Hooked at 50

I am an avid hunter and live in Northern Colorado. While I didn’t grow up in a hunting family, my husband, Steve, introduced me to hunting when I was in my early 20’s. I accompanied him on many elk and antelope hunts and enjoyed tagging along but didn’t shoot anything myself. Fast forward to my first pheasant hunt in my 50’s and I was HOOKED.  Since then, I’ve hunted geese, pheasants, turkeys (one of my favorites), elk and deer.

I was so fortunate experience the hunt of a lifetime this past May on the South Island of New Zealand where I shot this beautiful red stag. Our hosts, Mark and Pam Waite (https://riverssouthsafaris.co.nz/), were amazing. They guided me through a great hunt and provided wonderful food and accommodation. Our guide, Hunter, was patient and took his time, working with me to get the stag that I wanted. While we saw several stags that were beyond my expectations, when I saw this one, I knew he was the one. I was able to take him down with one shot, and when we came up to him, I cried and couldn’t believe how beautiful he was.

While I thought this was the one and only time we would hunt in New Zealand, we met with Mark and Pam at the SCI Convention in Nashville this past January and have booked our second trip!

The memories of my hunt will stay with me forever. If you ever have a chance to hunt the South Island of New Zealand, please do it! – Peggy Houchin