In New Zealand, game animals can be hunted year-round on public conservation land, however in some areas access is managed through ballots or booking systems.
Ballots and booking systems are in place to manage hunter numbers and safety during popular times of the hunting calendar such as the roar, rut and bugle, and to provide landing sites in hunting areas that are hard to reach by foot.
This page has information and links to hunting areas on public land that are managed through ballots and booking systems.
Rakiura/Stewart Island
Access to hunt white-tailed deer on Stewart Island is managed through two booking systems:
- Rakiura Māori Lands Trust (9 hunting blocks).
- The Department of Conservation (DOC) (35 hunting blocks).
South Island
Molesworth roar block – Marlborough
- Red deer booking system in March and April.
- Read more about the Molesworth roar block system on the DOC website.
Wānaka roar block – Otago
- Red deer ballot in March and April.
- Read more about the Wānaka roar block system on the DOC website.
Waianakarua – Otago
- Red deer ballot in March and April. Wild pigs can also be found here.
- Read more about the Waianakarua hunting block on the DOC website.
Catlins-Maclennan – Otago
- Red deer ballot in March and April. Wild pigs can also be found here.
- Read more about Catlins-Maclennan hunting on the DOC website.
Greenstone/Caples Recreational Hunting Area (RHA) – Otago
- Fallow deer ballot in April to May; and June to September.
- Read more about permits for Greenstone/Caples hunting area on the DOC website.
Leithen Bush – Southland
- Red deer ballot during March and April.
- Read more about Leithen Bush Scenic Reserve hunting on the DOC website.
Blue Mountains Recreational Hunting Area (RHA) – Southland
- Fallow deer and wild pig ballot from February to the end of November.
- Read more about Blue Mountains Forest Conservation Area hunting on the DOC website.
Waikaia Forest – Southland
- Red deer ballot in March and April.
- Read more about Waikaia Forest Conservation Area hunting on the DOC website.
Fiordland wapiti ballot – Fiordland
- The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation runs the Fiordland wapiti ballot which is hunting of wapiti in March and April.
- Read more about the Fiordland wapiti ballot on the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation website.
Hooker-Landsborough and Adams tahr ballot – West Coast
- The tahr ballot is for hunting tahr April to June. It was established to enable hunter contributions to tahr management and provides access to helicopter landing sites in remote wilderness areas that are challenging to get to by foot. Read more about the tahr ballot on the GAC website here.
- We have a Tahr Ballot Briefing through Better Hunting, our online hunter training platform. It covers key information on tahr selection, conservation, safety and more. Learn more about the Tahr Ballot Briefing on Better Hunting.
Haast roar block ballot – West Coast
- Red deer in March and April.
- Read more about the Haast roar block ballot system on the DOC website.
North Island
Woodhill Fallow – South Kaipara
- Fallow deer ballot for weekend hunting from June to September.
- Read more about the Woodhill fallow on the Woodhill Fallow Management Council website.
Wellington regional parks
- The Greater Wellington Regional Council manages access by ballot to hunt two regional parks in Wellington.
- Read more about the Wainuiomata Regional Park ballot.
- Read more about the East Harbour Regional Park ballot.
Better Hunting national ballot calendar
Better Hunting is the GAC’s free online hunter training platform. It also has a range of tools and resources to help you plan your next hunt.
Check out the ballot calendar on Better Hunting to stay up to date with key ballot dates.
Hunting permits
If you are hunting public conservation land, you will need a DOC hunting permit. Read more about open hunting permits on the DOC website.