43 - Upper Turnbull
Block 43 - Upper Turnbull is a 4,979 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, in the upper Turnbull catchment. Elevations run from 199 m up to 2,017 m, with a median of 979 m.
The country is a mix of bush and tops — around 31% of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 9% pushes above the 1,500 m alpine line. Expect heavy West Coast bush on the lower faces grading into scrub, tussock and bluffy tops along the upper ridges and basins. Slopes lean west on the dominant aspect.
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 43 - Upper Turnbull on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 16,461 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 199–2,017 m
- Median elevation
- 979 m
- Middle 50%
- 663–1,281 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 31%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 9%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
199–2,017 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning west-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. Upper Turnbull 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
No current, planned or proposed pesticide operations intersect this block in our data. Always confirm with DOC before taking a dog in.
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