Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease
Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease covers 8,212 ha of public hunting country in the Canterbury high country, on lease land managed alongside the Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia/Clarence reserve system. Elevations run from 328 m to 1,463 m with a median of just 697 m, so this is largely lowland and foothill country rather than alpine.
With only 3% of the block above the 1,200 m bushline and 0% above the 1,500 m alpine line, it sits firmly in the lowland and foothill bracket — open tussock flats, scrub gullies and the bluffy lower slopes that characterise the Molesworth and upper Clarence country. Slopes lean predominantly north-west, so the main faces catch afternoon sun and the prevailing nor-wester.
The species mix is solid for this kind of country: red deer, chamois, wild goat and wild pig. Reds work the gully systems and matagouri country, chamois cling to the rockier upper faces, and pigs and goats are spread through the scrub and rough country.
Open Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 25,719 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 328–1,463 m
- Median elevation
- 697 m
- Middle 50%
- 539–866 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 3%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-west-facing
328–1,463 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning north-west-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a roar — 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 hunters work in on foot from the legal access points around the lease. WARO is permitted, so commercial recovery helicopters may be active over the same country — worth being aware of when planning routes and glassing positions.
Forbes Hut (previously Seymour Hut) sits inside the Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia Clarence area and serves the block. It has heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and tap water (not treated — boil before use). It is not bookable, so it runs first-come first-served and hunters should carry a fly or tent as backup.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Roar block in the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease is a Roar block with a Restricted hunting status. A DOC permit is required and access is managed through the roar block process — meaning hunters need to apply specifically for this area during the roar period rather than relying on a standard rolling permit. Check the current season's rules and timing carefully before applying.
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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