Thread: DOC land - The real Hunters bragging rights?

As I get more into hunting, it becomes obvious to me, that there are two types of hunters. Those that hunt and get animals on Doc land and those that have access to farm/private land, for their successful kills.

When I started hunting around 18 months ago, I saw so many hunters showing photos of multiple deer hunted and bagged in an evening, let alone a 2-3 day trip.

One guy I know (3 guys hunted in total), had 7 deer gutted and on the back of their utes within 5 hours. I thought this looks great!

As I plod through acres and acres of Doc land without seeing so much as a single animal, I now realise that the reality is a lot different.

I’m not against people getting easy access to game on private or farmers land whatsoever. I think it’s fantastic. But is there a case to be made that someone who can hunt successfully and get their meat on Doc land are really the true hunters?

I know this is different depending on where you’re located in the country, however from talking to a lot of other hunters, it just doesn’t seem as easy as what I thought it was going to be.

Things like Helicopter Culls and 1080 drops seem to be wiping out a lot of deer, at least in the areas that I normally Hunt.

What are others thoughts and experiences on this? I’m not trying to create any derisiveness about hunting on different types of land, but it sure would be good to at least see an animal let alone shoot one on Doc land!

Ps - Am absolutely loving hunting and will continue my strolls through the barren lands ever hoping to spot at least a rabbit …

You've got it dead right.

Evening shoot usually means spot lighting.

I only hunt DoC land, only because I don’t have private land to hunt on though. I certainly wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to hunt private land. I bumped into 4 hunters in the bush this roar!!
DoC land is definitely a lot more challenging but I guess it’s a lot more rewarding when you do get an animal.

What DOC blocks are you hunting?

Originally Posted by gimp

What DOC blocks are you hunting?

Around Craigieburn, Mingha-Deception, St James (South Island central area for others info). Did go to Molesworth and saw several deer but that was very deep in and on a Ballot block.


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Originally Posted by Mrfants

Around Craigieburn, Mingha-Deception, St James (South Island central area for others info). Did go to Molesworth and saw several deer but that was very deep in and on a Ballot block.


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You're hunting the right areas. Keep at it. You'll get one. I will say that Craigieburn, Mingha-Deception can be very isolated pickings and then all of a sudden, a gully with a dozen in it. You might spend a fair bit of time in these areas without seeing much while you learn the country. I shot a nice 12 near enough to this, last March, in country that is routinely 1080'd so they are still there

Originally Posted by Mrfants

Around Craigieburn, Mingha-Deception, St James (South Island central area for others info). Did go to Molesworth and saw several deer but that was very deep in and on a Ballot block.


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I've never hunted Craigieburn but there are definitely deer in the Mingha/Deception and St James. Both are also fantastic places to visit. I would heartily disagree they are the "wrong areas".

Hunting competitions as well.

I hunt both, there is a huge difference between farm hunting and paddock hunting.
Some of the farms I hunt/have hunted are no less challenging than DOC land. The biggest plus to private land is being reasonably confident Noone else is there when you are.
I rarely venture onto public land during the roar as it's just too busy (part of the reason I hunt is the fact that I can get away from busy).
If that means I don't hunt during the roar, that's ok, sometimes I'm lucky...sometimes not.
Any wild animal taken can be a trophy no matter where it lives, private doesn't always mean easy.
Plenty of animals on DOC land (where do you think animals on private land come from ?)
Yes it's nice to have access, but you will find animals on DOC land if you put the time in to learn an area.
My 2 cents

i manly hunt public land as im to lazy to talk to farmers and there's more deer on the public now than ever . there's lots of places that have little or no animals but go a few k in another direction and there's heaps . it can take a while to learn what to look for in a spot but once you work it out you can go somewhere and a have a reasonable chance of seeing something. try new spots have a good look if nothing doing/no sign try somewhere else till you either see an animal or sign then go back a few times .

Originally Posted by IamHackmeat

i manly hunt public land as im to lazy to talk to farmers and there's more deer on the public now than ever . there's lots of places that have little or no animals but go a few k in another direction and there's heaps . it can take a while to learn what to look for in a spot but once you work it out you can go somewhere and a have a reasonable chance of seeing something. try new spots have a good look if nothing doing/no sign try somewhere else till you either see an animal or sign then go back a few times .

Good post and info TY.


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Hunting doc land is all good outside good weather and the roar. Can be a bit scary during the roar.

I put way more personal value on DOC/public land hunting than private especially the trophy aspect. I have access to both but constantly find myself drawn towards the public land. Personally preference

otherway of looking at it "is if your not suffering a little are you really having fun?" i suffer alot more on public land than on private