Thread: DoC Hunting Permit Survey

Done, and they got this at the end.
DOC land is PUBLIC LAND, hunters are there for meat for the family, while I'm in my area I also eliminate opossums of which there are plenty. I object to paying for a permit to access public land when I'm basically performing pest destruction!.

I completed the form. I think there is only one question that mattered and that was would you pay.

I actually read the paying thing as just an admin fee for the application, rather than an access fee... which is arguably not too different. Nothing is ever free, so contributing a small amount (I was anticipating single-digit amounts) to use a very convenient online permit system from the comfort of my couch once or twice a year seems reasonable.

I was same as you Twodiffs, I also clarified that if I had misunderstood, and it was an access fee, then perhaps hunters should be charging DOC per animal for pest control. They should be encouraging recreational hunters to get out there, not the opposite.

Originally Posted by yeah_na_missed

I actually read the paying thing as just an admin fee for the application, rather than an access fee... which is arguably not too different. Nothing is ever free, so contributing a small amount (I was anticipating single-digit amounts) to use a very convenient online permit system from the comfort of my couch once or twice a year seems reasonable.

I was same as you Twodiffs, I also clarified that if I had misunderstood, and it was an access fee, then perhaps hunters should be charging DOC per animal for pest control. They should be encouraging recreational hunters to get out there, not the opposite.

Given that the permit system is automated, where is the cost once the process is set up? The marginal cost is zero, other than the cost of the part of the server that stores the maybe 1mb in your permit. Half a cent, maybe?
I've often thought it is a nonsense getting a permit, as there is no checking done when you apply, and nobody knows if you are in the area anyway. I always have a permit, but I don't see where the benefit to anyone (me, DOC or the general public) is in it.

Who paid for the set cost? As a user of the system, I didn't. It's got to come from somewhere. And I think it's unlikely there are no ongoing costs to running the permit system - IT staff/overheads, monitoring, compliance, and all that fun stuff. Everything costs money. All I was saying is a small admin fee wouldn't be unreasonable.

I agree about permits. I also said in my feedback that there was little use in having annual auto-renew permits. Why bother? Save everyone the cost and admin. If you're going to have a permit system, it should at least provide benefit, like gathering info about how many people are going to which areas so resource can be allocated to those areas accordingly (e.g. access, track/hut maintenance, population monitoring, focussing pest control on areas with low hunter numbers etc.). Or for the roar, it would be useful to see how many other permit holders are going to be in a certain area for that week/weekend/whatever. None of those things will ever happen as it gets too cumbersome, but the point was not to overthink what is effectively a pointless system.

On reflection, I guess the point of the permit system is something to say that you have read the rules and agree to abide by them which is not unreasonable.

Originally Posted by MB

On reflection, I guess the point of the permit system is something to say that you have read the rules and agree to abide by them which is not unreasonable.

And also be up to date on any poison operations. I do seem to get a few more email alerts now about operations in areas I ticked for a permit which can be useful.

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The only reason we need a permit issued by a Govt department to go hunting wild animals on public land is that the law says that all wild animals remain the property of 'The Crown" till lawfully taken. The permit makes you shooting an animal on public land lawful. If you own land and shoot a wild animal on it, you then 'own' the animal.

To the best of my knowledge the permits have never done anything else positive for hunters, like prevent overcrowding during the roar in a particular watershed for example.

The entirity of the DoC budget is paid for by you and me in the form of our taxes. (even concession income is a form of tax). Their computer systems, IT experts, everyone else in their conservation gravy train are already paid for from our taxes. They can have another think about getting kiwis to pay (again!!!) for services they provide that they are already legislated to provide.

Just done the survey.

On the issue of paying for permits, I wrote that I can pay for a permit if I have too, But there are people out there that really rely on hunting for their food and on low incomes where every dollar counts. Putting a fee on is likely too incentivise them risking hunting without a permit.

Why do we need permits at all?

If it’s for data collection and statistics it’s not really providing anything useful. I tick most hunting areas in lower north island and Canterbury, west coast but rarely venture out of the Ruahine and Haurangis.

The one time I’ve ever been asked was when stopped to show my dogs avian cert by a park ranger.

I was in a hut recently with 6 DOC rangers, they commented on my rifle but none asked for a permit, or checked to see who had paid hut fees.

Originally Posted by SPEARONZ

Why do we need permits at all?

If it’s for data collection and statistics it’s not really providing anything useful. I tick most hunting areas in lower north island and Canterbury, west coast but rarely venture out of the Ruahine and Haurangis.

The one time I’ve ever been asked was when stopped to show my dogs avian cert by a park ranger.

Liability aspect to a degree is my assumption. You get the blurb at the bottom with the do's and don'ts

What is the charge for??? A computer generated permit that DOC are obliged to issue. Tell them no!!!

Originally Posted by SPEARONZ

Why do we need permits at all?

If it’s for data collection and statistics it’s not really providing anything useful. I tick most hunting areas in lower north island and Canterbury, west coast but rarely venture out of the Ruahine and Haurangis.

The one time I’ve ever been asked was when stopped to show my dogs avian cert by a park ranger.

I might be wrong, but my understanding is that because the arms code states that permission from the owner/person in charge of any land is required to hunt on that land, the permit system is a way to prove that permission has been granted.

Originally Posted by yeah_na_missed

Who paid for the set cost? As a user of the system, I didn't. It's got to come from somewhere.

I would imagine whomever did the business case for the automated system said they would save X dollars in staff costs and it would pay for itself Y years.
In that regard, it has already been paid for