National Wild Goat Hunting Competition is back for another year to promote hunting wild goats
Enter the 2025 National Wild Goat Hunting Competition. With over $70,000 in prizes to be won across multiple categories, there's something for everyone.
Competition Information
Landowner category open from 11 June – 26 November 2025.
Hunter categories open from 1 August – 26 November 2025.
Location: Nationwide – on both public and private land.
All goat tails and goat heads entered must be wild and taken legally, recreationally, and humanely during the competition period. Wild goat heads can only be taken to an approved New Zealand Deerstalker Association (NZDA) entry point.
Entry locations: Find an entry location near you.
Competition rules: Read the competition rules.
Competition categories and prizes
We have over $70,000 worth of prizes donated by the hunting and outdoor sector.
| Category | Entry criteria | Prize pack - approximate value $3,000-$5,000 |
|---|---|---|
|
Goat your goat |
Enter just one wild goat tail and go in the draw to win.
Every individual has the chance to win one of two epic spot prize packs. |
Prizes include:
|
|
Great Goat Round Up |
Enter one or more wild goat tails to go in the draw.
The more wild goat tails entered the more chances to win.
Win one of five epic spot prize packs. |
Prizes include:
|
|
NZDA’s G.O.A.T (Greatest of all Time) |
Wild goat head with the largest Douglas Score. Heads can only be entered at a NZDA branch. |
Lumi H35R LRF Monocular from Nocpix |
|
Junior Goat Round Up |
Enter one or more wild goat tails to go in the draw.
For hunters 18 years or under – the more wild goat tails entered, the more chances to win.
Win one of five epic spot prize packs. |
Prizes include:
|
|
Junior G.O.A.T. |
For hunters 18 years or under – wild goat head with largest Douglas Score. |
Prizes include:
|
|
Nocpix’s National Monthly Spot Prizes |
Enter just one wild goat tail and be in to win. |
Merchandise from Nocpix |
Hunting & Fishing NZ's local legends categories and prizes
As well as going in the draw to win national prizes you also go in the draw for ‘regional-level’ prizes kindly donated by Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd. These prizes will be distributed by your nearest participating New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Branch.
| Category | Entry criteria | Prize pack - approximate value $100-150 |
|---|---|---|
|
Goat your goat |
Enter just one wild goat tail and go in the draw to win a prize pack from Hunting & Fishing NZ. |
Medium rifle bag, first aid kit, and carabiner mug |
|
Great Goat Round Up |
Enter one or more wild goat tails to go in the draw.
The more wild goat tails entered the more chances to win. |
$100 gift voucher |
|
NZDA’s G.O.A.T (Greatest of all Time) |
Wild goat head with the largest Douglas Score. |
Gerber Randy Newburg DTS, and a Lanksy Quick Fix |
|
Junior Goat Round Up |
Enter one or more wild goat tails to go in the draw.
18 years or under more wild goat tails entered, the more chances to win. |
Traverse Headlamp |
|
Junior G.O.A.T. |
18 years or under wild goat head with largest Douglas Score. |
65L Barrel Bag |
|
Spot prizes |
Take your wild goat head or tail to an NZDA open branch and be in to win. |
Beanies and Real Meals |
Read about Douglas Score Trophy scoring (external site).
Contact
Key Contact:
Trevor Gratton
North Island Representative/National Wild Goat Hunting Competition Liaison NZDA
E: trevor.gratton@deerstalkers.org.nz
Entry Locations
Enter the National Goat Hunting Competition at any of the recording points below. DOC office recording points accept entries during office hours and Hunting & Fishing stores during store hours.
Wild goat heads can only be entered at a NZDA recording point and the Dunedin Hunting & Fishing store.
Find your nearest hub here.
Competition rules
Read the competition rules for the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition.
- The competition is open to all hunters.
- All goat tails and goat heads entered must be wild and taken legally, recreationally, and humanely between 1 August to 26 November 2025. If using firearms, hunters must have a current firearms license or be supervised by a current and appropriate firearms license holder. Hunters have responsibilities under Sections 30A and 30B of the Animal Welfare Act 1999. Wilful or reckless ill-treatment of wild animals or animals in wild state is an offense.
- The organisers reserve the right to refuse any wild goat tail or head, should they doubt its eligibility. Honesty that the wild goat tail or head are taken in accordance with the law, animal ethics, and all the competition rules is appreciated.
- The competition may occur anywhere you have permission to hunt either through landowner consent or the local authority of the land, if forestry or farms, or by permit for public conservation land or council land.
- All land access conditions must be followed, whether under permit or through landowner consent.
- Wild goat heads can only be taken to an approved New Zealand Deerstalker Association entry point.
- All wild goat tails and heads must be presented fresh or frozen in a clean manner. Tails need to be secured in a bag and if frozen, tails need to be in a free flow state, so they can be easily counted.
- All wild goat tails will be counted by an approved verifier.
- All wild goat tails and goat heads entered at an official recording point will be eligible for the national prize draw. Noting all tails and heads are only eligible to be entered once in the competition.
- In the event that a wild goat is killed, but cannot be retrieved by a competitor, the competitor may take a time and date stamped photo with the dead wild goat in view to an official recording point for review. It is at the Judge’s discretion whether to accept the photo as proof of a tail entry.
- All wild goat head measurements will be based on the Douglas Scoring System and will be carried out by an approved New Zealand Deerstalker Association judge. Judge’s decision is final.
- Any goat tail and/or head taken in a paid or commercial capacity is not eligible as an entry into the national or any local competition.
- No responsibility can be accepted for any entries lost, delayed or corrupted as a result of computer error.
- By entering into the competition, you agree to the collection and use of any personal information and data supplied for the purposes of contacting and publicly announcing prizewinners, and to measure the success of the competition.
- All hunters must comply with the 7 rules of firearms safety