Palmer Range/ Taylor Range
Palmer Range/ Taylor Range is a 33,047 ha public hunting block in Hakatere Conservation Park, mid-Canterbury. Elevations run from around 560 m up to 2,319 m, with a median of about 1,370 m.
This is mostly above the bushline / open tops country — 64% of the block sits above 1,200 m and 38% is in alpine ground above 1,500 m. Hunters get extensive tussock tops, scree and ridge-line country, with bush concentrated in the lower valleys. Dominant slope aspect is west, so afternoon sun and exposure to the prevailing westerlies are part of the picture.
The block carries red deer, tahr, chamois and wild pig. With this much tops country and a four-species mix, it's a serious mid-Canterbury block for hunters chasing tahr and chamois alongside reds.
Open Palmer Range/ Taylor Range on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 107,420 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 558–2,319 m
- Median elevation
- 1,365 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,072–1,653 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 64%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 38%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
558–2,319 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted, which is useful on a block this size with this much alpine ground. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopters may be active on the same country.
Four huts serve hunters, all in Hakatere Conservation Park. Comyns Hut, Manuka Hut and Double Hut have heating, mattresses, non-flush toilets and stream water (not treated — boil before use). A Frame Hut is more basic — mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water, no heating. None of the huts are bookable. With four huts spread across a 33,000 ha block, parties have options for traverses or multi-day moves between huts.
Huts & campsites
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
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 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 to hunt Palmer Range/ Taylor Range. It's an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so permits are issued through the standard Canterbury process rather than a ballot. Permits are free but must be carried in the field.
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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