TESTImONIALS

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"I had an awesome few days hunting with Conor. Not only did he put me on Mallard, Grey Duck, Paradise Shelduck and Hybrid Ducks but I also shot Geese AND Black Swan. Thoroughly enjoyed hanging with Conor!" 

"Conor and the guides at Central South Outfitters are top notch.  The hunting was absolutely incredible and they worked hard to put us on the best feeds as well as get all of the species on our list. We will be back!"

" We had the opportunity to spend a few days fly fishing with Conor at Central South Outfitters. We fished on a beautiful river catching giant rainbow trout. He is extremely knowledgeable about the river systems and what gear needs to be used to hook up with the giant fish New Zealand has to offer. After the fishing adventure we were fortunate enough to have a few days targeting waterfowl. Being extreme waterfowl enthusiasts it was fun to hunt along side someone that shares the same passion we do. He made it possible to harvest all 7 species on our target list. From his decoys, blinds, and calling abilities, Conor has it all. I would highly recommend if you are considering to hunt or fish New Zealand to reach out to our new life long friend Conor. You will not be disappointed!"

 "I had the pleasure of hunting with Conor and Mitch on my trip to NZ. Not only were they professional but they were on the birds. We were able to shoot our limits and have a great time doing it! I cannot recommend this outfit enough! Truly some great memories hunting birds in the most beautiful place on earth!"

"New Zealand has long been a dream destination for me and I’ve waited a long time to find the right operation to go with and it’s been worth the long wait! To say the trip exceeded expectations would be an understatement, from the beginning I knew we would be well taken care of over there but to experience the kiwi hospitality in person is just something everyone needs to see for themselves! Without a doubt some of the most incredible hunting in some of the most phenomenal landscapes you’ll ever see. We went there to tick off a bunch of new species and we did just that whilst experiencing some amazing field and water hunts. The trip went above and beyond our expectations and we can’t recommend these guys enough for waterfowl in New Zealand you don’t need to look any further than Conor and his crew. Not only do they offer waterfowl but also big game and it’s possible to combine hunts and chase Red stag, Tahr, Fallow bucks and Chamois! If this isn’t already on your bucket list it needs to be! Thanks again for a hell of a trip!"

"Conor was a top notch guide. Put us right on the target birds we were after. He was very knowledgeable, ensured safety of everyone was maintained while hunting, and used top of the line equipment. He’s our go to going forward for birds in NZ"

" Great time, excellent guide with great ground to hunt."

" Bloody great day out with Conor ! He dropped everything to help me out when I contacted him out of the blue the night before, to see if he could take me Fly fishing for trout in the off season when a last minute opportunity came up on our holidays. Conor was very responsive, informative and punctual in picking me up early the next day to fish a river we could fish during the off season. We had awesome weather but given the recent rains and water conditions fish were hard to find. Conor worked hard never giving up and with his local knowledge of spots and secret flies managed to get the job done ! Would definitely recommend his guiding operation and look forward to getting back over there for some hunting with him and my kids next trip !"

" Experience of a lifetime, you won't be disappointed!"

 I suppose you can say every experience starts with an idea……

Whilst duck hunting in our hometown in Victoria (Australia) with my mate John. Discussing a marginal hunt and why the birds fly the way they do. Heading home and watching a YouTube clip of laydown blinds, postcard worthy scenery along with birds being called in on decoys one after the other.

The idea of how do we get to New Zealand and experience this?  Out for dinner with the families the idea of a holiday and hunting trip was agreed on. A few days of duck hunting followed by some time with our wives on the tourist trail sounds perfect.

We quickly found Central South Outfitters on social media. Everything looked perfect from the hunting to the scenery. After a couple of emails, we knew Conor was our man and the dates were locked in.

Not only was Conor knowledgeable on the hunting, but he also gave us advice on clothing, travel and accommodation  so everything came together seamlessly. Nothing was too much trouble with each question answered in a timely manner, Conor arranged game licenses and gave us all the information to easily obtain our New Zealand gun licenses.

We met Conor before sunrise, his friendly easy-going manner made us comfortable immediately and sure we were with the right guide. Having grown up navigating the McKenzie Basin with his father, it was clear we had the inside lane to the best hunting available.  

As we drove along the winding unsealed country roads to our hunting grounds the McKenzie Basin unfurled before us- a tapestry of rolling hills, snow capped mountains, winding rivers, sparkling lakes and crisp air, perfectly setting the scene for a world-class hunt. 

