Source: Department of Conservation
Date: 03 March 2025
An annual event on the North Island hunting calendar, the competition is managed by DOC’s Maniapoto team with support from the NZ Deerstalkers Association. It opens on 15 March and concludes on 27 April with a prizegiving at the DOC Pureora workshop.
DOC Senior Ranger Community Ray Scrimgeour – who has a long association with the event – says this year’s competition puts the focus on the “dynamic” deer herd found within Pureora Forest.
“From our own data and reports from hunters, we’re seeing deer in different condition depending on where they’re taken in the forest,” Ray says.
In some parts of the forest, particularly around the forest’s edges, the deer are in good condition. In more remote areas there are indications the condition of the animals is poor – suggesting a diet of less palatable plants and high dependency on litter (leaf and vegetation) fall.
Less palatable plants dominate in forests where high numbers of deer eat through appetising plants, reducing forest diversity and ecosystem health.
“We’re aware the Pureora Forest deer herd is increasing, so the competition – and any deer hunting in the area – helps us keep deer numbers in balance with the habitat, resulting in healthy animals and a healthy ecosystem,” Ray says.
“We get a range of information about the deer herd from the competition entries we receive, as well as the discussions we have with the hunters who participate in the competition. It’s very valuable for us.
“Although a big stag with impressive antlers is always a sought-after prize, we’re also encouraging hunters to target hinds across the forest, as analysing their jaw bones will give us very helpful data on the herd.”
There are no pig hunting categories in the competition this year. DOC has recently completed an aerial predator control operation across parts of the forest to protect the forest’s significant stands of native trees and birds such as kokako, kākā and kākāriki.
Because dogs are at risk from scavenging affected animals, pig hunting categories have been removed from the competition this year.
The competition is free to enter for any hunter with a current DOC permit to hunt in the area.
Entries can be sighted at one of nine recording centres throughout the competition and all entries registered at the prizegiving are eligible to win category and spot prizes.
Competition prizes have been donated by a range of organisations in the hunting sector and by local businesses. Many of these sponsors have consistently supported the competition over many years.
For more information on the Pureora Hunting Competition, including this year’s competition categories and rules, visit Pureora Hunting Competition.
Contact
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz
