Thread: Level 3 - How far can you drive to hunt?

Updated advice on how far you can drive.

https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system...-3/#recreation

FAQs
How far can I drive to do a recreation activity?

You should drive as short a distance as you can, and still do the activity. You must stay local.

Your nearest recreational area could mean travelling to a neighbouring region if you live on a regional boundary, as long as this is still local and a close distance to your home. Travel to your nearest park or beach, not your favourite one.


So if you are in Auckland seems like you can drive as far you need to, to hunt, but you wouldn't be able to drive to the Ruahines, as there are closer places to hunt.

I wouldnt get too far ahead of yourself there Stug. If, and thats a big if the government allows hunting at level 3 they set out the guide lines then.
Im sure it be all clear what you can do, how far you can do it etc etc when the guideline for hunting(if allowed) comes out.
This is just my opinion but if its allowed i recken it be solo day hunts only(maybe people in your bubble too). You have to stay local, not travel outside your region.
May mean some that have to travel too far cant go. But who knows, but im sure the details will be set out and everyone will know the rules and whats required.
I recken its 70-30 they allow solo day hunts but we see.
Of course one problem will be if you have to go to your closes hunting area closes to your home there likely be a big number of hunters in one area.
Not ideal for safety reasons and having many people in one area so could go against opening up that optionat level 3 maybe

Well, that's gonna be fun to interpret. "Local and a close distance to your home." very subjective.

@deer243 The initial guidance about how far you could travel to do your activity under Level 3 was 45min drive. They have removed that.

Grant Robertson has already backtracked that the Ban on hunting under Level 3 was a mistake. The Covid site says

"What sort of activities can I do?

You can do low-risk recreation activities in your local area – for example to go for a walk or a run.

You can go for a swim at the beach, a day walk, or fishing from a wharf.

Boating, yachting and any team sports or training are not allowed. We are developing guidance for hunting.""

Developing guidance for hunting means you will be allowed to do it, but it won't be a free for all unlimited hunting.

Here are the recommendations from the GAC about hunting under level 3

https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/w...er-Level-3.pdf

The Game Animal Council has requested that consideration be given to
allow easy one-day hunts under the following conditions:
• Hunters must stay within their region.
• Experienced hunters may undertake day hunts close to home and in
areas they are familiar with. This is not the time to be learning how
to hunt or embarking on overnight hunts.
• People may only hunt with others in their bubble.
• Firearms safety must be paramount.
• Hunters must create a safety plan including location, estimated
return time and keep a log of who they come into contact with.
“We believe these conditions meet the requirements set out for other
forms of recreation currently allowed under Level 3 and allows for
compliance with COVID-19 safe practice,” says Game Animal Council
General Manager Tim Gale.

As the GAC is the one of the two hunting groups under govt control their advice will probably be what happens.

NZDA have also said they are being involved with developing the guidance for how to hunt under Level 3.

I'm lucky I've got at least 3 areas to hunting within 30min of my home.

Regions of New Zealand. Canterbury region 44508 (km sq ) that's a big region.

Thanks for that @stug will await more updates. Hopefully they say region and not some time limited on driving, as i have no decent deer hunting (on public land anyway) within about an hour of home.

Good luck to the Jaffa that tries to convince a cop outside Taupo that "I'm just popping out for a local hunt bro"...

So if the Govt say we can go hunting in Level 3 (with some restrictions on travel and maybe day trips only) I assume that DOC will at the same time open up access to the public land and let us issue hunting permits again.

Most of us only have access to hunt public land, i do some private land hunting but not within 2 hours drive of home.

Originally Posted by stug

@deer243 The initial guidance about how far you could travel to do your activity under Level 3 was 45min drive. They have removed that.

Grant Robertson has already backtracked that the Ban on hunting under Level 3 was a mistake. The Covid site says

"What sort of activities can I do?

You can do low-risk recreation activities in your local area – for example to go for a walk or a run.

You can go for a swim at the beach, a day walk, or fishing from a wharf.

Boating, yachting and any team sports or training are not allowed. We are developing guidance for hunting.""

Developing guidance for hunting means you will be allowed to do it, but it won't be a free for all unlimited hunting.

Here are the recommendations from the GAC about hunting under level 3

https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/w...er-Level-3.pdf

The Game Animal Council has requested that consideration be given to
allow easy one-day hunts under the following conditions:
• Hunters must stay within their region.
• Experienced hunters may undertake day hunts close to home and in
areas they are familiar with. This is not the time to be learning how
to hunt or embarking on overnight hunts.
• People may only hunt with others in their bubble.
• Firearms safety must be paramount.
• Hunters must create a safety plan including location, estimated
return time and keep a log of who they come into contact with.
“We believe these conditions meet the requirements set out for other
forms of recreation currently allowed under Level 3 and allows for
compliance with COVID-19 safe practice,” says Game Animal Council
General Manager Tim Gale.

As the GAC is the one of the two hunting groups under govt control their advice will probably be what happens.

NZDA have also said they are being involved with developing the guidance for how to hunt under Level 3.

I'm lucky I've got at least 3 areas to hunting within 30min of my home.

Sorry, but I think animal hunting does not require its own set of rules, it is no different than any other low risk activity. If any of those guidelines are going to be enforced, they need to do the same for all activities. Are trampers and mountain bike riders going to create a safety plan and log who they come into contact with? What a load of bollocks!!

Originally Posted by GWH

So if the Govt say we can go hunting in Level 3 (with some restrictions on travel and maybe day trips only) I assume that DOC will at the same time open up access to the public land and let us issue hunting permits again.

Most of us only have access to hunt public land, i do some private land hunting but not within 2 hours drive of home.

If your current permit has not expired then it is still valid (even though you can't hunt under level 4)

waiting and watching not holding my breath...... pureora and clements the same distance for me..... is clements waikato or BOP or something else region? kaimais is closer but i imagine that will get hammered for its proximity to tauranga and auckland....so will pass on that..... will probably be back at work anyway making up for this last month

seems that so long as you don't swim or take a boat to ya possie, then you should be sweet.
Logic also says that "safe" should mean or be defined by risk of WuFlu transmission.
Should not make any difference whether that's one day or several so long as you stay in ya bubble and keep 2m distances. In fact I think multi day would be safer 'cos you will lessen the risk of all hunters being concentrated in the front country accessible for day hunts.
But this lot would not know risk analysis if it bit them on the arse.

Originally Posted by ebf

Good luck to the Jaffa that tries to convince a cop outside Taupo that "I'm just popping out for a local hunt bro"...

So we're meeting half way then @ebf ???

Did i hear correctly? Straight from the horse's mouth, No pun intended.

"Stay in your region"

Waikato is a nice vast region spanning Tongariro, Pureora, Kaimai's. Now its just weather we can get hunting permits. I've still got a current permit for Ruapehu district, but something more local would be nicer.

Well our council I assume shut the gates that lead to our local that I can see from my lounge hunting area, wonder if they will open them next week.