Day one, we would share with another two hunters, what a great experience it was to meet an Englishmen & Scotsmen, everyone eager to share stories of our home country hunting experiences. So here we are four hunters from different backgrounds on the adventure of a lifetime with Conor in Lake Tekapo.

Upon arrival at the hunting location Conor bounced out of the vehicle and got us to finalize some paperwork and gave a safety briefing. Then began the setup, laying out blinds, covering in native grass and positioning decoys. 

I must say here, if you’re making the effort to come on a hunt like this. Get involved, open the gates, help with the set up, you will pick up some great tips, and you will be into the shooting much sooner! Don’t stand back and wait for Conor to do it all!

We settled into our laydown blinds Francii semi-automatic shotgun and Falcon steel shot number 4s. As the first birds began to call, Conor immediately started imitating them with almost immediate effect, his ability to call them in was something we had never witnessed before. Paradise Shell Ducks began circling our pond and on Conor’s call, we sprung from our hides and took our shots under his watchful eye. Hunting from the laydown blind is certainly an experience that takes some getting used to, clear instruction was given on each of our shooting ‘lanes’ as safety was paramount.

Paradise Shelducks were coaxed into us constantly in this location, but credit must go to our guide. Not just his ability to imitate them on the call, but the way the blind was laid out and his methodical attention to detail, the wind, the sun and even breaking the frozen pond water so the decoys created ripples on the surface. At the conclusion of our morning hunt, we had a great line up of Paradise Shelducks & Grey ducks. The tally should have been higher, but these international hunters were taking a little longer than hoped to get our ‘eye in’!

Arriving at the afternoon hunting location, the only word to describe it was spectacular. We set up blinds and decoys on a rising field with the stunning Lake Tekapo in front of us and snow capped mountains in every direction. We even had a flock of New Zealand’s finest Merino ewes in view!

More of the same was to follow, the best equipment, perfectly laid out and birds constantly being drawn into range by Conor as they flew between the lake and sown pastures. The accuracy of the shooting improved somewhat from the morning session, with everyone pulling down some terrific shots. We rounded out the evening with a great line up of Paradise Shelducks, Greys and our first Mallards of the trip.

The anticipation on morning two was high, we would now target Canadian Geese. The ‘Honkers’ were certainly a sort after quarry of international hunters. What an experience this would turn out to be, rolling river flats, prime farm land that bordered undeveloped bush. As dawn broke, the Basin came alive. Shapes glided across the skyline, and before long, paradise shelducks and mallards filled the sky. Conor’s positioning paid off, we remained motionless, letting the birds settle into their routines. At just the right moment, a quiet signal from Conor prepared us for action. With our shooting having improved dramatically we had soon filled our limit of ‘Parries’ and had a few nice pairs of both Greys and Mallards. 

Soon later we heard the unmistakable ‘Honk’ of Geese in flight. As we lay perfectly positioned in our hides, Conor began to work his call to the birds on the horizon that seemed an eternity away. In seemingly no time they were on us, and I’m pleased to say with some well placed shots we both had our first Canadian Goose. We focused on Geese for the remainder of the morning with terrific results. The entire trip was outstanding, but this morning was the highlight. The hunt was challenging and truly rewarding. These Geese were wild and wary, their flight unpredictable. Every successful shot was a testament to Conor’s guidance and the unique demands of New Zealand water fowling.

Conor shared stories about local hunting & fishing, Red Deer, Bull Tahr and trophy Trout. He spoke about his commitment to sustainable harvests and ensuring future generations can enjoy this tradition.

We based ourselves at Peppers Blue Water in Lake Tekapo. As mentioned earlier, our wives were along for the journey, they spent two relaxing days exploring this stunning little town. From the hot springs, day spa, restaurants and picturesque lake side walking tracks - everyone had a great time. 

We flew into Queenstown, hired a car and spent a day making our way to Lake Tekapo. Taking in the scenery and stopping at towns like Wanaka, Twizel and Arrowtown along the way. 

We enjoyed the whole experience from the friendly locals to breathtaking scenery, every moment is part of the adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned waterfowler or trying it for the first time, the McKenzie Basin with Conor from Central South  Outfitters offers a blend of challenge and wonder you won’t find anywhere else. If you ever get the chance, take it…………