Welcome to our website.

Southland Branch was the founding branch of the NZ Deeerstalkers Association which began in 1937.  We have over  500 members and meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8pm (excluding December & January. )

You can also follow us on    https://www.facebook.com/southlandnzda/   

 (Photo  Luke Payne   winner 2024  photo competition - Game Animals)

Some classic old hunting movies involving Branch members on Youtube:- 

 1. A combined old film of Branch hunts. One 1962 of Greenstone through to Mavora. The other is 1963 hunting around Bushy Creek and Mt Mavora. Participants Wally, Lex, Tom, Murray, Tony, Lynn, Merv, Des and John 

2. Hunting in the Arawata 1964 

3. Hunting in the Joe River 1965 

4. Branch Tahr hunting trip in early 1960's

STEWART ISLAND HUNTER REPORTS.

If you have been directed to this page to complete a report on your hunting trip to Stewart Island please follow this link:-  HUNTER REPORTS

LATEST NEWS FROM OUR RAT TRAPPING PROGRAM FOR 2023 season.

Updated May 2024

 Since 2006 members have been undertaking a rat control program at Mason Bay Stewart Island.  Between September - Decemeber six  parties involving 22 hunters spend  significant time checking 309 traps which are set over 14 km of lines.  Each trap is cleared and reset at least twice by each party.    During 2023 season 120 rats were destroyed and five cats were killed.  In 2019 we also killed 120 rats and that is the lowest total for a season.       For the report on the 2023 year.   

Big thank you to Hunting & Fishing Invercargill store have undertaken to provide  us generous sponsorship which will mean that this program will continue into the future.  Big thanks to Gerald and Mike. 

WAPITI  IN FIORDLAND (Photo Roy Sloan)