Sika Management Hunts
The Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Kaimanawa Forest Park Conservation Management Plan provides for just six designated helicopter landing sites, often associated with huts. This can restrict recreational hunting effort in more isolated parts of the Park.
In recognition of this restriction, the Plan also provides for helicopter landings at additional sites for ‘management purposes’, including recreational hunter access where this is deemed desirable and where hunting can be coordinated.
Recreational hunting interests, including the NZDA and the Sika Foundation, have been working with DOC to identify strategic helicopter landing sites within Kaimanawa Forest Park, to allow for additional recreational hunter effort in more isolated catchments, on the basis that these are used for “Management Hunts”.
Why it’s important
One of the Sika Foundation’s main objectives is to actively manage the Central North Island Sika herd, in order to provide enhanced benefits to hunters and a higher level of protection for the forests and grasslands in which they live.
The main reasons we organise the Sika Foundation Management Hunts is data collection. It’s a science-based approach to Sika Management that allows us to identify areas of concern. Because at the core of adaptive deer management, the balance between environment and animal is essential.
Our Management Hunts are hind focused. That’s because the hinds tell us what is going on in the forest. They don’t “travel” as far as the stags do, and have small, traditional home ranges. Their skeletal size, reproductive status and condition gives us a direct indication of the health of the environment they are/have been living in.
Do we see small, old hinds in low condition that are struggling to breed, or do we see big fat hinds that are breeding every year, with a lower average age? Or is it somewhere in between? Gathering details on the condition of the animals we encounter gives us vital information about the health of their habitat.
More about Herd Health indicators here.
Please note – Full payment will be required at the time of booking if successful, of which $150 is non-refundable in case of cancellation. Dates for the next hunts will be released in a newsletter to members once they are available, before we advertise them on Facebook.
You are welcome to bring dogs on the Management Hunts, but only if they have been through Avian awareness and avoidance training.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for information and cancellations.
Contact us via email for bookings and more details: info@sikafoundation.co.nz
Updated Hunt Block Map & Helipad Sites
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