Big Game Trophy Records

In June 1982 work began on the compiling and production of the NZ Big Game Trophy Record Books which consist of the New Zealand trophies taken for each specific species that fall within the minimum Douglas Score points system adopted for that animal’s inclusion into the record books.

When completed the NZDA Record Books of Big Game Trophies will be a comprehensive volume of enormous interest to both the serious trophy hunter and the historian.

The series of books will eventually form the official New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association’s record series, covering the top trophies taken in New Zealand for all game animals recognised by the organisation. Each book looks at the origin, liberation, spread and establishment, present status, location and how to hunt information, as well as listing all known trophies and their Douglas Score statistics, where available as recorded by NZDA.

The criteria for eligibility system was adopted and worked from the scoring base used in the New Zealand Exhibition of Hunting held in Wellington in 1978.

Species	Minimum Douglas Score
Red	300
Wapiti	380
Fallow	200
Whitetail	120
Sika	170
Sambar	200
Rusa	160
Goat	100 or more than 30 inches in spread
Chamois	27 or more than 10 inches long
Tahr	40 or more than 13 inches long
Pig Tusks (Drawn)	28 or more than 7 1/2 inches long
Pig Tusks (Undrawn)	20 or more than 3 inches long
Sheep	70

All heads measured that meet the criteria for inclusion in the NZ Big Game Trophy record books should have the following forwarded to the NZDA national office, P O Box 6514, Wellington:-

1. A Douglas Score sheet correctly filled out and signed by two qualified Douglas Score measurers.
2. A photograph of the trophy (preferably one from when the animal was secured)
3. Contact details of the owner of the trophy (in case the species coordinator requires additional information)

As well as your trophy featuring in the record books, a certificate will be raised to certify that you have a head or trophy recorded in the New Zealand Big Game Trophy Record Books, including details on where the animal was taken, the date it was taken and the official Douglas Score.

To date five books in the series have been written and compiled for NZDA by D Bruce Banwell. The first ‘The Sika’ is being reprinted (due out late 2009), however the second book The Wapiti and the Moose’, the third book ‘The Fallow Deer’, the fourth book 'Rusa, Sambar and Whitetail Deer' and the fifth book 'The Red Deer: Part One' are all available from the NZDA National Office. Please click here to download an order form.

The sixth volume of the Big Game Record series, 'The Red Deer: Part Two' is presently being worked on.

The Association acknowledges the enormous amount of voluntary work required in searching for, and collating the details of existing trophies.