Tautuku Forest
Tautuku Forest is a 12,909 ha Balloted Roar block in the Catlins permit area, on the southern Otago coast. Elevations run from 21 m near the coast to 511 m on the inland ridges, with a median of 264 m — lowland coastal forest country with no bushline.
This is classic Catlins coastal podocarp-broadleaf bush — mature rimu, kahikatea and rata across rolling country, with dense understorey and well-watered gullies. The block leans north-east, so morning sun reaches the ridge tops first and the lower bush stays cool and quiet longer. Stalks are close-range and patience-driven.
Game on the permit is red deer, fallow deer, wild goat and wild pig. The Catlins reds are renowned for solid heads in mature forest, and Tautuku is one of the larger blocks in the network — but it is balloted for the rut, so plan ahead.
Open Tautuku Forest on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 46,633 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 21–511 m
- Median elevation
- 264 m
- Middle 50%
- 200–322 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-east-facing
21–511 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning north-east-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a balloted roar block — the red deer roar peaks from late March into April, and competition for the block is highest then.
Access & getting there
Helicopter access is permitted on Tautuku Forest, and Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are also permitted, so commercial operators may be working the block at times.
Tautuku Hut sits inside the block in the Catlins coastal area. It has mattresses, non-flush toilet and stream water, and is not bookable — first in for any party using it. The hut gives walk-in hunters a fixed base.
Huts & campsites
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, 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 Balloted Roar block block in the Catlins 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, and Tautuku Forest is a Balloted Roar block in the Catlins permit area. The block is balloted for the roar — apply through DOC's standard roar ballot before the annual cutoff.
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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