infused with tantalizing local South Pacific ingredients. Breakfasts are light and quick to get hunters in the field, such as coffee, toast, cereal, yogurt, or fruit. Lunch often consists of French cheeses, cured dry sausages, pates, assortments of bizarre and wonderful tropical fruits and vegetables, freshly baked French breads and pastries, and other local delicacies. For dinner, enjoy fresh ahi tuna, grilled octopus, ceviche dishes, grilled reef fish, prawns, rusa, or beef steaks, typically with a small salad, and a revolving menu of graciously handmade local desserts. Add freshly caught crabs, speared lobster, or seafood, along with grilled wild turkey, and this hunt quickly separates itself from your typical “deer camp” fare.

Destination City: Hunters are asked to arrive at the La Tontouta International Airport north of Noumea, New Caledonia, or the Sheraton Deva Resort near Bourail, where they will be greeted by the outfitter or guides. The various hunting areas are located between 2-3 hours’ drive north of Noumea.

Travel Suggestions: Noumea is best reached via Australia or New Zealand, with Sydney and Auckland offering the best connections, usually with Air New Zealand, Quanta’s or Aircalin Airlines. Noumea can also be reached via Melbourne, Brisbane, Tokyo or Nadi (Fiji).

Uniquely for this package, clients are able to fly home with their trophies as checked luggage, avoiding lengthy, complex, and/or expensive shipping charges. Detailed caping, turning, and salting of capes, along with boiling and bleaching of skull caps is provided for all hunters. Certificates of Origin and Veterinary Certificates are issued after a quick biosecurity inspection, personally overseen by the outfitter, at the airport just prior to check-in.

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