Since its formation the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association has kept records of game trophies shot in New Zealand.
Initially these were collected using the British system where only minimal details (length of longest antler, spread, span, & number of points) are captured. However, in 1958 the Association adopted the "Douglas Score" for use in its competitions and for record keeping. This system, now widely used in the South Pacific, continues to be used and promoted by the Association.
In 1976 the Association held a "New Zealand Exhibition of Hunting". The aim was to replicate the great hunting exhibitions held in London earlier in the century and to collect together, for public display, the great hunting trophies of New Zealand. This exhibition promoted interest in the need to increase the collection effort, with an eventual aim to the publication of a "New Zealand Big Game Trophy Record Book".
Publication of the records has commenced, which has further increased interest in the collection of these records.
The Association continues to collect details of trophies shot.