Mount Studholme/ Kaiwarua
Mount Studholme/Kaiwarua is a 6,222 ha public hunting block in South Canterbury, taking in the lower Hunter Hills country around Mount Studholme. Elevations climb from 211 m to 1,051 m with a median of just 641 m, so the entire block sits in lowland and foothill country.
With 0% above the 1,200 m bushline, this is foothill country through and through — broadleaf bush, scrub-filled gullies and open faces of tussock and matagouri. Slopes lean predominantly south, so faces stay cooler longer and snow can hold on the upper ground through winter.
The species list is broad for a low-elevation block: red deer, fallow deer, chamois, wild goat, wild pig and wallaby. The wallaby presence in particular makes this useful country for hunters wanting a different species mix without having to climb into alpine terrain.
Open Mount Studholme/ Kaiwarua on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 21,107 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 211–1,051 m
- Median elevation
- 641 m
- Middle 50%
- 489–765 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
211–1,051 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning south-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted, although given the modest elevation most hunters will walk in from the surrounding road network. WARO is also permitted, so commercial recovery helicopters may be working the same country on deer.
There are no DOC huts or campsites on the block. Hunters need to carry their own shelter for overnights, or work it as a series of day hunts off road-end access points. Self-sufficiency on water and food is essential.
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 Mount Studholme/Kaiwarua. The block is an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so it is part of the standard Canterbury permit system rather than a ballot block. Permits are free and must be carried while hunting.
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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