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Red stags possess a pair of small canine teeth commonly known as ivories. Elk, their close relatives in North America, carry the same distinctive feature. These teeth are an evolutionary remnant of the prominent tusks carried by ancient deer species thousands of years ago. While the antlers evolved and grew into the impressive display we recognize today, the tusks gradually diminished, leaving behind the small ivory teeth still found in modern red stags.

For more than 20,000 years, people have prized these ivories for their beauty and connection to hunting success. Across various cultures, deer ivories became symbols of wealth, status, and achievement, sometimes even serving as a form of currency or trade. Their value extended well beyond decoration, carrying significance that connected people to both the animals they hunted.

Today, stag ivories continue to hold a special place within hunting traditions around the world. Many hunters choose to have their ivories crafted into rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, belt buckles, or other custom pieces of jewelry. Unlike antlers displayed on a wall, ivory jewelry can be carried and worn every day, serving as a constant reminder of a memorable hunt and the experiences that came with it.

There is something particularly meaningful about transforming a natural part of the animal into a lasting keepsake. More than simply commemorating a harvest, ivory jewelry reflects a deep respect for the wildlife we pursue and the traditions that surround hunting. It represents an appreciation for nature’s beauty, a connection to centuries of hunting heritage, and the memories created in wild places.

At Glen Dene Hunting and Fishing, many clients choose to keep their stag ivories as one of the most personal souvenirs from their New Zealand adventure. Whether set into a custom piece of jewelry or carefully stored alongside photographs and memories from the trip, they provide a unique way to remember a hunt of a lifetime. A red stag’s antlers may draw the eye from across the room, but often it is these small ivories that carry the most personal connection.

Written by Bre Lewis

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While our non-hunter program offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the best of the Southern Lakes region, we always encourage guests to spend at least a day or two out on the hill. Quite simply, our property is too spectacular not to experience. Located between Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, Glen Dene encompasses some of the most pristine and scenic landscapes in New Zealand. Towering mountains rise above crystal-clear lakes, while vast valleys and high-country basins stretch into the distance. Whether you consider yourself a hunter or not, spending time in this remarkable environment is an experience few people ever forget. Watching wildlife move through the mountains, glassing dramatic, distant ridges, and taking in the scale and beauty of the country offers a unique perspective on New Zealand’s backcountry.

For those who have even the slightest interest in hunting, Glen Dene provides an ideal introduction. Our experienced guides are patient, knowledgeable, and accustomed to working with hunters of all backgrounds and experience levels. We maintain a range of rifles suited to different shooters, including lighter calibers for those seeking a comfortable shooting experience. All of our rifles are fitted with suppressors, significantly reducing recoil and noise while allowing clear communication between guide and hunter before and after the shot.

For first-time hunters joining an existing hunting package, we also offer a complimentary meat animal opportunity. This provides an excellent introduction to hunting while allowing guests to learn about our game species, shooting, stalking, and field care in a relaxed environment. The reward is not only an unforgettable experience in the mountains, but also beautiful wild venison and a stunning flat skin to take home as a reminder of the adventure.

For women traveling to New Zealand with the primary goal of hunting themselves, Glen Dene offers an equally welcoming environment. Female guides are an important part of our operation, sharing both their knowledge of hunting and their understanding of the unique considerations many women appreciate while learning and developing as hunters.

Women play an important role throughout our hunting operation, from guiding to our highly skilled skinning and trophy preparation team. Their contributions help shape the culture of Glen Dene and provide an environment where female hunters feel comfortable, supported, and fully immersed in every aspect of the experience.

Whether joining a family member on their hunt, taking your first animal, or pursuing your own hunting adventure in New Zealand’s high country, Glen Dene offers an opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world alongside a team dedicated to making every guest feel welcome. Often, a single day on the hill is all it takes to discover why so many people return wanting more.

Written by Bre Lewis

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From the first light over the hills to the final drive of the afternoon days are full of action, sporting heritage, and breathtaking sights. Teams of expertly trained setters, spaniels, and Labradors move through the cover with precision and intensity, presenting strong-flying birds over the guns in a display steeped in sporting tradition.

Between drives, guests are welcomed back to the classic English manor homestead for exceptional meals and relaxed conversation, adding to the feeling of old-world hospitality and nobility that defines the day. The charm and character of a house create an atmosphere of warmth, history and quiet elegance, adding another unforgettable layer to the sporting experience.

For those wanting to experience even more, pheasant shooting can be paired with duck shooting or wallaby hunting, creating a uniquely varied and enchanting sporting adventure in one remarkable place. Carefully managed duck ponds provide excellent opportunities for typical morning or evening duck shoots, or can be flushed to waterfowl hunt during the middle of the day. For those seeking even more variety, wallabies offer exciting sport in the early mornings and late afternoons as they emerge to feed across the scrub-covered hillsides of the station’s more remote country.

