Leithen Bush Scenic Reserve
Leithen Bush Scenic Reserve is a 2,333-hectare public hunting block in Otago, within the Blue Mountains complex of the Murihiku restricted hunting areas. Elevations run from about 301 m up to 1098 m with a median around 680 m, putting most of the ground in rolling country below the bushline.
The block stays below the bushline throughout, so hunting is in bush, regenerating scrub or open faces rather than alpine tops. Slopes lean east-facing, which shapes where sun, snow and feeding animals concentrate through the day.
The block carries red deer. The Blue Mountains are a low forested range south-west of Tapanui, known nationally as fallow deer country.
Open Leithen Bush Scenic Reserve on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 7,952 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 301–1,098 m
- Median elevation
- 680 m
- Middle 50%
- 532–863 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
301–1,098 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Helicopter access is permitted on the block, useful where ground travel through bush or rough country would otherwise be slow. WARO is not permitted on the block, so commercial helicopter shooting is not a factor.
There are no DOC huts or campsites recorded inside the block, so hunters need to base themselves outside the boundary or carry a fly or tent.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Murihiku Hunting Restricted Areas permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
This block sits within a DOC air-access zone — fly-in hunting and helicopter drop-offs may be permitted.
Leithen Bush Scenic Reserve is an Ordinary block but carries a Restricted hunt status, so a DOC hunting permit alone may not be enough — additional conditions or landowner access requirements can apply. Check the current permit and the relevant DOC office before planning a trip.
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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