Pyke Forest/Big Bay
Pyke Forest/Big Bay is a 26,426-hectare hunting block in the Pyke Forest/Big Bay area on the South Westland boundary. Elevations run from near sea level to 1,639 m, with a median around 422 m.
The country here is mostly bush country with a tops fringe, with slopes that lean east. The Pyke and Big Bay sit at the wet, lower-altitude end of the southern divide, with mixed bush and tops country running down to the Tasman coast.
The block carries red deer, tahr and chamois. Bush-edge for deer and broken tops for the alpine game makes for a versatile permit.
Open Pyke Forest/Big Bay on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 88,254 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- -1–1,639 m
- Median elevation
- 422 m
- Middle 50%
- 132–785 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 4%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
-1–1,639 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Helicopter access is permitted on Pyke Forest/Big Bay, useful for getting into country that would otherwise be a long valley walk from the nearest road. WARO is also permitted, so expect commercial helicopter activity at times.
Big Bay Hut sits on the block with heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and tap water (boil before use). Check current conditions with DOC before you go.
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 Ordinary block in the Pyke Forest/Big Bay 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 Pyke Forest/Big Bay. It is an Ordinary, Permitted block under the Pyke Forest/Big Bay permit area, so permits can be drawn through DOC's standard online system before each trip.
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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