Hunted meat can be diseased or poisoned
If you hunt, it's your responsibility to make sure the meat from the game animal is safe to eat.
Hunted meat is riskier to eat because:
- it's not regulated in the same way as meat bought from a butcher or supermarket
- it can carry diseases if the animal was sick or wounded
- it can be contaminated with dangerous chemicals or poisons
- it might not be handled or transported properly in the field.
Find out about poison residues in food animals
How to manage the risk from eating wild animals
When you hunt, only take healthy animals, and store and transport meat safely. Our guide on food safety for hunters includes information on how to:
- identify if an animal is free of disease and poison, and is fit to eat
- safely butcher and transport animals.
Food safety guide for hunters [PDF, 2.3 MB]
Before you go hunting, check your area is safe and unrestricted
Always hunt in safe areas. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has information to show you where poison drops are happening around New Zealand.
Find out where pesticides are used – DOC
Butchering your catch
Some hunters prefer to have someone else butcher their meat for them.
"Home kill and recreational catch service providers" are butchers listed by MPI who cut up and process meat from hunted animals.
Search listed home kill and recreational catch service providers
Who to contact
If you have questions about the information on this page, email info@mpi.govt.nz
