Ahuriri Conservation Area
The Ahuriri Conservation Area is a small Canterbury block of around 2,100 hectares, sitting in lowland to mid-altitude country with elevations running from about 706 m up to 969 m. The median sample is 815 m, so the block stays well below the bushline and feels more like rolling foothill country than alpine tops.
Slopes lean predominantly south-west, with around half the block facing that way and a good share also dropping to the south and south-east. Shaded sidles and gully heads are common, which holds feed and cover. None of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline, so this is hunting through scrub, tussock faces and gully systems rather than open tops.
Game on the permit includes red deer, tahr and chamois. With its compact size and modest elevation, it suits hunters who want a short, focused stalk rather than a multi-day trip into deep country.
Open Ahuriri Conservation Area on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 110 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 706–969 m
- Median elevation
- 815 m
- Middle 50%
- 761–876 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- south-west-facing
706–969 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning south-west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
There are no huts or formal campsites recorded inside the block, so this is set up as a day-trip or fly-camp area. The block is open to air access, which gives a practical option for hunters wanting to drop in onto a likely face rather than work in on foot.
The area is also flagged as a wild animal recovery operations (WARO) zone, so other parties may be working the same country from helicopters. It pays to check current activity before heading in and to be conscious of helicopter operations on shaded south-west faces where animals are likely to be holding.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Canterbury 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 for the Ahuriri Conservation Area. The block sits under the Canterbury permit area and is classed as an Ordinary block with hunting permitted year-round, so there is no ballot or seasonal restriction to work around.
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.
Get roar & 1080 alerts for the areas you hunt
We'll email you when pesticide operations, ballot dates or access conditions change for Canterbury.
Sign up →