Status and conservation role of recreational hunting on conservation land Research Completed
Title
Status and conservation role of recreational hunting on conservation land
Lead Author
Fraser, K.W.
Organisation(s)
Department of Conservation, Landcare Research
Publication Year
2000
Publisher
Department of Conservation
Contacts
Abstract
Recreational deer hunting and impacts on the deer populations on conservation land administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC) are compared with commercial hunting. Recreational hunting effort is seldom exclusively directed at deer, so information on other species is included. About 50,000 active hunters in New Zealand are the dominant harvesters of deer (and other game animals), taking c. 54,000 deer annually. Possible conservation benefits from recreational hunting, and options for enhancing these benefits are explored. Regional conservancies administer recreational hunting differently, and the costs of this are assessed. Hunting effort varies widely between conservancies: most efforts reflect the game species (and population numbers) present, and the total area available for hunting. Recreational hunting pressure is considerably greater in the North Island (1 permit/0.52 km 2) than in the South Island (1 permit/1.89 km2).
Conservancy views vary widely on the value of recreational hunting, and on the potential for conservation benefits. With good access, valued game animals available, and little competition from commercial hunters, recreational hunting was typically seen as an important control tool. In other areas, it was considered to have limited or unknown benefits. Deer can dramatically modify the structure and composition of indigenous vegetation and compete with native fauna for habitat and food. They can severely inhibit or prevent regeneration of the most preferred plant species, causing significant changes. Without recreational hunting, deer densities in some places would be considerably higher, with presumably greater impacts on conservation values. Relatively small reductions in deer density generally protect only the least vulnerable plant species. Protection of the most preferred species requires almost the total removal of deer. The cost of issuing permits and other recreational hunting-related activities is in excess of $705,000 annually. This is only a small fraction of what state-funded control would cost to remove a similar number of animals from the same areas. Closer communication between recreational hunting groups and DOC is one means of improving co-operation and maximising the effectiveness of recreational hunters as an animal control tool.
Keywords:
recreational hunting, permits, red deer, sika, fallow, sambar, whitetail, wapiti, pigs, goats, thar, conservation, New Zealand
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Topics
Sport and Recreation Types
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1416
Added
July 13, 2012
Last Modified
July 13, 2012