Rathmoy

Rathmoy Game Preserve offers a diverse range of driven pheasant and partridge shooting opportunities to suit all levels of experience, whether you prefer fast snap shooting in deep gorges, tight shooting through trees, or perhaps you like to watch the birds take flight for a few seconds before raising your gun. And if that doesn’t get your heart racing then the jet boating between drives surely will. Our shoot lodge, The Fish & Pheasant, sits on the edge of the Rangitikei River and at the foot of the soaring white papa cliffs. It’s a perfect and inspiring location before and after the shoot.

We shoot on 16 different drives, which are all rested well between shoots, so that the birds get enough time to settle into their habitat and enough rest to provide the challenging shooting that Rathmoy is known for. Our signature drive here is ‘The Cliffs of Rathmoy’ and it is fantastic. After arriving by jet boat clients get so excited seeing Pete's high pheasants come off steadily, like he has a garden hose up there full of them!”

The day begins with an 8:30am briefing at Rathmoys Fish & Pheasant Lodge where we run through the days programme, have the safety briefing and the guns draw for their pegs. We then kick off with two drives before elevenses, the first being an easier drive to get your eye in, then one more drive before lunch. Lunch is served at the Fish and Pheasant Rathmoys Shoot Lodge. It normally consists of Rathmoy Angus or other local cube roll steak, with a mix of salads, hot vegetables, potatoes and bread rolls.

Following lunch we travel by jet boat down river and have as many drives as required to achieve the bag. The day finishes with the team coming together on the deck for a few quiets to cheer the many that got away and toast to the ones that didn't.

The bag is the number of birds retrieved at the days end. The minimum day's shoot is 200 birds and we can host days up to 500 birds. There is a limited number of 200 bird days available and these will be held at the end of the season. A refund will be given if the bag targeted is not reached.

Shoot coaching is offered from 2pm the day prior to the shoot day for those less experienced or for those that would like to get their eye in. The coaching will be two hours of simulated driven pheasant shooting with clay birds hosted by one of New Zealand’s top coaches, Gordon MacPhee. We highly recommend this to get the most out of your day and for those less experienced it is a must.

Rathmoys Fish & Pheasant Lodge is an exclusive lodge located on the edge of the Rangitikei River, five minutes from Hunterville. It is the perfect venue for rest and relaxation, corporate entertainment or a weekend away with friends or family.

Rathmoys Fish & Pheasant Lodge is designed for self-catering or first class caterers can be arranged. It has a very spacious enclosed deck with a huge river stone fire place creating a great atmosphere for an intimate dinner or a private party. There is a range of exhilarating activities right on the door step; driven, walked-up & simulated pheasant shooting, fly fishing, jet boating, four-wheel driving and kayaking.

What the Clients Say:

Lars Magnusson was an instructor at the West London Shooting School before he visited New Zealand. After having experienced the best shoots of the West Country, Yorkshire, Denmark, Sweden and Spain, and now running his own shoot in Wyoming.
 “I’ve seen a lot of shoots around the world, either as an instructor in the field, a gun on the line or as shoot captain and host. My time at Rathmoy was magical. After that trip I believe New Zealand will become a new destination for driven shooting. The topography on the estate is perfect, the land like a fairytale with steep cliffs, meandering rivers and high flying pheasant fantastically presented over the course of the day. You can't find a county in the world with nicer people. If you find yourself debating a shoot in the southern hemisphere, this estate should be high on your to do list."   

Graham Eames, Editor of the Feathers and Fur Magazine Australia
"I have been to many Game Preserves and hunting lodges over the years both in Australia and New Zealand and many other countries in the world. This pheasant hunt at Rathmoy would have to be the best presented and most professionally well run pheasant hunts I have ever been on. The scenery is stunning, the organization is perfect, the food and drinks are excellent and the birds provide for some memorable and cracking shots. Rathmoy Game Preserve is a place that every keen sportsman should try and get to one day."

Murray Gribben
"Having been on pheasant shoots in other parts of the world, in particular the UK, what is on offer at Rathmoy is world class. On top of that you experience the New Zealand approach to driven shooting which embodies the New Zealand outdoors at their best coupled with both a relaxed approach to managing the guns and great hospitality.
For those of you who enjoy a day in the country with a shot gun at hand, among friends and like minded kiwis, Rathmoy comes highly recommended as one of those unique experiences you should enjoy while you still can."

What the Keeper Says:
Pete Gifford formerly owned the famous Clovelly shoot in Devon, whose drives bordering the sea offer some of the highest birds in Britain. He has also owned a shoot incorporating woodcock, snipe and duck, and has experience ranging from keeping and rearing all his own birds to running picking up teams on the exceptional North Molton shoot. Today he is keeper at  Rathmoy estate on the Rangitikei River. How does the shooting down under compare? Pete is, like many keepers, very direct.
 “The topography is amazing for producing quality birds, and the scenery is breath taking. We keepers get a tan, even on shoot days, and the guns are really stepping up to the mark, enjoying the attire and customs of a proper English shoot day. The job here is one that any keeper would recognise – managing quality birds, working with beaters and picker ups. There’s freedom to do as you please, to shape the shoot into something really exceptional. Who could ask for more?”