Sabrina Corgatelli with a giraffe that she shot with her bow last month. Photo / Supplied
Sabrina Corgatelli with a giraffe that she shot with her bow last month. Photo / Supplied
Woman who copped social media backlash expected to visit South Island station in April
The owner of a New Zealand trophy hunting business says he is "more than comfortable" about hosting an American hunter who is being criticised for showcasing photos of herself posing with a giraffe, wildebeest and other animals she has shot.
The owner of Glen Dene Hunting and Fishing at LakeHawea near Wanaka, Richard Burdon, said he expected to host Idaho accountant Sabrina Corgatelli at his station in April.
Richard Burdon.
She would hunt red stags during the roar using a bow.
Ms Corgatelli has faced a backlash on social media after boasting about her kills on a hunting trip to the Kruger National Park in South Africa.
It comes as animal lovers mourn the death of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe, shot by American dentist Walter Palmer last month.
In the lead-up to her hunt, Ms Corgatelli said on her Facebook page, which had 19,000 likes last night: "To all the haters. Stay tuned, you're gonna have so much more to be pissed off about."
She described killing an "amazing old giraffe".
"Such an amazing animal! I couldn't be any happier! My emotion after getting him was a feeling I will never forget!"
Posts about her plans to visit New Zealand angered readers.
Sabrina Corgatelli with a stag that she shot. Photo / Supplied
"I am trying to get a group together to go to New Zealand hunting next year," she wrote.
"It's $4750 ($7193) for a stag (including lodging/food), other species are available to hunt also ... Stag hunt is on the top of my bucket list!! Please message me if interested!! Who wants to go hunting with me?!?!"
One woman responded with: "Stay the hell away from my beautiful country you sick woman. We have enough hunters here as it is, at least the majority of them use it to source their own food, not just a game like you do ... Haven't you done enough damage in South Africa without spoiling another beautiful country?"
Another said: "The New Zealand Government should ban her entry."
Mr Burdon said ethical hunters throughout the world were "very disappointed in the way the whole Cecil thing has played out".
"Not only is the anti-hunting fraternity upset, many hunters are upset if animals are not hunted ethically and to professional standards."
But New Zealand's hunting standards were highly ethical and Ms Corgatelli would have to follow the rules, Mr Burdon said.
Hunting and fishing were major contributors to the New Zealand economy, with people visiting for those reasons spending more than the average tourist, he said. For many, it was also a way of putting food on the family table.
"Fishing and hunting is a lot more exciting and riveting than visiting a supermarket every week."
NZ Deerstalkers' Association president Bill O'Leary said there were two ways overseas hunters could engage in hunting here, either on their own or through a guided tour.
He hoped if trophy hunters like Ms Corgatelli chose to go it on their own, that they would do the hard yards and pursue the prey in a "fair chase".
