My name's Craig Smith, and I bloody love to hunt...
I was born and bred on a sheep and beef farm on New Zealand's South Island, and have hunted and fished this amazing country since I can remember. I was raised in a farming family, which gave me a strong work ethic and a passion for living off the land, qualities which form the foundation of Southern Sky Outfitters. I truly believe there is nothing better than being able to make a living in the outdoors.
As an experienced physical/outdoor education high school teacher, I enjoy communicating with clients and love teaching them about New Zealand’s animals and plants. I feel that passing on my extensive knowledge of animal behaviour and habitat is a key part of the guided hunting experience.
Southern Sky Outfitters was born
My guiding career started on a well-established family outfitting business down the bottom of the South Island. Here I guided everything from big red stags, fallow bucks, chamois and bull tahr. These early experiences, along with lessons from senior guides shaped how I hunt and guide clients to this day.
I have been hunting guiding now on and off for almost 20 years. I am a dedicated family man, and the shuffling of different commitments has made it difficult to commit to running a full-time guiding business. Now in a position to do more of what enjoy, I started Southern Sky Outfitters to share with others the animals, environment and people I love so much.
