By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Already, the days are getting shorter, the sun setting earlier and soon … the air will get a little bit cooler and the trees will begin to change their color.
And for many, that means one thing. It's getting close to hunting season.
Kent Kaiser has made hunting his business.
The Niles native, who moved to the 'last frontier' of Alaska when he was "very young," has just recently returned home from New Zealand.
Though he may be searching for a home in the Niles area, his business, New Zealand Quest – formerly Kaiser Adventures – whisks away hunting aficionados and drops them in the middle of the beautiful country of New Zealand.
Going on a quest with Kaiser isn't for amateurs. "People who are coming to New Zealand to do this have traveled pretty much," said Kaiser.
There are no hunting laws in New Zealand, and all the animals had originally been imported to the country Kaiser said. Up for hunt are red stag, wild red stag, tahr/chamois, fallow deer, sika deer, game birds and even lobster.
For the price of a respective quest, Kaiser facilitates the travel arrangements and hunting elements – including helicopter drop off for the tahr hunting.
"Tahr hunting can be a very physically challenging experience," Kaiser states on his business' website, www.nzquest.com.
Kaiser " takes the hunter high into the snow and ice of New Zealand's rugged alpine country."
Kaiser said he has all the gear that one would need, though they're welcome to bring their own. For some hunts, he acts as a guide himself – especially upon request.
Having just returned from 28 straight months in New Zealand, Kaiser said his employees in-country are able to work with customers – while he'll return from time to time to take some groups on specific quests.
At any one time, Kaiser said he could have up to six employees, servicing two hunting groups at a time. He estimated 25 groups, with an average of eight people to a group, which took part in the experience of New Zealand Quest.
"We do a lot of things," Kaiser said. Because many hunters come in couples, tours include stopping at the remote towns of New Zealand for shopping, dining and visits to wineries. And there is the popular draw of the lobster tours, which take visitors to the dramatic landscape of New Zealand's beaches – and even cook lobster on the beach.
The county's diversity is one of its draws, said Kaiser. "You can go from hunting in the mountains to going and hanging out on the beach."
Tours are typically five to seven days, Kaiser said, and various accommodations are available, which vary according to hunt.
It's the combination of international intrigue, a love for the thrill of a hunt and the allure of New Zealand's culture that he believes entices people to join him on an adventurous and memorable trip.
"It's the thrill of the hunt," said Kaiser. "It makes the men feel like, men."
Kaiser himself finds his thrills elsewhere now. Having traveled extensively, Kaiser admitted he's still in love with the state of Alaska – where he started is business four years ago.
"I feel alive in Alaska," he said. "Alaska is totally wild. Anytime a bear can jump out of the woods at you – now that excites me."
He's got plenty of stories, he said. And while he'll be helping those in love with the thrill of the hunt build some stories of their own – he'll be doing the same, as he rediscovers his native city of Niles.