Permits and licences
Find out about the permits and licences you'll need to go hunting. If you're hunting in an 'open hunting area', you can apply for a permit online.

To hunt on any land in New Zealand requires the permission of the landowner. On public conservation land, this permission is obtained by getting a hunting permit from DOC.

Find out what permit you need to hunt on public conservation land.

To use a helicopter to carry out aerially assisted trophy hunting, either commercially or for personal gain, you must have a concession from DOC.

You need a WARO concession for deer, pig, goat and chamois carcass recovery and the live capture of deer, pig and goat.

Know the conditions you must adhere to when hunting on public conservation land.

If you are hunting with a firearm you need a valid firearms licence to get a hunting permit. Find out how to get a NZ firearms licence.

Find out when you need a separate dog permit to hunt with dogs.

You need a game bird licence from Fish & Game New Zealand and a game hunting permit from DOC to hunt game birds on public conservation land.

You need a small game hunting permit from DOC for the recreational hunting of small game on public conservation land. Small game includes Canada geese, feral geese, hares and rabbits.

Read the criteria for hunting with bows and crossbows on public conservation lands.

You may need CITES documentation to enter or leave New Zealand with your hunting trophy.

In order to use the Teetotal sighting-in range you must have a permit that makes you a Range Officer, or be under the supervision of a Range Officer.