A solo Hunt in New Zealand’s Southern Alps

High above the valley floor, where the native bush gives way to open tussock tops, a New Zealand hunter sets out on a solo mission during the Red Deer roar. With only his dog Willow - a loyal Chesapeake Bay Retriever - for company, the journey follows a classic Southern Alps route: from riverbeds through dense forests to the sweeping alpine terrain where stags roam just above the bush line. It’s a demanding environment that calls for gear as adaptable as the conditions themselves.

Enter the newly designed Z8i family. Its impressive 8x zoom range proved ideal across the varied terrain—offering a wide field of view in tight, forested stalks and powerful magnification when glassing distant ridgelines. Features like the enlarged throw lever, intuitive cockpit design, and glove-friendly illumination buttons made quick adjustments effortless, even in the biting cold. Paired with a ballistic turret and the EL Range, the setup enabled precise shots in the rugged, ever-changing alpine landscape.