The Greenstone-Caples RHA is located near Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu and is one of New Zealand’s best-known fallow deer hunting areas. The RHA sits within the wider Greenstone and Caples valleys and surrounding alpine mountain country.

The area consists of classic Otago alpine hunting terrain, including wide river valleys, beech forest, tussock basins and steep rocky tops. It is highly regarded for both its beauty and the quality of hunting available.

The Greenstone-Caples RHA operates as a restricted hunting area, with permits allocated through a ballot system, and a summer hunting closure.

In 2023, takahē were reintroduced into the Greenstone and Caples valleys as part of a major conservation programme. These rare native birds may now be present within parts of the RHA, highlighting the area’s dual importance for both recreational hunting and conservation.

RHAs are areas of public conservation land where recreational hunters can enjoy and harvest meat without commercial competition. They were formally gazetted between the early and mid-1980s, following the hugely successful commercial recovery boom.

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Plan your hunt

The GAC Better Hunting Multi-Map tool can help you plan a hunt in the Greenstone-Caples RHA. It’s a one-stop-shop for links to weather forecasting, vegetation, pesticide operations, access and more.

Greenstone-Caples RHA on Multi-Map

Species present

The area is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s premier fallow deer hunting locations on public conservation land, particularly during the rut.

Other species present include:

  • Red deer
  • Chamois

Permits and ballots

The Greenstone-Caples RHA operates under a restricted hunting permit system. All hunters must hold a valid Department of Conservation (DOC) permit for their allocated block.

Hunters must apply through DOC Queenstown for specific blocks and time periods. The RHA is divided into several ballot blocks:

  • Lower Greenstone
  • Upper Greenstone
  • Steele Creek
  • Lower Caples
  • Upper Caples

Only one application per party is permitted, with a maximum of four hunters per block.

Hunting is only permitted between 1 April and 30 September, with the RHA closed from 1 October to 31 March.

Ballots are run separately for:

  • April-May (applications close end of November, draw in December)
  • June-September (applications close end of February, draw in March)

Hunters allocated a block in the ballot draw must advise the farm manager at Routeburn Station before entering the valley. More information, including contact details are available under each hunting block here.

Hunters should note:

  • The valley floors are private land (Ngāi Tahu ownership)
  • No hunting is permitted on or within 100 metres of river flats

Key access points

The main access point into the RHA is off the Greenstone Station Road from Kinloch. There is a carpark at the road end.

From here, the RHA is accessed on foot via the established valley tracks:

  • Greenstone Track – access to Lower and Upper Greenstone blocks
  • Caples Track – access to Lower and Upper Caples blocks
  • Steele Creek access – via the Greenstone Track

While helicopter access is sometimes used to reach upper blocks such as Upper Caples where there is less hunting pressure, much of the RHA is accessible on foot via well-formed valley tracks.

Please refer to the WAMS (walking access) maps on the Multi-Map tool for more information on access.

Huts

The RHA and areas bordering it contain a well-established network of huts:

There are also several private huts in and around the RHA for guided trampers.

Forest and terrain

The Greenstone–Caples RHA is characterised by classic glaciated alpine valley systems, with wide valley floors, steep valley sides and extensive high-country basins.

Lower elevations are dominated by mountain beech forest, particularly along valley margins and lower slopes. River flats and lower terraces include grasslands, herbfields and open clearings, although these areas are largely private land where hunting is restricted.

Above the bushline, the terrain transitions to tussock grasslands, alpine herbfields and rocky ridgelines, with large open basins providing good opportunities for glassing.

The terrain becomes increasingly steep and rugged at higher elevations, with bluffs, scree slopes and exposed tops. Weather conditions can change rapidly, particularly in alpine areas, and snow is common during the hunting season.

Tips for hunting Greenstone-Caples RHA

The Greenstone-Caples RHA is a ballot-managed hunting area, so most hunting trips are planned around a specific block and permit period.

Hunting success often depends on moving beyond the most obvious travel routes and into side catchments, bush edges and higher basins where fallow deer are commonly found.

Weather and snow conditions can significantly affect access and animal movement, particularly at higher elevations.

Hunters should also be aware that takahē are now present within parts of the RHA. Takahē are a protected native species and can occupy tussock and valley environments similar to where deer may be found.

Dogs

Dogs are not permitted anywhere within the Greenstone-Caples RHA.

Local NZDA branches

The strong advocacy of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) was key to the establishment of these areas and the creation of RHAs remains one of the important achievements of organised recreational hunting advocacy in New Zealand.

Local branches include:

Southern Lakes NZDA run a very successful predator trapping programme in the RHA. More information on that can be found here.

Local DOC visitor centre

Queenstown DOC Office