Follow the 5 Ps for a safe and successful Roar – March 2023

With thousands of hunters about to head into the hills for the annual deer Roar, the Game Animal Council is reminding them to follow the 5 Ps for a safe and successful Roar; plan for the best, prepare for the worst, provide your intentions, positively identify your target and pick the right animalREAD MORE

New firearms legislation will relieve stress on hunters – November 2022

New legislation that will enable firearm licence holders to continue to lawfully possess and use firearms, while their application for a licence is being processed, will go a long way to relieving the stress on the hunting community caused by the current application backlog, says the Game Animal Council…READ MORE

Game animal management to be highlighted at Sika Show – October 2022

The return of New Zealand’s biggest hunting event, The Sika Show, is an opportunity to further emphasise the importance of game animal management and hunter-led conservation…READ MORE

Successful deer management in Fiordland – August 2022

A jointly-developed management project between DOC, GAC and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation has successfully removed 432 female deer from Fiordland National Park…READ MORE

Forest & Bird misrepresent Te Ara ki Mua – June 2022

Te Ara ki Mua, represents a significant opportunity to create enduring management solutions for game animals (deer, tahr, chamois and wild pigs) that will bring major conservation benefits for New Zealand despite the misrepresentations from Forest & Bird…READ MORE

Lake Sumner deer management programme a success – June 2022

A pilot management programme has successfully removed 126 breeding hinds from the Lake Sumner Recreational Hunting Area (RHA)…READ MORE

Deer management funding welcomed – May 2022

The Game Animal Council (GAC) is welcoming $30 million allocated in Budget 2022 to implementing the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy: Deer Management and Goat Control…READ MORE


Guide released to assist management of red deer – March 2022Look after your mates this Roar – March 2022
Collaborative deer management project for Fiordland – January 2022
Get outdoors and harvest from nature’s food basket this summer – November 2021
Valued introduced species require a modern management approach – October 2021
Game Animal Council thanks Lou Sanson – September 2021
Hunter education boost from Jobs for Nature – July 2021
Speech to 73rd NZDA Conference – June 2021
2021-22 tahr plan reflects pragmatic management approach – May 2021
Tahr hunters contributing to kea conservation – April 2021
Looking after our game animals and their habitat – March 2021
Sika deer project to benefit hunting and conservation – March 2021
Game Animal Council welcomes extra effort to process firearms licenses – 18 February 2021
Game Animal Council working to improve new rules for firearms users – 20 January 2021
Successful tahr study could provide additional hunting opportunities – 16 November 2020
Give hunting a go during Get Outdoors Week – 12 November 2020
Game Animal Council welcomes new Minister of Conservation – 2 November 2020
Kārearea has hunters backing for Bird of the Year – 2 November 2020
Hunters to choose their champion for Bird of the Year – 27 October 2020
Changes to tahr control operations positive – 14 September 2020
Long-term outcomes should be priority in tahr management – 1 September 2020
Hunters for conservation – 16 August 2020
New Game Animal Councillors appointed – 13 August 2020
Valued introduced species included in Biodiversity Strategy – 11 August 2020
DOC announces tahr cull at eleventh hour – 1 July 2020
DOC Tahr Plan based on hazy science could cost jobs – 29 June 2020
Hunters demonised by government ad – 21 June 2020
Wild venison and jobs for Kiwis in need – 15 June 2020
Perth Valley tahr trial a success – 21 May 2020
Hunting industry requires domestic support – 20 May 2020
Safety the priority for hunters under level 2 – 13 May 2020
Hunters pleased with rules for level 2 – 7 May 2020
Safe domestic travel should be considered at level 2 – 4 May 2020
Some hunting allowed under level 3 – 23 April 2020
Hunting is a safe activity – 18 April 2020
Hunting should be reconsidered under Level 3 – 17 April 2020
Hunting banned under new Government Order – 4 April 2020
Hunters need to do the right thing, stay at home – 24 March 2020
Hunters have role in managing deer herds and supporting industry – 19 March 2020
New GM for NZ Game Animal Council – 28 November 2019
App launched to record Himalayan tahr returns – 26 November 2019
Hunters backing the kārearea for bird of the year – 30 October 2019
Arms Legislation Bill requires significant improvement – 23 October 2019
Firearms legislation must be fair to hunters – 14 September 2019
Game Animal Council supports new tahr plan – 10 September 2019
New Game Animal Councillors – 13 August 2019
Hunters concerned with second round of firearms reforms – 23 July 2019
Better understanding the key to recreational access – 11 June 2019
Perceived conflicts should not undermine Predator Free NZ – 21 May 2019
Arms Amdt Bill will not significantly impact recreational hunting – 2 April 2019
MSSA’s unnecessary for recreational hunting – 20 March 2019
Responsible tahr management can benefit everyone – 5 March 2019
Predator control funding welcomed – 19 February 2019
Responsible tahr management can benefit everyone – 5 March 2019
New Tactical Plan for Tahr Management Agreed – 2 October 2018