Wild goats are widespread across New Zealand and cause serious harm to farmland and native ecosystems. By reducing their numbers, you're helping protect our environment and support healthy landscapes.
Key highlights:
- 10,349 wild goats removed in 2025, making that a total of 33,418 removed since 2023.
- 863 participants, with 75% more likely to hunt wild goats because of the competition.
- 153 prize winners, thanks to our generous sponsor donations.
- Top regions for tails: Waikato, Marlborough, Taranaki.
- 23 landowners partnered with NZDA members.
National categories and winners
| Category | Winner | Entry criteria | Prize pack - approximate value $3,000-$5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Goat your goat |
Pack 1: Wayne Nelson Pack 2: Lauren Wells |
Enter just one wild goat tail and go in the draw to win.
Every individual has the chance to win one of two epic spot prize packs. |
Prizes include: Pack 1:
Pack 2:
|
|
Great Goat Round Up |
Pack 1: Nico Theyer-Durham Pack 2: Lucian De Vos Pack 3: Jade Knuth Pack 4: Hamish Allan |
Enter one or more wild goat tails to go in the draw.
The more wild goat tails entered the more chances to win.
Win one of five epic spot prize packs. |
Prizes include: Pack 1:
Pack 2:
Pack 3:
Pack 4:
|
|
NZDA’s G.O.A.T (Greatest of all Time) |
Sam Leith – Douglass score 102.5 |
Wild goat head with the largest Douglas Score. Heads can only be entered at a NZDA branch. |
Lumi H35R LRF Monocular from Nocpix |
|
Junior Goat Round Up |
Pack 1: Oscar Hunter Pack 2: Max Simpson Pack 3: Carter McKenzie Pack 4: Maddison McKenzie Pack 5: Brook Bain |
Enter one or more wild goat tails to go in the draw.
For hunters 18 years or under – the more wild goat tails entered, the more chances to win.
Win one of five epic spot prize packs. |
Prizes include: Pack 1:
Pack 2:
Pack 3:
Pack 4:
Pack 5:
|
|
Junior G.O.A.T. |
Morgan Perkins – Douglass Score of 112 0/8 |
For hunters 18 years or under – wild goat head with largest Douglas Score. |
Prizes include:
|
|
The Goat- Free Zone |
Liz Roughley |
People who register their interest for land to be hunted go in the draw to win. |
Prizes include:
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Nocpix’s National Monthly Spot Prizes |
August: Jack Randall |
Enter just one wild goat tail and be in to win. |
Merchandise from Nocpix |
Hunting & Fishing NZ's local legends categories and winners
These winners will be contacted directly by their local NZDA branch.
| Category | Entry criteria | Prize pack - approximate value $100-150 |
|---|---|---|
|
Goat your goat |
Enter just one wild goat tail and go in the draw to win a prize pack from Hunting & Fishing NZ. |
Medium rifle bag, first aid kit, and carabiner mug |
|
Great Goat Round Up |
Enter one or more wild goat tails to go in the draw.
The more wild goat tails entered the more chances to win. |
$100 gift voucher |
|
NZDA’s G.O.A.T (Greatest of all Time) |
Wild goat head with the largest Douglas Score. |
Gerber Randy Newburg DTS, and a Lanksy Quick Fix |
|
Junior Goat Round Up |
Enter one or more wild goat tails to go in the draw.
18 years or under more wild goat tails entered, the more chances to win. |
Traverse Headlamp |
|
Junior G.O.A.T. |
18 years or under wild goat head with largest Douglas Score. |
65L Barrel Bag |
|
Spot prizes |
Take your wild goat head or tail to an NZDA open branch and be in to win. |
Beanies and Real Meals |
Congratulations to Liz Roughy, who won $3,200 worth of prizes from Bushnell and Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd.
Founding sponsor
Major sponsor
Supporting sponsors
Always follow:
- the 7 rules of firearms safety
- the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Code of Ethics
- DOC's hunter safety information
- follow the Outdoor Access Code
Hunters must follow the Firearms Safety Code
More information on firearms safety can be found at the NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) website
All wild goats must be taken legally and humanely.
It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to wilfully or recklessly ill-treat a wild animal or an animal in a wild state.
Talk to your local NZDA branch or local DOC office about hunting in your local area.
See the map for wild goat distribution and where the goat entry points are located across New Zealand.
Wild goat distribution map (PDF, 5,993K)
You can use the hunting block search function to find hunting areas that have wild goats on public conservation land.
Search for a hunting block that has wild goats
For more information on hunting wild goats and for some hunting tips, see wild goats or visit NZDA’s website.
Be aware of the boundaries of hunting areas – livestock may be present. Note that wild goats are often seen in places where you are not allowed to hunt like on road edges, train tracks, river, and road reserves.
Be visible, take appropriate equipment, check the weather, and let someone know where you are going. Identify your target beyond doubt, and make sure your shooting background is safe (not towards skylines).
Be careful in steep terrain or flooded waterways, if in doubt do not retrieve the goat and take a picture instead. Don’t take any risks with steep terrain or flooded waterways to retrieve goat tails.
Make sure you have permission to enter, and you have a clear understanding when and where you will be hunting with the landowner or land manager.
Follow Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa's guidelines when asking for permission to hunt on private land
Ask if it is necessary to notify neighbouring properties so they are not concerned if they hear rifle shots or see hunters.
There is usually a reason why access is denied. Be aware of seasonal farming activities like lambing, be fire safe, take home any rubbish, consider others in the backcountry, and respect the wishes of landowners and facilities provided.
Any restrictions around hunting dogs should be followed.
Hunters using dogs should be aware of information about hunting with dogs
Bring a first aid kit for your dog as well as yourself.
Wild goat is a delicious and underrated meat and would be a tasty addition to your family’s table. We’ve teamed up with Cazador restaurant to share some wild goat recipe ideas that highlight the flavour and versatility of wild goat meat.
More meat than you can use
The Wild Game Recovery Trust helps hunting groups with the support, resources, and connections they need to get quality game meat into food banks. If you're interested in getting game to food banks, call Ben Moore on 0275472966.
The competition is brought to you by the Department of Conservation and the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association.
Supported by Federated Farmers of NZ, Hunting & Fishing, and Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Safety Authority.
Contact
For more information email: wildanimalmanagement@doc.govt.nz.