Oxford Forest
Oxford Forest is a 13,261 ha public hunting block in Oxford Forest Conservation Area, Canterbury. Elevations run from around 318 m on the lower flats up to 1,407 m on the high ridges, with a median of about 732 m.
This is lowland and foothill country — only around 3% of the ground sits above the 1,200 m bushline, and none of it reaches true alpine ground above 1,500 m. Slopes lean south, giving cooler shaded faces on the dominant aspect for most of the day. Country is mainly bush and forest rather than open tops.
The species list is broad: red deer, fallow deer, chamois, wild goat and wild pig. With fallow, reds, goats and pigs in mixed forest country and chamois on the higher ridges, Oxford Forest is one of the more varied bush hunting blocks within reach of Christchurch.
Open Oxford Forest on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 42,754 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 318–1,407 m
- Median elevation
- 732 m
- Middle 50%
- 609–888 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 3%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
318–1,407 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning south-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Air access is permitted on Oxford Forest, though most parties hunt it on foot given how close the country sits to the road network. WARO is not permitted on the block, so commercial helicopter recovery operators won't be working it.
Three huts and bivvies serve hunters in Oxford Forest Conservation Area. Wharfedale Hut has heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. Black Hill Hut has heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and tap water (not treated — boil before use). Lower Salmon Creek Bivvy has mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. None of the three are bookable.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
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 RHA block in the Canterbury permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
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 to hunt Oxford Forest. It's a Recreational Hunting Area (RHA) block with a Permitted status, so permits are issued through the standard Canterbury permit system rather than a ballot. RHA conditions can include specific rules around dogs, party size or season — read the current permit carefully before you go. Permits are free but must be carried in the field.
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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