Elk/Wapiti were liberated in 1905 at George Sound in Fiordland when 18 Rocky Mountain Elk were released. In their new habitate the Elk throve and by 1921 they had spread throughout Fiordland to occupy 1\6th of the Fiordland National Park. Being closely related to the Red Deer it didn't take long for the Red Deer to cross breed and this is how the South Pacific Wapiti came to be (. Elk/Red Deer )The Wapiti Stags have adopted charactereristics from both Bull Elk and Red Stag and can be best described as a non typical Elk. Several Estates that Rivers South Safaris hunt on have both typical and non typical Elk/Wapiti Bulls. Their rut is early March through April. Like all Rivers South Safari hunts they can be hunted with rifle, bow and muzzleloader.