Pig hunting

Dogs

Uncontrolled dogs are capable of causing serious damage to New Zealand wildlife, particularly to flightless birds such as kiwi and weka. For this reason dogs can only be taken into areas of high conservation value such as national parks for activities where they are considered essential, such as enabling effective pig control. Kiwi are found throughout Te Urewera National Park. There are two major kiwi conservation projects, one at Puketukutuku Peninsula in the Lake Waikaremoana catchment and the other at Otamatuna in the northern Waimana catchment.

Pigs

Pigs are present throughout the park, and are known to eat eggs and chicks of ground-dwelling birds as well as seedlings, berries and roots of a large variety of native plants. To control pig numbers in the park, managers have found that the most effective method is allow access to responsible hunters using well trained pig dogs.

Pig Control

This system generally works well but during the 2003 pig hunting season, dogs left behind by irresponsible hunters killed a number of kiwi and this had a devastating effect on the kiwi population within the park.

The use of pig dogs in conservation areas can only be justified if the benefits (control of pigs) outweigh the cost (loss of native wildlife). Irresponsible hunters may jeopardise the Department of Conservation's ability to continue to support using pig dogs as a control method if the costs outweigh the benefits. The system is reliant on responsible hunters.

Regulations

• A permit issued by Te Urewera Area & related field offices is required to take a pig hunting dog into Te Urewera national park with the pig hunting season running from the 1st of May to the Friday before Labour weekend in October.
• The permit must be carried by the holder at all times and produced on demand to any Department of Conservation (DOC) officer.
• Dogs taken into the park must be branded or tattooed, and must be inspected by DOC staff when the first permit of the season is issued.
• A maximum of three dogs per party will be permitted.
• Dogs must be chained up when not being used for hunting and at all times must be at least 100 metres from huts or bivouacs and 25 metres from tracks provided for public use.
• Missing dogs should be reported to the nearest DOC office so the department can assist with their recovery.
• Any dog at large, with no known owner, and which will not allow itself to be caught, will be destroyed by an officer of DOC. Any dog at large, with no known owner, which can be caught, will be handed to the local authority pound. DOC is to be reimbursed for expenses incurred.
• For management purposes, some areas of the park may be closed to pig dogs for all or part of the year. Maps showing closed areas are supplied when permits are issued. Pig dogs are not permitted in the Otamatuna/Mangaone study area in northern Te Urewera, the western half of Lake Waikaremoana (including Puketukutuku Peninsula), the Ruakituri Wilderness Area or the Lake Waikareiti catchment.

Firearms safety

The use of shotguns, shotgun-rifle combos, .22 calibre and rim fire firearms is prohibited on public conservation land unless stated otherwise.

Hunters will be well aware of firearms safety and safe hunting practice. However incidents do happen even to the most experienced hunters.

Hunters must follow every part of the Arms Code, and know and comply with its seven basic rules at all times:

• Treat every firearm as loaded
• Always point firearms in a safe direction
• Load a firearm only when ready to fire
• Identify your target beyond all doubt
• Check your firing zone
• Store firearms and ammunition safely
• Avoid alcohol or drugs when handling firearms.

When hunting with a companion, cease hunting if visual contact with that companion is lost and do not resume hunting until visual contact has been made and confirmed.

A wise hunter will wear high visibility clothing that contrasts with the environment including game in that environment.

Additional Guidelines for Responsible Hunters

Kiwi Aversion Training

Hunters need to ensure their pig dogs are well trained and target pigs only. Hunters are encouraged to have their pig dogs undergo kiwi aversion training. Aversion training can be arranged through DOC and if regularly reinforced is an effective method of training pig dogs to avoid kiwis.

Radio Tracking Collars

With the financial and personal value associated with well trained pig dogs many hunters are now using radio collars and tracking devices as a way of protecting their investment. The collars allow pig dogs that are either injured or simply lost to be easily and quickly recovered. The benefit of this to the hunter is obvious. The use of collars is encouraged by DOC as this ensures lost pig dogs are recovered quickly thereby reducing the risk to all ground dwelling birds.

Reporting Lost Pig Dogs

Generally well trained and properly supervised pig dogs do not pose a significant risk to wildlife. It is only when they become lost and hungry and it becomes a matter of their own survival that dogs target wildlife such as kiwi. Dogs have the ability to easily track kiwi scent and can easily catch and quickly kill them. For this reason it is imperative that lost and/or injured dogs are recovered as quickly as possible. It is therefore critical that hunters notify the nearest DOC office of any lost pig dogs as soon as practical. This will allow the Department of Conservation to assist the hunter in recovering their lost pig dog.

The timely recovery of lost dogs is essential if the department is to continue to support the use of pig dogs as a control method.

Reporting Injured/Dead Wildlife

The Department of Conservation encourages hunters to report any injured or dead wildlife that are found. Where possible these should be taken to the nearest DOC office or vet clinic for medical assistance or proper disposal.

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