The Department of Conservation’s annual Pureora Hunting Competition opens on March 16 and will run through until the prizegiving at the DOC Pureora Field Base on April 28.

The competition started back in 1988 and DOC Senior Ranger Community Ray Scrimgeour says the long-running event is popular among the central and upper and central North Island hunting communities, with a strong focus on participation and camaraderie.

“Although the weight or size of the animals is a key feature of the competition, we always like to ensure every hunter has a chance to win, so there are plenty of spot prizes, average weight divisions, and prize draw categories too,” says Ray.

Focusing on pigs and deer taken from the Pureora Forest, the competition is free to enter for any hunter with a current DOC permit to hunt in the area. 

Free kiwi aversion training for dogs will also be offered at the prizegiving, and DOC urges hunters to take up this valuable opportunity to help protect kiwi in the wild and contribute to the preservation and protection of Pureora Forest. 

Anybody interested in training should email jutaylor@doc.govt.nz to register a place.

Hunters putting their dogs through kiwi aversion training can also win a family pass to the Otorohanga Kiwi House.

“NZ Deerstalkers Association and the NZ Pig Hunting Association are crucial to management and delivery of the event,” says Ray.

“They are key hunting community stakeholders and provide us with excellent advice and support, as well as carrying out the official Douglas measuring at the prizegiving.”

There are four competition categories – deer, pigs, a new junior category (focusing on rats, mustelids and goat tails), and the ‘roaring’ competition.

Entries can be sighted at one of 13 recording centres throughout the competition and all entries registered at the prizegiving are eligible to win category and spot prizes.

Competition prizes have been donated by a range of organisations in the hunting sector and by local businesses. Many of these sponsors have consistently supported the competition over many years.

For more information on the Pureora Hunting Competition, including competition categories and rules, visit www.doc.govt.nz/pureora-hunting-competition