Cowan Wildlife Refuge
Cowan Wildlife Refuge is a sizeable 1,265-hectare public hunting block in the Pureora country of the central North Island. The block is lowland and foothill country, topping out at 854 m.
Elevations run from 482 m at the lower edges to 854 m at the high point, with a median of 587 m. All of the block sits below the bushline. Slopes lean north-facing on the whole.
Listed game is red deer, wild goat and wild pig. This is close-range bush country — quiet, careful stalking pays off here more than long glassing.
Open Cowan Wildlife Refuge on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 3,491 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 482–854 m
- Median elevation
- 587 m
- Middle 50%
- 551–657 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-facing
482–854 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning north-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Helicopter access is permitted on the block, so a fly-in or fly-camp is an option for parties willing to organise an operator. Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are permitted, so commercial helicopter operators may be working the wider area.
Wildlife Hut sits inside the block and gives parties a fixed base to work from.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Pureora Forest Park and surrounds 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 Pureora Forest Park and surrounds permit area. This is an Ordinary block with Permitted hunt status, issued on a free, non-ballot basis. Carry your permit while hunting.
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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