Lower Hunter hunting

Located in the Otago region

Introduction

Lower Hunter hunting block consists of several catchments draining the McKerrow Range eastwards to Lake Hawea, just below the Hunter River mouth. You can hunt red deer and chamois.

About this hunting block

Animals present are red deer and chamois in low to moderate numbers.

General information

This block consists of several catchments draining the McKerrow Range eastwards to Lake Hawea, just below the Hunter River mouth.

Generally the lower slopes above the lake are pastoral lease land and excluded from the hunting block. The lower reaches of the major creeks are all badly gorged, for this reason access is mainly by air.

Further up the creeks there are some easier areas of beech/tawhai forest, as well as mānuka/kānuka, subalpine shrubland, tussock and alpine gravel and rock.

During the roar period in the months of March and April, the block divides into four separately balloted portions, according to its four major creeks – Terrace Creek, Fast Burn, Big Hopwood and High Burn. The boundaries generally follow the ridges between these catchments.

See Wanaka roar block system.

Access

For all catchments, helicopter access is required due to the valleys being badly gorged in their lower reaches.

Unless an authorised aircraft operator is being used, for helicopter access you must obtain an aircraft landing permit from the Tititea/Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre in Wanaka.

Feedback on your access experience is welcome. Email this to wanakavc@doc.govt.nz

Landholders

Western side: Hunter Valley Station: phone +64 3 443 1242

Maps

NZTopo50 series: BZ13, CA13

Dogs

Dogs are allowed only if using air access. No separate permit required.

Huts

Big Hopwood Burn Hut

All other huts in the area belong to Hunter Valley Station, and you must obtain permission to use them.