This is a plain-English guide to hunting on public land around the Southern Lakes — based on the talk we give at the club night each spring. It covers Crown land managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). For private land, you always need the landowner's permission first.
DOC is the authoritative source — check huntingpermits.doc.govt.nz for the current process.
Where you can hunt
Crown land managed by DOC. You must carry a valid hunting permit at all times. Various conditions apply (below).
Private land. You need the landowner's permission. Without it, walking across the land with a rifle is poaching — whether or not you intend to hunt.
Permits
There are two kinds.
Open Hunting Area permit — lasts four months, covers pigs, goats, deer, wallabies, chamois and tahr. Each person in the hunting party needs their own. A valid firearms licence is required (except for possums). Permits aren't transferable.
Restricted Hunting Permit — for ballot or special-area access. Examples include the Wanaka, Wapiti and Haast ballots, and local DOC-issued permits (e.g. Mt Creighton). Even with a ballot or restricted permit you still need a base DOC hunting permit — think of it as the permit to carry firearms on DOC land.
Apply for a DOC hunting permit
Strictly prohibited
Hunting in the hours of darkness (half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise)
Spotlights, torches, vehicle headlights or any other artificial light source
Night-vision equipment, thermal imaging, or any infrared / heat-detecting device
Attaching a torch or other light source to a firearm
Shotguns, rimfire rifles, .17 or .22 Hornet calibre, air rifles, tracer or incendiary ammunition
Where you cannot discharge a firearm
In the vicinity of huts, tracks, campsites, road-ends or other public places
Within 500 m of a Great Walk hut or track
In a manner that endangers, frightens or annoys others, or endangers property
Local areas
The branch runs the Steele Creek Restricted Hunting Area ballot for members; details and the application window are in the members' area. DOC runs the larger Open Hunting Areas across the district — the easiest way to find them is the DOC interactive map.