Fallow Buck

Originally from Europe, the first fallow deer were introduced into New Zealand in 1864.  There were 26 different liberations and now they are the second most wide spread deer in New Zealand.  Despite its small size, the fallow buck is very aggressive, especially during the ‘rut’, when vicious and often fatal fights occur between bucks.

Fallow deer in New Zealand exhibit three distinct color phases: the most common being black or chocolate brown (melanistic), then the brown and spotted coat (menil), and also the white fallow.  We take several of each color phase every year.  Only males have antlers, and fallow bucks can be hunted from March through to September.

The antlers differ from red deer and are more like the moose, round near the bases and palmated out towards the ends.  During the rut, which starts in early April and finishes in May, the bucks are very vocal, making a ‘grunt’ or ‘croak’ noise, as they issue their challenges.

Hunting Fallow Buck with Kiwi Safaris

Kiwi Safaris offer both free range and estate hunts for fallow buck, on large private sheep and cattle properties that feature rolling hill country interspersed with areas of native forest and scrub.

Over the past seven years, the size of the fallow deer being taken by our clients has risen quite remarkably and it’s becoming common to get bucks scoring greater than 230 SCI.

Typically we take between 40-50 bucks a year, and after the red stag they are the most favored deer species.  We hunt on three properties for fallow and they are all within a short drive of one another.