Hunting on conservation land
You’ll need to get permits for hunting on conservation or other government managed land.
Hunting basics
To hunt on public conservation land you need a hunting permit. To hunt on any other land you need permission from the landowner.
Learn where, what and how you can safely hunt on conservation land. Find out about:
- protected species
- heli-hunting
- taking dogs hunting
- where pesticides are laid.
Find out:
- when to hunt
- where to stay
- what gear to pack
- how to keep safe.
Rules for hunting on public conservation land
What kind of permits you’ll need
Each person in a hunting party needs a separate permit, whether you’re hunting with a firearm, bow or knife. Hunting after dark and spotlighting is illegal on conservation land.
If you’re hunting with a gun, you need a valid New Zealand firearms licence. If you do not have one, you can only hunt with a gun if you’re with someone who does have a licence. You have to be sharing the gun, and they need to stay within arm’s reach of you while you’re using it.
Along with your gamebird licence, you also need a gamebird hunting permit from the DOC office that’s closest to the hunting area.
A small game hunting permit restricts hunting to specific areas and times. Small game includes:
- Canada geese
- feral geese
- hares
- rabbits.
Who to contact for more help
If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact one of the following agencies.
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Department of Conservation
Contact and agency details -
New Zealand Police
Contact and agency details
Utility links and page information
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