Kopuwai hunting

Located in Central Otago and The Remarkables hunting in the Otago region

The Kopuwai block covers the uplands and some of the flanks of the Kopuwai/Old Man and Old Woman Ranges. You can hunt red deer.

About this hunting block

The Kopuwai block covers the uplands and some of the flanks of the Old Man/Kopuwai and Old Woman Ranges. Together they form a geographical barrier between West and Central Otago.

Terrain includes rolling mountain tops with tussock grasslands, upland wetlands and herbfields.

Maps

NZTopo50 series: CC12, CC13, CD12, CD13

Huts

Huts in the Kopuwai Conservation Area.

Getting there

There are four public vehicle access points:

  • Symes Road, off State Highway 8, at Fruitlands 12 km south of Alexandra. 2WD vehicles can reach the top during summer. although the road is better suited to 4WD.
  • Old Woman Track, off the Nevis Road at Duffers Saddle, 10 km south of Bannockburn. 2WD vehicles can reach Duffers Saddle during summer, although the road is better suited to 4WD. Beyond Duffers Saddle, 4WD is required.
  • Waikaia Bush Road, off Whitecoomb Road, north Piano Flat and Waikaia. Shortly beyond Whitecoomb Creek, 4WD is required.
  • Waikaia Bush Road, off State Highway 8, 14 km north of Roxburgh. Beyond the highway, 4WD is required.

A number of 4WD and foot only access tracks lead beyond these points. Some of these cross private land on registered easements:

  • You must ask permission from the landholder to take dogs or firearms over tracks that cross private land
  • Keep to the formed tracks and leave gates as you find them.

Know before you go

Be aware of people mustering sheep in the autumn. Sheep graze around Duffers Saddle, within the Coal Creek catchment, and north of Boundary Hut.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed in this block with a hunting permit. If accessing the block over private land, you must have landholder permission to take your dog.

Weather

Weather and fog: Temperatures at this altitude can change suddenly even in mid-summer. Take warm and windproof clothing. Fog can roll in quickly – take a map and GPS to help with navigation during the fog.

Avalanches: Be avalanche aware as this area has ‘simple’ avalanche terrain.

Fires

During summer this area is likely to be under a prohibited fire season – this means no fires allowed in the open. This may also apply other times of the year.

Extinguish all fires before you leave.