New Zealand
DIY Hunting Information

This page is dedicated to putting all the information you need to plan a Do-It-Yourself hunting trip in New Zealand in one place.

The Basics

Step 1

When to Hunt

The first thing you need to decide is When. For hunters wishing to hunt with a rifle this needs to be established a minimum of four month before your plane ticket date, so you have adequate time to apply for a gun permit. Search for New Zealand visitor gun permit in your web browser to apply. The permit costs NZ$ 25. Bowhunters do not need any permits to travel with a bow. Other considerations for when to come to New Zealand are rut times for the targeted species. (see rut time frames below) Note: all big game species may be hunted any time of year in New Zealand but rut times can offer unique encounters.

Step 2

Arrival Preparations

Once you have made it to New Zealand you will need a ride. There are many options for car rentals at the airport. A rental vehicle can serve as luggage storage while you are in the field hunting or Hunt NZ DIY can arrange a ride and luggage storage. Some rental vehicle companies have policies against driving off road so keep this in mind. Also keep in mind that New Zealand drives on the left side of road. There are also many options for lodging accommodations in the Christchurch area. Some the most budget friendly options in New Zealand are hostels.

Step 3

Licensing

To hunt big game in New Zealand on Department of Conservation lands or DOC lands, for short, you will need an open area hunting permit. Link for the permit is found at bottom of page. The permit cost NZ$300 for foreign hunters and you will need to have a copy of the permit and a photo ID on you while hunting on DOC lands. On drop off hunts we arrange the permit at no extra cost.

Final Step

If you are fortunate enough to harvest an animal in New Zealand and you wish to bring parts of it back to the United States, the best option is to have an exporter prepare and export your trophy.

We prefer the guys at Southern Alps Taxidermy. Their link is at the bottom of the page. The meat can be taken to a local butcher shop where it will be processed and frozen then you can take it on the airline as checked luggage.