Questions before you book

Yes. Every hunter carries a valid license and tag for the state or country. John walks you through the application, draw deadlines and over-the-counter options during your consultation. See the Tags & permits page for each state.

Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota give the best tags to hunters who have applied the longest, using bonus or preference points. You buy a point each year until you draw. The sooner you start, the sooner you hunt.

Yes, with a New Zealand visitor firearms licence. Apply at least 4 months before you arrive; the fee is NZ$25 and John's team in New Zealand acts as your sponsor. Or skip the paperwork and shoot the guide's rifle under his supervision.

John guides some hunts himself and books, assists and travels on the others, so he can only be in one camp at a time. If a week is spoken for, he'll come back with the nearest open dates.

Yes. The first-timer hunts include a range session, a hunter-safety review and extra time with John before opening morning.

Guiding, lodging and meals in camp, field care of your animal, and transport from the lodge each day. Airfare, licenses, taxidermy and gratuity are separate.

It's fair chase, so nothing is promised. Each hunt lists its recent opportunity rate, and the fall-back options are set out before you book.

A 20% deposit holds your dates once John confirms availability. It's refundable up to 90 days out, or transferable to the next season.

Yes. Observers stay in camp at a reduced daily rate and are welcome in the field. The Scotland couples trip is built for it: castle tours, distilleries and golf while you stalk.

John guides and books red stag hunts with Kaweka Hunting, a lodge in Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's North Island. Book through John and he handles the dates, the lodge and the hunt plan, and guides you in the field. Non-hunting partners can fish or join a photo safari while you hunt.