Hunting in Southland

Overview

Southland sits at the bottom of the South Island, looking south toward Stewart Island and east into Otago. The country is dominated by three big public hunting blocks — the Takitimu Mountains, the Eyre Mountains / Taka Rā Haka Conservation Park, and the Longwood Range — with the Hokonui Hills, the southern Catlins, and the lowland farmland and forestry filling the rest. Southland borders Fiordland on the west, and the influence of Fiordland's wet weather is felt strongly along that boundary.

Southland is one of the strongest pig hunting regions in the country and a reliable red deer destination for most of the year. The Blue Mountains fallow herd extends into northern Southland, and chamois are present at low density on the western ranges adjacent to Fiordland. For Invercargill and Gore-based hunters, the variety of country within easy reach is the main appeal: bush, tussock, alpine top, and lowland scrub all within two hours of home.

What You Can Hunt

Red deer — abundant throughout, with the strongest concentrations in the Takitimu, Eyre Mountains, and the bush valleys leading up into Fiordland.
Fallow deer — extension of the Blue Mountains herd into northern Southland; pockets in other forestry country.
Chamois — present at the western edges of the region in the Takitimu and Eyre headwaters, particularly where they border on Fiordland.
Wild pig — strong throughout Southland; the Hokonui Hills, Catlins, and Longwoods are well-known pig country.
Wild goat — present through scrub margins and broken hill country.

Where to Hunt

Takitimu Mountains — large block of tussock-and-bush country north-west of Invercargill. Red deer the headline; chamois at the western end.
Eyre Mountains / Taka Rā Haka Conservation Park — north of the Takitimu, leading into Otago. Red deer throughout and chamois at the higher altitudes.
Longwood Range — bush country between Invercargill and Riverton. Red deer and pig.
Hokonui Hills — eastern Southland, mixed bush and farmland. Pig and red deer.
Catlins (Southland portion) — beech-podocarp bush along the south coast. Red deer and strong pig hunting.
Mavora Lakes area — at the Southland / Fiordland boundary. Red deer and chamois; access via the Mavora road.
Blue Mountains (northern Southland edge) — fallow rut country shared with West Otago.

Getting In

Road — State Highways 6, 94, 96, and 1 frame the region, with sealed and gravel roads spurring into most public conservation blocks.
Foot — all park hunting is foot access from the road end. Hut networks exist in the Takitimu and Eyre Mountains; sparser in the Longwoods and Hokonuis.
Air — fixed-wing strips at a handful of stations; helicopter access into the back country of the Takitimu and Eyre is common.
Water — minor — some boat access on Lake Te Anau and the Waiau system feeds into Fiordland-side hunting.

Seasons & Weather

Southland's weather is cooler and wetter than Otago but drier than Fiordland. Winters are long, cold, and snowy on the tops; summers can be cool and changeable.

Period	What's happening	Notes
Mar–Apr	Red roar	Reliable through Takitimu, Eyre, Longwoods, and Catlins.
Mar–Apr	Fallow rut	Northern Southland, Blue Mountains edge.
May–Jul	Chamois rut	Takitimu and Eyre headwaters.
Jun–Aug	Winter	Heavy snow on the tops, deer feeding low. Excellent meat hunting.
Sep–Nov	Spring	Cool, lambing. Velvet stags emerging.
Dec–Feb	Summer	Cool by national standards. Long daylight hours; tops accessible.

Sandflies are extreme along the Fiordland boundary in summer — head net, repellent, and long sleeves are mandatory at lower altitudes.

Gear & Conditions

Country is a mix of beech bush, tussock, and lowland scrub. Medium calibres in 6.5mm–.308 are ideal across all species. Boots and gaiters matter — the bush is slippery and the tops carry tarn-and-bog country. Frosts are heavy; sub-zero overnights are routine from April through October. Multi-day trips need a buffer for weather hold-ups, particularly along the western edge near Fiordland.

Permits & Regulations

A free DOC permit covers public conservation land throughout the region. Pig dog hunting is permitted on conservation land subject to dog-control conditions; this is a significant part of Southland hunting culture. Spotlighting is not permitted on conservation land. Some forestry blocks operate paid-permit access through the relevant forestry company. Always check current 1080 operations before planning a trip — Southland forest blocks are regularly under control.

Open the Map

Open Southland in the full hunting map →

Takitimu, Eyre, Longwood, Hokonui, and Catlins blocks with hunting areas, tracks, huts, walking-access, and current pesticide operations.

Useful Links

Game animals in Southland

Hunting areas in Southland

106 DOC hunting blocks — species, huts, access and an interactive map for each.