Find places to hunt

• Check wild goat distribution and official entry locations (available by 1 August 2026)
• Use the hunting block search function

Read more about hunting wild goats on our website and NZDA’s website

Important safety reminders

Wild goats are often seen in places where hunting is not permitted, including:

• near roads and rail corridors
• river margins
• areas with livestock.

In steep terrain or flooded waterways, do not take risks to retrieve goats or goat tails. If retrieval is unsafe, take a GPS located and timestamped photo instead.

Always identify your target beyond doubt and ensure a safe backstop.

Prizes

Hunter prizes will be announced from 1 August 2026.

Landowner prizes include:

• Bushnell rangefinder
• NZ Auto Trap
• Hunting & Fishing NZ voucher

Total prize pool worth over $3,200.

Landowners can also enter all hunter competition categories.

2026 sponsors

Prizes supported by competition sponsors who enable practical action for nature:

• Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd – Founding sponsor
• Nocpix – Major sponsor (thermal imaging)
• Bushnell – Binocular sponsor
• Hunters Element – Clothing sponsor
• Svörd – Knives sponsor
• Superior Pet Food Ltd – Dog food sponsor
• Missing in Aotearoa – Camping gear sponsor
• NZ Auto Trap – Trap sponsor

1. The competition is open to all hunters.
2. All goat tails and goat heads entered must be wild and taken legally, recreationally, and humanely between 1 August and 26 November 2026. If using firearms, hunters must have a current firearms licence or be supervised by a current and appropriate firearms licence holder. Hunters have responsibilities under Sections 30A and 30B of the Animal Welfare Act 1999. Wilful or reckless ill-treatment of wild animals or animals in a wild state is an offence. 
3. The organisers reserve the right to refuse any wild goat tail or head, should they doubt its eligibility. Honesty that the wild goat tail or head are taken in accordance with the law, animal ethics, and all the competition rules is appreciated.
4. Hunting may take place where you have permission, including:
   • private land (with landowner consent)
   • forestry or farm land
   • public conservation land or council land (with a permit)
5. All land access conditions must be followed, whether under permit or through landowner consent.
6. Wild goat heads can only be taken to an approved New Zealand Deerstalker Association entry point.
7. All wild goat tails and heads must be presented fresh or frozen in a clean manner. Tails need to be secured in a bag and if frozen, tails need to be loose (not frozen together), so they can be easily counted.
8. All wild goat tails will be counted by an approved verifier.
9. All wild goat tails and goat heads entered at an official recording point will be eligible for the national prize draw. Each tail or head can only be entered once.
10. In the event that a wild goat is killed, but cannot be retrieved by a competitor, the competitor may take a time and date stamped photo with the dead wild goat in view to an official recording point for review. It is at the Judge's discretion whether to accept the photo as proof of a tail entry.
11. All wild goat head measurements will be based on the Douglas Scoring System and will be carried out by an approved New Zealand Deerstalker Association judge. Judge's decision is final.
12. Any goat tail and/or head taken in a paid or commercial capacity is not eligible as an entry into the national or any local competition.
13. No responsibility can be accepted for any entries lost, delayed or corrupted as a result of computer error.
14. By entering into the competition, you agree to the collection and use of any personal information and data supplied for the purposes of contacting and publicly announcing prizewinners, and to measure the success of the competition.
15. All hunters must comply with the 7 rules of firearms safety

Hunters must follow

• Competition rules
• The 7 rules of firearms safety
• Firearms Safety Code
• NZDA Code of Ethics
• DOC hunter safety information and Outdoor Access Code
• Animal Welfare Act 1999 

Check before you hunt

Make sure you:

• have the correct permits or landowner permission
• know where hunting is allowed
• understand access conditions
• respect farming activities and dog restrictions.

Wild goat recipes

Wild goat is a versatile and underrated meat that can be a tasty addition to your family's table.

We've teamed up with Cazador restaurant to share recipes that showcase its flavour.

Explore wild goat recipes