Southern LakesNZDA · since 1970

Conservation and community

Hunting and conservation, same job.

Our trap line, Wild Meat Donation, hut maintenance and working bees — the conservation work the branch does across the district.

Last reviewed 25/05/2026

A hunting club isn't just people who shoot deer. The Southern Lakes branch runs a trap line that's been going since 2008, donates wild meat to families across the district, and keeps a string of back-country huts standing. Here's the work.

Our trap line

One of the first biodiversity trap lines in the Wakatipu basin — now running AI-enabled traps, and the first group approved to use them on public conservation land.

Read about the trap line

Wild Meat Donation

Venison, goat, chamois and tahr, donated through Kiwi Harvest to community food programmes across Queenstown, Wanaka and Cromwell.

Read about Wild Meat Donation

Volunteering and hut maintenance

Hundreds of volunteer hours on hut rebuilds and trap-line work. If you can swing a hammer or carry a pack, we can use you.

How to get involved

By the numbers

  • Trap line running since 2008

  • 12 AI-enabled AT520 traps on our line

  • Wild meat donated through a partner that feeds 825 people a week

  • Hundreds of volunteer hours on hut rebuilds — Kay Creek, Upper Spey, Freeman Burn