The opportunity to step back into the traditions of another era through a style of sport rich in beauty, ritual, and heritage, makes pheasant shooting a truly unique addition to your Glen Dene hunt. Combined with remarkable scenery, exceptional hospitality, and the chance to enjoy several classic sporting pursuits in one setting, it creates an unforgettable extension to the New Zealand experience and a perfect addition for both returning and first-time guests.

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The history of Wanaka stretches back long before European settlement, with Maori traveling through the region seasonally to hunt, fish, and gather treasured resources. The lake and surrounding valleys were important routes through the Southern Alps and remain places of deep significance. European settlers arrived in the nineteenth century, drawn by the fertile land and opportunities offered by the high country. Sheep and cattle farming quickly became central to the region, and agriculture remains an important part of Wanaka’s identity today. Even as the town has grown, that connection to the land and the spirit of the high country remain woven through daily life.

Wanaka’s culture feels distinctly New Zealand. The beauty of the surrounding landscape influences nearly every part of life in Wanaka, from its warm and welcoming people to its exceptional food and wine, fine craftsmanship, and thriving local art culture. The seasons each bring their own atmosphere to the town, from long summer evenings beside the lake to crisp winters with snow settling into the surrounding mountains. Cafes, galleries, wineries, and local shops all contribute to the town’s unique character and create an environment that feels both sophisticated and deeply connected to the landscape around it.

To many people around the world, however, Wanaka is known as one of New Zealand’s great adventure destinations. Its location provides nearly endless opportunities for outdoor activities throughout the year, from skiing and snowboarding in winter to hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, horseback riding, scenic flights, and countless other pursuits during the warmer months. Surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes, and wilderness, Wanaka has become a base for adventure for both international visitors and New Zealanders alike.

At Glen Dene Hunting and Fishing, we love sharing Wanaka with our guests. Our customized non-hunter program takes clients beyond the well-known tourist stops and into the places that capture the true character of the region, where working rural heritage, elegant mountain-town culture, and adventure exist side by side. It is a chance to experience Wanaka as we know it: authentic, beautiful, and unforgettable.

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At Glen Dene Hunting and Fishing, we have invested heavily in building a rifle system that reflects the same standard of quality we apply to every aspect of our operation. Each guide carries carefully selected, top-tier rifles, including premium platforms such as Blasers and Bergaras, specifically set up for the style of hunting we conduct in New Zealand’s diverse terrain. In practical, effective calibres that provide ample performance without excessive recoil, these rifles are designed to perform equally well for seasoned hunters and those with far less shooting experience, including first-time hunters and younger family members.

Our rifle selection ranges from .17 calibre rifles through to .300 Winchester Magnums, allowing us to match both the targeted game species and the individual hunter with the most suitable setup. For younger or recoil-sensitive shooters, we offer .223 and .243 options that provide an approachable and confidence-inspiring introduction to hunting without sacrificing effectiveness in the field. Additionally, rifles with both right- and left-handed bolt actions ensure every client is equipped with a rifle that feels natural, comfortable, and intuitive to operate.

Our rifle hire fee is NZD $200 per week and includes all ammunition required throughout your hunt.

A tremendous amount of time and attention goes into preparing each rifle. Every barrel has individual ammunition preferences, and we dedicate considerable effort to identifying the most accurate load before custom matching our dial-up scope systems accordingly. The result is a rifle setup that inspires confidence, performs consistently in the field, and allows hunters to focus fully on the moment rather than the equipment in their hands.

All of our rifles are fitted with suppressors, which significantly reduce recoil and muzzle blast while also protecting hearing and allowing for unhindered communication between guide and hunter during critical moments. Many clients remark that shooting our suppressed .308 rifles feels more comparable to shooting a .22 than a traditional big-game rifle. The reduced recoil and noise make for a far more comfortable shooting experience.

Perhaps the most important component of our rifle systems, however, is the quality of the optics. We firmly believe exceptional glass is one of the greatest advantages a hunter can have in the field. High-quality optics make locating an animal through the scope faster and more intuitive, while also allowing precise dialing and assured shot placement in constantly changing conditions. In poor weather or moments requiring quick target acquisition, superior optics become invaluable.

This is especially important when guiding hunters with limited shooting experience. Often, the most difficult aspect for beginners is not the shot itself, but learning how to position correctly behind the glass, acquire the animal through the scope efficiently, and remain composed in the moment. Our optics and rifle systems are intentionally selected to simplify this process as much as possible, helping hunters of all experience levels feel comfortable and capable in the field.

