Wild Pig Hunting in New Zealand

For more information e-mail Steuart of NZ Hunting Info Ltd

Wild pig hunting in New Zealand is a significant sport with over 20 000 pig hunters involved. There are many pig hunting clubs scattered around the country supporting regular pig hunting competitions and two dedicated pig hunting magazines are published. Pig hunting in New Zealand had its origins when European sailors released pigs. Captain Cook’s liberations of pigs (Susa scrofa) in the 1770s, while not the earliest, were probably the first successful releases. Wild black pigs, supposedly similar to the original type have become known as Captain Cookers. Today wild pigs come in a variety of colours as a result of interbreeding with domestic breeds over the last couple of hundred years.

Typical jet black "Captain Cooker".

Populations of wild pigs are found throughout much of New Zealand and local liberations by enthusiastic pig hunters are still taking place further increasing their range. Wild pigs don’t tend to invade the main forest tracts but instead flourish in areas where farm land has reverted to scrubland or where re-growth follows the clearance of forest. Typically pigs find refuge in land covered in gorse, broom, bracken and manuka scrub. Farmers consider wild pigs a pest if they interfere with lambing or significantly damage pasture with their rootings.

Pig hunting in New Zealand has evolved into an important cultural activity especially in more isolated rural areas of the North Island. One of the features of traditional pig hunting is the “sticking” of the bailed pig with a knife. This requires some degree of risk on the part of the pig hunter. Pig hunters nurture local pig populations and do not necessary kill every pig they capture. Sometimes the pigs’ ears are cut off to make the more difficult to hold. In recent years New Zealand pig hunting has become more sophisticated with the widespread uptake of dog tracking collars. While expensive, use of these collars has for some become an integral part of pig hunting.

Pig bed with a view

Pig hunting on public land is not a realistic objective for the overseas visitor unless they are lucky enough to have access to good local knowledge. If fresh rooting is encountered when hunting other game it is worth coming back to the fresh sign at first or last light. It is therefore important to identify the rootings as fresh because if the sign is old the pigs may be miles away. A wide range of guns are used by New Zealand pig hunters. In addition to the usual deer hunting rifles, a host of lower velocity heavy slugs are popular. This is the type of hunting where lever action rifles and shotguns are effective.
Several guided hunting operations offer pig hunting.

Pig Hunting Clubs

Bay of Plenty Pig Hunting Club                               P.O. Box 4016, Western Heights, Rotorua.

Coromandel Pig Hunting Club

East Coast Pig Hunting Club

Eastern Pig Hunting Club Inc.

Hawkes Bay Pig Hunting Club                                 PO Box 2377, Stortford Lodge, Hastings 4153

Kai Iwi Pig Hunters Club                                         R.D. 4, 63 Ngarino Rd, Kai Iwi, Wanganui.

Keri Keri Pig Hunting Club

Malborough Pig Hunting Club                                    P.O. Box 310, Blenheim.

Otaua Pig Hunting Club

Rotorua Pig Hunting Club

South Waikato Pig Hunting Club Inc

Te Kuiti Pig Hunting Club                                         P.O. Box 235, Te Kuiti.

Tokoroa Pig Hunting Club                                        P.O. Box 389, Tokoroa.

Wairarapa Pig Hunting Club                                      P.O. Box 268, Masterton.

Whangamomona Pig Hunting Club                             R.D. 26, Stratford, Taranaki.

Whitianga Pig Hunting Club                                      P.O. Box 4, Whitianga.

Pig Hunting Competitions 2010
Date	Hunt Club/Location	Contact	Telephone
Pig Hunting Competitions 2010 For more information visit Bill Westwood at Mainland Boar Hunting
Queens Bthday	Hawkes Bay	Hadyn Crispin	06 855 4772
18-20th June	Culverden	Culverden Hotel	(03) 315 8028
27-29th May	Aria	Mike Barnett	(07) 8777534
2nd-4th July	Kawatiri	Owen River Tavern	03 5239 273.
23-25th July	Opononi	Opononi Hotel	(09) 405 8858
	Waimate	Warren White	(03) 689 1197
	Marlborough	Colin Geertson	(03) 572 9423
	Dunback pig hunting comp	Tracey Jinkinson	(03) 465 1286
	Oamaru	Reece Singleton	(03) 431 3719
	Mid Canterbury hunting comp	Glenn Ralston	027 685 7743
	Parnassus/Cheviot Pig Hunt	Nikki Newton	(03) 319 8133
	Aria pig hunting comp	Mike Barnett	(07) 877 7534
	Riversdale	Terry Pohatu	(03) 202 5419
	Maheno pig hunt	Steve Hansen	(03) 431 7878
	Cheviot Shooters Pig Hunt	Krystal Donaldson	(03) 319 8155

For more information e-mail Steuart of NZ Hunting Info Ltd

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