26 - McArthur Creek
Block 26 - McArthur Creek is a 9,122 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area — one of the larger blocks on the ballot. Elevations run from 53 m on the valley floors up to 1,864 m, with a median of 810 m.
The country is a mix of bush and tops — around 20% of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline, with a small alpine fringe above 1,500 m. Expect heavy West Coast bush through the lower and mid-faces, grading into scrub, tussock and rocky tops along the upper ridgelines. Slopes lean south on the dominant aspect, so the block carries cooler, shaded faces through much of the day.
The block carries red deer, tahr and chamois. Reds work the bush and bush-edge; the upper basins and ridges give hunters a realistic chance at tahr and chamois on the same trip.
Open 26 - McArthur Creek on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 30,523 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 53–1,864 m
- Median elevation
- 810 m
- Middle 50%
- 472–1,134 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 20%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 4%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
53–1,864 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning south-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a balloted roar block — the red deer roar peaks from late March into April, and competition for the block is highest then.
Access & getting there
Air access is not permitted on this block, so hunting parties will need to walk in from the surrounding country. WARO is permitted, so commercial helicopters may still be working alongside ground-based hunters.
There are no DOC huts inside the block. Plan on fly camp or tent for any overnight trip.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Balloted Roar block block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
A DOC hunting permit is required. McArthur Creek is a Balloted Roar block — access during the roar is allocated through DOC's South Westland ballot, with successful applicants drawing exclusive use of the block for a defined period. Outside the balloted roar window, check current DOC rules for the permit area.
1080 & pesticide status
- Pesticide (1080 or similar) has been laid in or near this block — check current dog and carcass restrictions before you hunt.
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