Pig Trough
Pig Trough is a 1,702-hectare roar block on the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease, one of the smaller blocks in the system. Elevations run from 756 m to 1,707 m with a median of 1,095 m, putting most of the country in the bush-edge belt with the upper faces climbing toward the bushline.
Thirty-seven per cent of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 8% is alpine, so this is a mix of bush and tops with a roughly even split. The block leans north-west, with strong north-west and west aspects catching afternoon sun and the prevailing nor-wester.
The permit covers red deer, chamois and wild pig. Reds work the bush-edge and gully systems, chamois sit the upper faces, and pigs use the scrubby lower country — the block's name is a fair hint about historic pig sign.
Open Pig Trough on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 5,341 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 756–1,707 m
- Median elevation
- 1,095 m
- Middle 50%
- 924–1,312 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 37%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 8%
- Dominant aspect
- north-west-facing
756–1,707 m, a mix of bush and 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 Pig Trough, and WARO is not permitted either, so the country is walked. Access runs from the legal entry points on the Molesworth system.
No DOC huts sit within the block, so plan to fly camp or work from a base outside. The compact size suits a single well-positioned camp. Carry a fly or tent and check Molesworth access status before leaving.
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.
Pig Trough is a Roar block with Restricted hunt status under the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area. Apply specifically for the roar period through DOC's standard process; rolling permits do not cover this block. Check current dates and access rules 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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