The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition is back for 2024

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  02 August 2024

The competition will take place over the same dates from 1 August to 26 November.

Wild goats are prolific breeders, and DOC cannot manage numbers alone. The competition aims to encourage hunters, agencies, and landowners to get involved and help reduce the damage they cause to the environment.  

“Over 10,000 wild goats were removed last year – we are keen to up the ante and make wild goat hunting a regular feature in the hunting calendar,” says Ben Reddiex, Director National Programmes at DOC.

The competition takes place during a quieter period in the hunting calendar, after the roar and duck shooting.

Callum Sheridan, President of NZDA says, “the timing gives recreational hunters an extra reason to get out into the back country and refine their hunting skills – all while doing their part to control wild goat numbers”.

Competition entrant Jesse O’Gorman made the most of the 2023 competition. Jesse dropped flyers into the letterboxes of local landowners around his hometown Wellington. This led to gaining permission to hunt wild goats on QEII blocks and a large forestry block.

“I saw a flyer in the local Hunting & Fishing NZ store and thought it would be a good thing to give a go,” says Jesse.  

“It’s good exercise and fun to get out in the bush, while knowing what you’re doing is helping the environment. I collected 54 tails from properties around the Wellington region. I also shot hares for the forestry manager.”

Jesse won some great prizes at his local NZDA branch. This year, there are over $70,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs donated by the hunting and outdoor sector.

Entrants could be in to win a huge range of prizes from Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd., outdoor apparel from Huntech, thermal products from InfiRay, a professional guided hunt, a Traeger Ironwood series grill, binoculars from Bushnell, and much more!

Can the G.O.A.T of 2023 be beaten?

Competitors can enter at NZDA branches, Hunting & Fishing NZ stores, and some DOC offices across the country. Check out the website for more information on how to enter.

Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Safety Authority is supporting the 2024 competition and would like to remind all competitors to handle, transport and store their firearms safely, and always identify their target beyond all doubt.

The competition is also supported by Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd., and Federated Farmers of NZ.

Thanks to our 2024 sponsors:

Background information

• Date: 1 August – 26 November. Entries close at midnight on 26 November 2024.
• Location: Nationwide – on both public and private land.
• Entry locations: NZDA branches, some DOC offices, and Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd. stores.  
• Competition categories: Large national prizes, spot prizes, and NZDA branch prizes.

• Over 10,000 wild goats were removed in the 2023 competition.
• The competition promotes safe firearms use, keeping safe in the back country, and ethical and humane hunting.
• In Budget 2022 the Government invested an additional $30 million to increase deer management and goat control.
• The national wild goat hunting competition is one tool to encourage more wild goat removal, build relationships across sectors, and raise awareness about the impact of wild goats on farmlands, and native plants and habitats.
• DOC aims to protect native plants and habitats. DOC’s priorities for goat control work are:
  • Maintaining or achieving wild goat free areas in areas of high biodiversity value.
  • Preventing the spread of wild goats into new areas.
  • Controlling wild goat numbers elsewhere to reduce pressure on priority native ecosystems.

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