Upper Young
Upper Young is an 8,350 ha Roar block in Mount Aspiring National Park east of the divide. Elevations climb from 382 m on the valley floor to 2,179 m on the tops, with a median of 1,135 m. Forty-four per cent of the country sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 18% in true alpine ground.
This is a mix of bush and tops, with beech and scrub in the lower drainage running up to open tussock and rock on the higher faces. The block leans south-west, so the slopes catch afternoon sun and the lower bush holds shade through the morning.
Game on the permit is red deer, tahr and chamois — the classic eastern Aspiring trio. Vertical relief of around 1,800 m gives elevation options through any given trip.
Open Upper Young on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 27,754 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 382–2,179 m
- Median elevation
- 1,135 m
- Middle 50%
- 854–1,417 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 44%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 18%
- Dominant aspect
- south-west-facing
382–2,179 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning south-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
Helicopter access is permitted on Upper Young, and Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are also permitted, so commercial operators may be working the open faces.
Young Hut sits inside the block in Mount Aspiring National Park. It has heating, mattresses, non-flush toilet and tap water (boil before use), and is bookable through DOC's hut booking system — plan ahead. Young Forks Campsite sits within the block. The hut and campsite give walk-in parties fixed bases for working the valley.
Huts & campsites
- Young HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Young HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Campsites: Young Forks Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Roar block in the Mount Aspiring National Park east of divide 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 for Mount Aspiring National Park east of divide. Upper Young is a Roar block with a Permitted hunt status, so it is managed for the late-March to April rut — check the current ballot or roar allocation with DOC before planning a 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.
Get roar & 1080 alerts for the areas you hunt
We'll email you when pesticide operations, ballot dates or access conditions change for Otago.
Sign up →