See the operational notice for the 2026 Sika HOSI targeted management hunt here.
Why are we doing this?
Our goal for the Sika HOSI is to actively manage the Central North Island sika herd to improve hunting opportunities while protecting the forests and grasslands they inhabit. Management hunts support recreational hunters to contribute to herd management and provides useful hunter insights that guide adaptive deer management to deliver for hunting values.
This initiative is a pilot for how the GAC and Sika Foundation engage with recreational hunters through the Sika HOSI. Hunter feedback and experiences from this initiative will be crucial for adapting how future management hunts are carried out and help inform how recreational hunters want to be part of the Sika HOSI.
What is the current data telling us?
Current data (baseline vegetation monitoring, some jaw data, thermal survey data and expert personal observations) from these sites indicate that hinds are in poor condition and forest habitats are under stress.
This initiative is an opportunity to gather more information from hunters around what they’re seeing, the quality of animals and the environment.
Why are the hunts focused on hinds?
Hinds tend to remain within relatively small, traditional home ranges and live in matriarchal family groups, typically led by an older, experienced hind. This makes them useful indicators of local herd and habitat health.
A hind’s skeletal size, age, reproductive status and body condition provide valuable information about the health of the herd and the environment in which she lives. Stags tend to range more widely, making them less reliable indicators of conditions at a particular site.
Hinds are the reproductive powerhouse of the herd. When their condition is poor, it can result in fewer hinds coming into season. Coupled with a high hind-to-stag ratio, this means there is less competition between stags for hinds, potentially resulting in a quieter, less competitive roar. Improving herd health and achieving a better balance between hinds and stags will help deliver healthier deer, a stronger roar and a better hunting experience.
What are we hoping to achieve?
This is the first targeted management hunt under the Sika Herd of Special Interest (HOSI).
Our initial goal is to collect at least 20–30 hind jaw samples from across the priority sites within the four Kaweka management units.
Longer term, we aim to offer more opportunities to participate in targeted management hunts on a regular basis, building an ongoing picture of the hunting experience, herd health, and habitat condition. Together, this information helps guide adaptive management decisions.
Will the hunts affect other users of the area?
The hunts are not expected to significantly affect other recreational users of Kaweka Forest Park. The priority sites are generally harder to access on foot, and the huts being used by participating hunting parties have been booked specifically for this initiative. Additionally, these hunts are outside the popular summer period (December to March).
What access permissions do we have?
Helicopter operators have the appropriate permissions for landings within Kaweka and Kaimanawa Forest Parks.
The NZ Game Animal Council and Sika Foundation have engaged with the Department of Conservation and have been advised that no additional permissions are required for these management activities.
What are the health and safety requirements?
Helicopter operators are responsible for the safety procedures associated with their services. Hunters must follow all operator instructions, and every member of the hunting party must carry a personal locator beacon at all times in the field.
At least one member of each hunting party must also carry a satellite communications device to communicate with the helicopter operator about pickups and other logistical arrangements.
Hunters are responsible for their own safety and must follow all relevant hunting, access and outdoor safety requirements.
What are hunters required to do?
Hunters are asked to harvest hinds and provide the following for each eligible submission:
- A complete jaw, with both sides attached.
- A fully completed jaw data card attached to the sample.
- GPS harvest location and supporting field photographs.
- A completed hunting data form for each party.
Submissions will be verified by the Sika Foundation before payment is made. Hunters must also complete a post-hunt report using the template provided.
Payments are capped at $1,050 per hunting party. Hunters are welcome to submit additional jaws beyond the maximum, as every jaw helps build knowledge of the herd and support evidence-based management
Hunters are responsible for their own helicopter costs.
What data do we collect, and why?
Hind jaws provide valuable information about herd health, including an animal’s age and skeletal development. When combined with observations of body condition and reproductive status, this information helps build a picture of the health and productivity of the herd.
Because herd health is closely linked to habitat quality, the data also helps us understand how the surrounding environment is supporting the deer population.
Read more about herd health indicators on the Sika Foundation website here.
How do we assess a jaw?
Jaw samples are examined to estimate the animal’s age and assess skeletal development. These measurements can then be considered alongside other information, such as body condition and reproductive status, to help assess herd health.
We can determine an animals age from their jaw by using tooth eruption patterns and growth rings in sectioned teeth, while jaw length measurements provide an indication of skeletal development. These results are combined with information on body condition, reproductive status and harvest location to assess herd health and habitat quality.
Why do both sides of the jaw need to be provided?
Both sides are needed to ensure there is sufficient material for accurate assessment and data collection. Submitting the complete jaw also helps prevent the two sides from being counted as separate samples or data points.
Does time of year matter?
Yes. Winter and early spring can be particularly useful periods for assessing herd health because environmental demands on deer are high and vegetation growth is slower.
During this period, hinds are recovering from the demands of raising the previous season’s fawn and may also be carrying a new pregnancy. Their body condition and skeletal development can therefore provide useful insights into the relationship between herd health and habitat quality.
The timing of hind harvest also has animal welfare considerations, including the stage of development of the previous season’s fawn and any new pregnancy.
How will the information be used?
Sika HOSI management is science-informed, adaptive and responsive to changes in the herd, its habitat and the hunter experience.
Management hunts support recreational hunters to contribute to herd management and provides useful hunter insights that guide adaptive deer management to deliver for hunting values.
The data collected will help us monitor herd health, forest condition, and the overall hunting experience. This enables us to assess whether management actions are achieving the desired outcomes.
The more reliable information we gather over time, the better equipped we are to make informed decisions and adjust our management approach as needed.
Can hunters submit jaws from other areas?
Hunters are always welcome to submit jaws into the data collection programme however jaws submitted by foot hunters, or from other areas of the Sika HOSI will not be eligible for the $150 during these management hunts.
For this initial management hunt, participation is linked to designated priority sites and coordinated access arrangements. This helps maintain consistency in data collection by linking samples to known locations and a defined management activity.
We are exploring ways to enable wider participation in the future, potentially through a digital reporting tool or app that would allow hunters to submit standardised data from other hunting trips.
What other things are monitored during the hunts?
Hunters are also encouraged to record observations of native wildlife including kiwi, whio, kererū, kākā, native snails, lizards and bats, and forest condition.
These observations help build a broader picture of forest health and the native species sharing the habitat with sika deer.
Why is this information important?
Healthy deer herds depend on healthy habitats. Understanding the condition of both the herd and the environment helps inform science-based management decisions.
Hinds are the reproductive powerhouse of the herd. When their condition is poor, it can result in fewer hinds coming into season. Coupled with a high hind-to-stag ratio, this means there is less competition between stags for hinds, potentially resulting in a quieter, less competitive roar. Improving herd health and achieving a better balance between hinds and stags will help deliver healthier deer, a stronger roar and a better hunting experience.
By combining deer data with observations of native wildlife and feedback from hunters, the GAC and Sika Foundation can work towards a better balance between sika deer, hunting opportunities, forest health and native biodive