Professional Hunter Spotlight – Carla Lucas of New Zealand Trophy Hunting
Carla’s camaraderie with her coworkers sparked her desire to be a Professional Hunter. Her position as outfitter manager coupled with her love of the outdoors made it a natural transition. During her 12 years with New Zealand Trophy Hunting, she learned to hunt and developed a strong passion for the mountains and the animals.
New Zealand Trophy Hunting has been in business for nearly 40 years. It hunts every South Pacific game animal, including red stag, fallow deer, tahr, chamois, South Pacific whitetail, elk/wapiti, Arapawa ram, wild boar, feral goat, wallaby, upland game birds and waterfowl. River, lake, deep sea fishing and diving are also offered.
Carla explains the operation. “Our personalized approach makes every hunt customized. Our local identity enables us to access the best hunting territories and the real “Grass Roots” adventures. Anything our hunters request, free range hunting and private ranch on over 800,000 acres of New Zealand alpine hunting grounds, can be provided. High-end or budget options are available. Our aim is to exceed the expectations of every client hunter or non-hunter. Everyone is considered a friend.”
When afield, Carla uses a .30-06, .300 WSM or 7mm Rem. Mag. Most shots are between 200-400 yards for the red stag but can be much farther for the alpine tahr and chamois. Bullet weight is between 140 and169 grains, depending on the species. Bowhunts are conducted and are becoming increasingly popular and successful, particularly during the rut season.
New Zealand Trophy Hunting has its own private ranch with 4,000 acres of scrub-covered challenging terrain. In addition, there are hundreds of thousands of acres of free range alpine high country land, most of which is exclusive. Most of this land is located around the Southern Alps, which run as the backbone of the South Island of New Zealand and incorporates the highest peak, Mt. Cook, where the tahr were first introduced.
Years of guiding are filled with adventures, some heart-stopping. Carla comments on working with clients: “The best hunt is every hunt because the client has his/her reason for choosing what they want to hunt and the method of take. Every hunt is memorable and it is imperative that we provide clients with the adventure of their lifetime. Seeing them achieve what they came for is a pleasure and reward for us.”
Many diverse activities are available, including fishing, diving, photo tours, wine/food tours, sky diving and scenic flights and more. Clients can opt just to relax and enjoy the beautiful country.
New Zealand Trophy Hunting encourages youths to explore and learn through this industry by showing them the responsibilities, respect and discipline required to be safe and enjoy outdoor adventures.