Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust

HUNTER REPORTS     :       WE NEED YOUR HELP

Click here to submit your   Hunter Report after your trip.

There is nothing more valuable than accurate information.

Submitting a hunter report at the conclusion of your hunt provides  some of that information. 

Your information shows what hunter effort is made on Stewart Island.  It becomes very helpful when it comes to advocating for hunting on the Island.  Reports from specific blocks are not made public. 

Hunter reports have been the only way of identying the input of hunters to controlling deer on Stewart Island.

Your report  also provides the Trust with your observations at our hut sites and can quickly alert us to issues that need attention.  Remember, the Trust cannot visit a hut more than once a year and we rely on hunters to keep us informed.

The hunters myth:  You just want to know where the deer are!   First off, we know where they are to hunt them, but to protect this resource for future generations we need your data to advocate in future management plans.

The number of reports fluctuates but there have been some consistent  facts over the years.

•  An average of eight deer seen by each party
•  An average of 2 deer shot by each party
• The average hunter  takes 10 days to shoot one whitetail deer.
• In that 10  days he only see four whitetail deer.
• One deer seen for every 2.5 days hunting.

HUNTER REPORTS FROM STEWART ISLAND – RAKIURA.  Maori Land Blocks are not included

Since 2010 Hunter Reports have been collected and collated by Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust.

The 1900's

Nine whitetailed deer were liberated at Cooks Cove in Port Pegasus in March 1905.   The first hunting licences were issued in 1921 and the first recorded trophy was a ten pointer shot at Pegasus in 1922.  Little is known about hunting in the early days and it was not until the 1960's that hunting parties began visiting in increasing numbers. The Department of Conservation issues hunting permits which by 2022 had reached 620 parties for the year.  Many parties have ten members. The number of permits issued by Rakiura Maori Land Trust for hunting on their fifteen blocks is unknown. Parties began building shelters many of which grew into large structures which with time became unsanitary and eyesores.

Even shelters constructed on scenic reserves were soon extended with the addition of polythene and tarpaulins. 

These pictures show just some of the structures that existed before the Hunter Camp Trust was established

Abrahams Bay

Northern Coast

Southwest Arm

North Pegasus

South Pegasus

Cavalier

Upper Lords River,

HUNTING BLOCK 

DOC  STEWART ISLAND   Hunting brochure      Block Availability

RAKIURA MAORI LAND TRUST HUNTING SITE      

Charters:-  From Bluff or Oban

 AURORA CHARTERS          MANA CHARTERS      STEWART ISLAND HUNTING ADVENTURES

Fron Bluff

FOVEAUX CHARTERS.    SOUTHERN CHARTERS

Fixed wing Flights: Halfmoon Bay,  West Ruggedy, Little Hellfire, Homestead, Martins, Cavalier, Doughboy. 

 STEWART ISLAND FLIGHTS   

Stewart Island Flights  no longer fly to Smoky Beach.

Water taxi :-

RAKIURA  CHARTERS & WATER TAXI            AIHE ECO WATER TAXI       RAKIURA ADVENTURES

Helicopter:-

 FIORDLAND HELICOPTERS      SOUTHERN LAKES HELICOPTERS         TE ANAU HELICOPTER SERVICES 

Ferry Service

REAL JOURNEYS STEWART ISLAND FERRY   

TIDES

Tides at Yankee River, Ernest Islands (Mason Bay), Pearl Island, Big Kuri, Port Adventure, Halfmoon Bay.

TIDES4FISHING SOUTHLAND       (includes daylight hours but limited to three months ahead)

 NIWA TIDE TABLE  for over a year ahead.  Type in Bluff , hit "search" download PDF for the year you require.  Adjust Bluff time. For Mason Bay -2 hours. Yankee River - 50 mins, Golden Bay same as Bluff, POrt Adventure -11 mins, Big Kuri - 24mins, Pearl Island (Pegasus) - 50 mins.

 Fishing Rules. 

 Mataitai - Paterson Inlet 

Ulva Island Marine Reserve

Southland - Stewart Island

 GENERAL STEWART ISLAND INFORMATION

Most Invercargill Supermarkets will prepare supplies in advance.  Stewart Island Four Square will do the same for pickup from Halfmoon Bay.   

Most transport operators have camping gear for hire and Pete Ross Automotive at 14 Ayr Street,  Halfmoon Bay 03 2191 266 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
(beside the Community Centre) has the following supplies:
Petrol, Diesel,LPG Gas Bottle hire & refills, coal,wood, kindling,Fuelite (White Spirits)
Fuel Containers,2-stroke Oils (General, Marine and Motorcycle)CRC and WD40, Car and Boat batteries
They hire: Gas rings, Tents. They are quite happy to meet hunters off the ferry and deliver down anything you may require, or liaise in with the charter operators.

 NOTE: Trust records operator details here for convenience, not as a recommendation. Do your own homework.

Feel free to contact us to be included in this list of services.    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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