49 - Upper Burke
Block 49 - Upper Burke is a 7,547 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area — one of the larger blocks on the ballot. Elevations run from 283 m on the valley floors up to 1,867 m, with a median of 979 m.
The country is a mix of bush and tops — around 29% of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline, with a small alpine fringe above 1,500 m. Expect heavy West Coast bush on the lower faces grading into scrub, tussock and bluffy tops along the upper ridges and basins. Slopes lean east on the dominant aspect, so morning sun catches the rising faces.
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 49 - Upper Burke on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 25,027 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 283–1,867 m
- Median elevation
- 979 m
- Middle 50%
- 732–1,249 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 29%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 7%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
283–1,867 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning east-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 permitted, including helicopters, which opens up a block of this size in the headwaters. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopters may be working in the same country.
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.
This block sits within a DOC air-access zone — fly-in hunting and helicopter drop-offs may be permitted.
A DOC hunting permit is required. Upper Burke 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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