Species

Rusa - Cervus Timoriensis

The Jarvan Rusa was liberated in New Zealand in 1907 from Indonesia. The rusa is similar in size to the red deer, with a typical mature stag weighing up to 440lbs.

The Rusa are a very aggressive species and will fight to death if it means keeping other stag away from their hinds, with the rut occurring in July and August each year. Rusa prefer to inhabit steep county, dense bush and scrub. In winter, Rusa can sometimes be seen sunbathing particularly after a cold frost as this species does not appreciate the cooler temperatures. A good time to successfully hunt Rusa is often through the heat of the day when the other deer species are bedded down.

Although the Rusa have only 6 points, the antler are very dense and heavily pearled. If heavy hunting pressure occurs this species is likely to go nocturnal. At Alpine Hunting we limit this species to just a handful of hunters each year, between late May and late July.