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Overview of Recreational Catch

Recreational catch is the activity of killing, capturing, taking, or harvesting and then processing a wild animal by a recreational hunter or fisherman, or other person undertaking similar recreational activities for the use or consumption of the hunter, fisherman, or other person.

Recreational catch cannot be traded for human or animal consumption. Those who use or consume recreational catch product do so at their own risk. As recreational catch meat has not been subject to any hygiene or processing standards or control, or any assessment, e.g. ante- or post-mortem inspection, no assurances can be given on its fitness for consumption.

What is allowed for recreational catch?

The basic policy for recreational catch activity is set out in section 68 of the Animal Products Act .

• A person who has hunted or harvested an animal as recreational catch is able to kill and process the animal themselves on their own property or at or near the place where the animal was hunted or harvested.

• Also, the hunter or harvester may have the animal killed or processed by a listed homekill or recreational catch service provider, on the service provider's premises or place or on the catcher's property or at or near the place where the animal was hunted or harvested.

• Recreational catch product must be for the use or consumption of the catcher/hunter (including members of the catcher's party or family¹ or household²), and not for trade (see section 4 of the Act for the definition of 'trade': it includes barter, supply as part of a service, public prize or reward etc).

• The parts of the recreational catch product that are not for human or animal consumption (such as the trophies, hide and skin) may be traded, and the waste material can be sold or disposed of to a renderer.

For the purposes of the Animal Products Act, customary catch that is authorised under the Fisheries Act 1996 is to be treated as recreational catch that complies with the requirements of this section, so long as it is used for the purposes for which such catch is authorised.

 Disclaimer:

This publication is not a legal interpretation of the Animal Products Act or the Animal Products (Ancillary and Transitional Provisions) Act and is intended only as a guide.