Entry measurement being recorded
Image: Becki Moss | ©

Introduction

Hunt in Pureora Forest Park with a current permit and be in to win. The hunting competition returns for 2023.

After a hiatus due to the Government’s response to COVID-19, the Pureora Forest Park hunting competition returns for 2023.

The competition has been held for more than 30 years and is open to all hunters with a valid permit for Pureora Forest Park.

Dates

  • Contest: 20 March - midday 30 April 2023
  • Weigh-in and prizegiving: 30 April from midday

Prize categories

  • Best Douglas Deer
  • Best Douglas Pig
  • Heaviest Deer
  • Average Weight Pig
  • Ugliest Deer Head
  • Youth: Heaviest Possum

The Douglas scoring system will be used as required for relevant categories.

Prizes

Top prizes include heli-hunt trip voucher with Mid West Helicopters, deer head mount from Sika Country Taxidermy, $1,000+ worth of gear from Hunting & Fishing Taupō, Forgotten Highway Adventures’ Tokirima Taster Experience for 4 guests and a pair of Meindl Hunting Boots from Stäger Sport. There will also be heaps of spot prizes drawn on the day!

DOC is grateful to our sponsors and the support of New Zealand Deerstalkers Association and the Te Kuiti Pig Hunting Club.

2023 sponsors

  • Good Nature
  • Swanndri
  • Mid West Helicopters
  • Stäger Sport
  • Back Country Cuisine
  • Earth Sea Sky
  • Trek N Travel
  • Forgotten World Adventures
  • Kilwell
  • Sika Country Taxidermy
  • NZ Hunting Magazine
  • Timer Trail Lodge
  • Blackfern Lodge
  • Hunting and Fishing Taupō
  • Te Awamutu Lock and Gun Shop
  • AC Petfoods
  • Sophia MCK Photography
  • Universal Beef UBP Limited
  • Crusader Meats
  • Pratt Motorcycles
  • Bruce Dunn Motors
  • J.R.K Contracting

Weigh-in and prizegiving

Weigh-in and prizegiving will be held from 12 pm to 3 pm at Department of Conservation Pureora Field Base workshop on Barryville Road, Pureora Forest Park.

All animals to be weighed must be in one piece and remain on-site until after prize giving. All entrants must be on site during prizegiving to receive prizes.

Food will be available to purchase

Kai will be available to purchase on prizegiving day from local food trucks.

Kiwi aversion training

Kiwi aversion training for dogs will be available on the day at the weigh-in and prizegiving. 

Entries and recording points

Entries close at midday on Sunday 30 April 2023.

Each deer/pig jaw is an entry for the jaw draw - the more jaws supplied, the more chances to win.

Competitors should ensure they pre-register their deer/pig head or jaw at an official recording point.

Please call during business hours and arrange an appointment to have your head/jaw sighted. All heads/jaws must be presented for registration in a reasonable condition.

Recording point

Address

Phone

Department of Conservation

Pureora Forest Park, Village Road

+64 7 878 1080

Department of Conservation

78 Taupiri Street, Te Kuiti

+64 7 878 1050

Department of Conservation

99 Sala Street, Whakarewarewa Rotorua

+64 7 349 7400

Otorohonda

6 Te Kanawa Street Otorohonga

+64 7 871 8204

Seriously Outdoors

89 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui

+64  7 896 6497

Tihoi Trading Post

2822 Tihoi Road, Western Bays

+64 7 372 8366

Hunting and Fishing Taupō

Gascoinge Street, Taupō

+64 7 378 4449

Dave Gibson/ Te Awamutu Locksmith and Gun Shop

335 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu

+64 7 871 5530

Competition rules

  1. The competition is open to all hunters holding a current permit to hunt within Pureora Forest Park between 20 March - 30 April 2023.
  2. All heads and jaws must be from wild animals taken from Pureora Forest between 20 March - 30 April 2023.
  3. All animal heads with scalp and ears must be presented for registration at one of the registered Recording Point locations within 72 hours of being taken. The heads will be tagged, permits sighted and relevant details relating to hunter and head/jaw recorded. Boar jaws to be scored must be no less than 2-inch tusk length.
  4. To compete for prizes, heads and/or jaws must be presented for measurement in a reasonable state before 12 pm on the day of the prize giving, Sunday 30 April, at the DOC Pureora workshop. Judges have the right to refuse to measure any heads/jaws that are not in a presentable state. Pre-registered heads/jaws may be re-presented without skin.
  5. Measurement based on the Douglas Scoring System will be carried out by approved N.Z.D.A. measurers on prize giving day. Judge’s decision is final.
  6. All registered heads and/or jaws presented on the day will be eligible for the competition subject to rule 7 however, only one head per person will be eligible for top 10 consideration.
  7. DOC employees are not eligible to win prizes.
  8. The organisers reserve the right to refuse any head and/or jaw, should they doubt its eligibility. Honesty that the head and/or jaw is only from the Pureora forest is appreciated.

Contact

For further information email Kina Tweeddale: kcampbell@doc.govt.nz.

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