Because many of our shots are taken from the prone position, all guide rifles are equipped with bipods to provide the most stable shooting platform possible. When terrain or physical limitations make prone shooting impractical, guides also carry shooting sticks to ensure every hunter has the best available support for an ethical and confident shot.

At Glen Dene Hunting and Fishing, we believe details matter. From our guiding and accommodation to the equipment we place in our clients’ hands, everything we do is approached with care and to the highest standard possible. Our rifle systems are no exception. Thank you for trusting us with what we know is often a long-awaited hunting experience of a lifetime.

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These nutrient-rich waters drop to dramatic depths just offshore, creating extraordinary opportunities for deep-sea bottom fishing. With the help of electric reels, hauling fish from depths exceeding 1,000 feet becomes effortless, leaving you free to enjoy the thrill of discovering what lurks so far beneath the surface. Target prized species like bluenose and gemfish, both renowned for their quality and found in these deep, pristine waters.

For those seeking more sport, we also offer jigging for yellowtail kingfish, a great-fighting game fish, and trolling for southern bluefin tuna. These powerful tuna roam cobalt-blue waters so rich and clear it seems like you’re staring into an endless void. This deep, clean water, close to the coast, provides world-class action without the need for long offshore runs.

If the swells limit comfort for these pursuits, we can hug the sheltered coast to target smaller, but ever bit as tasty, bottom fish, mainly blue cod and tarakihi.

There’s more than fishing, too. Try your hand at gathering your own shellfish. Snorkel for abalone and lobster in shallow waters, or simply enjoy lifting pots from the boat if you prefer to stay dry. Either way, you’ll be part of a truly authentic and rewarding coastal experience.

Your trip can be tailored to suit your adventure. Add a day on the water to a week full of hunting directly from our lodge, or spend a couple days fishing at the coast and stay at the bay overlooking the ocean.

This is more than an add-on. It extends your adventure into some of the world’s most untouched and unspoilt fisheries, completing a truly New Zealand experience.

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You may recognise Richard from the short film, Water is Life — a story that celebrates the people who live, work, and care for the Upper Clutha’s waterways.

As an agritourism operator and passionate conservationist, Richard has long been an advocate for sustainable land management, biodiversity, and water quality. His efforts contribute not only to the ecological health of the region but also to the wellbeing of its community — championing a balance between farming, recreation, and conservation.

WAI Wanaka is honoured to have Richard serve as a Trustee with a focus on Rural, and to feature him as one of the stars of Water is Life.

His voice reminds us that caring for our waterways begins with understanding the land that feeds them — and the people who call it home.

Watch the full 60-second short film here:
https://waiwanaka.nz/upper-clutha-water-cycle/

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1. World-Class Hunting in an Iconic Landscape

Glen Dene boasts arguably some of the best high country locations in New Zealand.  Nestled between Lake Hāwea and Lake Wānaka, Glen Dene offers access to some of the most spectacular hunting terrain in the world. From Red Stags and Fallow Bucks to Tahr, Chamois, South Pacific Goats and Arapawa Rams, each hunt is set against a backdrop of alpine peaks, native forest, and glacial valleys — an experience as visually stunning as it is rewarding.

2. Authentic Kiwi Hospitality

When you stay at Glen Dene, you’re welcomed not just as a guest, but as part of the family. Owners Richard and Sarah Burdon bring generations of New Zealand farming heritage to life through storytelling, connection, and true southern hospitality — from shared meals to the warmth of the lodge fire after a day in the hills.

3. Purpose-Driven Conservation

Every experience at Glen Dene helps fund conservation and restoration efforts across the property. From pest-control initiatives to wetland protection and habitat regeneration, our goal is to leave the land better than we found it. When you hunt here, you’re directly supporting the future of New Zealand’s wildlife.

4. Tailored Adventures for Every Guest

No two hunters are the same — and neither are our experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter chasing a world-class red stag or a first-time visitor eager to explore the South Island’s backcountry, each trip is crafted around your skill level, preferences, and pace.

5. A True Connection to Place

More than just a hunt, Glen Dene offers the chance to slow down, reconnect, and immerse yourself in a landscape rich with history, family legacy, and natural wonder. It’s an experience that stays with you long after the flight home.

At Glen Dene Hunting & Fishing, every experience is about more than the hunt — it’s about connection. Connection to land, to people, and to the timeless stories that shape this spectacular corner of New Zealand. Whether you come for the challenge, the scenery, or the camaraderie, you’ll leave with memories that run deeper than the trophy itself.

Ready to experience the best of New Zealand’s high country? Plan your next adventure with Glen Dene Hunting & Fishing.

Enquire Now

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