Thread: Hand held thermal now legal on public land

Just received an email saying hand held thermal scopes will be legal to use on public land from tomorrow.


From June 1, hunters will be allowed to use hand-held thermal technology to search for animals during daylight hours.
Hunting permit change

Thermal technology attached to a firearm to search for or shoot a wild animal, and/or hunting at night, remains prohibited.

Hand-held thermal technology has improved, become widely available and is increasingly used by hunters to improve the chances of detecting an animal. It can be especially useful is assisting hunters to locate downed animals, especially in dense foliage.

If you already have a hunting permit, it will automatically update.

You must still positively identify the target beyond all doubt using normal vision or conventional optics, for example, binoculars

Please ensure you follow the 7 rules of firearms safety and identify your target beyond all doubt before pulling the trigger.

Rule 4 – Identify your target beyond all doubt states “never shoot at sound, shape, movement or colour only”, hunters should never shoot solely based on a heat source.

Heat sources can be difficult to determine accurately due to environmental conditions for example, hot weather affecting the reliability of results. Trees or rocks warmed by the sun might show up. This is known as thermal crossover.

There should also be consideration that there may be other people in the area such as hunters, trampers, campers, or contractors.

Once a heat source has been spotted, the hunter must use normal vision or conventional optics like binoculars, to identify what they are looking at. Can you see the whole animal? Is it a deer/pig/goat? Stag or Hind? Red/Sika/Fallow?

Visitor safety was carefully considered when making these changes, following discussions with the Land Safety Forum, which includes representatives from the NZ Police, hunting organisations like the Game Animal Council, and outdoor safety groups.

Illegal hunting

The offence of illegal hunting (on private or conservation land) carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $100,000 fine in New Zealand.