Hunting Locations & Access

Since waterfowl hunting began in New Zealand, the Waikato/Hauraki area has been known as the country's ‘Duck Factory.’ Those living in the Auckland/Waikato region have ready access to the best waterfowl hunting in the country – most of it within an hour’s drive of Auckland City.

We have a range of maps which are intended to point you in the right direction by identifying the major hunting areas on public land, how to find them and get to know where the action is. Major areas of wetland owned by the Crown and Fish & Game are readily open to public access via roads, walkways and boat ramps.

While the maps online here represent the most comprehensive guide ever published to hunting in the Waikato, there just isn’t room to list every hot spot. By exploring and asking other hunters, whitebaiters, eelers, landowners, sports shop employees and others who get out into the country you’ll latch onto other possies and build up a comprehensive knowledge of your chosen area.

Hunting on Fish & Game and Crown Land

A General Authority (which is free to all licence holders) is required to hunt on Fish & Game Land – some 1700ha being owned by the Auckland/Waikato Region purchased from hunters’ and angler’s funds.
Please select here to view more information regarding this area and obtaining a permit via the website. The Authority can also be obtained by sending a stamped, self- addressed envelope to Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game, Brymer Rd, RD 9, Hamilton.

To hunt on Crown land managed by the Department of Conservation you require a require a similar permit (also free). These can be uplifted from Sportways Guns Shed, 49 Normandy Rd, Mt Eden, Waikato Hunting & Fishing NZ, 4/431 Te Rapa Rd, Hamilton, or by contacting the Department of Conservation Hamilton, Private Bag 3072 Hamilton. You can also request one by selecting here.

Forest permits

There are a number of Rayonier Forests in the Auckland/Waikato area which provide excellent pheasant and quail hunting opportunities. The Hamilton office of Auckland Waikato Fish & Game Council issues these forest access permits ($50 per permit) on behalf of Rayonier.  One permit fee covers all four forests. This fee covers the permit, coloured maps and public liability insurance while hunting in any of these Rayonier forests. Please select to view information regarding forest permits.

Auckland/Waikato Duck Factory Hotspots:

Auckland/Waikato has produced a 48 page booklet which is the most comprehensive guide to game bird hunting in its area ever published, with clear text and maps, which is free on receipt of a large stamped, self-addressed envelope. This is now also available on the website please select here to go to this information.

Getting started in Game Bird Hunting

This is a clear and comprehensive 24 page booklet that sets out absolutely everything you need to know in order to “get started”, and is free on receipt of a stamped, self- addressed envelope.

Maimai Construction Guidelines

Hunters today are under pressure from people who do not understand the traditions of waterfowl hunting, and thus hunters have an obligation to construct and maintain their maimais in a manner that reflects well on the waterfowl hunter’s image. This simple pamphlet contains construction guidelines for permanent maimais agreed to by Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game, Land Information NZ, Department of Conservation, and Environment Waikato. It is essential reading for all new and existing hunters. As with other Auckland/Waikato information it is available free of charge on receipt of a stamped, self-addressed envelope.