Turks
Turks is a 2,898-hectare roar block on the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease, sitting high in the inland Marlborough country. Elevations run from 963 m to 2,092 m with a median of 1,431 m, so this is genuinely high-altitude country.
Seventy-nine per cent of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 41% is alpine, putting it just into the predominantly alpine bracket. Expect broad tussock basins, scree, snow grass and exposed ridge systems. The country leans east-facing, with strong east, south-east and north-east aspects catching morning and mid-day sun.
The permit covers red deer and chamois. The high open country suits chamois work and long-glass spotting particularly well; reds hold the lower fringes and head-of-catchment beech.
Open Turks on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 9,017 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 963–2,092 m
- Median elevation
- 1,431 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,231–1,632 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 79%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 41%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
963–2,092 m, predominantly alpine, leaning east-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 Turks, but WARO is permitted, so commercial recovery helicopters may be active over the higher country during the season. Hunters work in on foot from the legal access points on the Molesworth side.
No DOC huts sit within the block, so this is fly-camp country. Plan for tussock pitches, ridge camps and stream-side flats — the high alpine country has limited shelter. Carry a fly or tent and confirm 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.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
Turks 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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