The lack of acknowledgement of recreational deer hunting was one criticism made of the Department of Conservation's draft 2014-24 conservation management strategy when public submissions were heard in Wanaka last week.
Secretary of the 150-member Upper Clutha branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association Murray Burns told the hearing panel deer ''barely'' got a mention and then only in terms of wild animal control.
Mr Burns said the strategy took no account of the Bill introduced to Parliament in March 2012 by Associate Conservation Minister and United Future leader Peter Dunne, designed to provide better hunting opportunities.
''Once enacted, the legislation will impact the legal status of deer, tahr, chamois and wild pigs and manage them as a recreational resource, rather than as pests,'' Mr Burns said.
One of those involved in preparing the strategy, Doc management planner Janine Sidery, said new legislation was ''not a given'' and could not therefore be included in the strategy.
Ms Sidery said if it did become law then she and other planners would be ''very busy'' incorporating it.
Mr Burns considered it would be important that process was open to further public discussion.
He also submitted the Dingle and Timaru Rivers be set aside for recreational red deer hunting, because of the limited opportunities elsewhere in the Doc estate.
''The Otago red deer herd was once of international renown, producing world-class trophy heads, particularly in this and adjacent places.
''Sadly, hunting opportunities are in decline and animal numbers have been ravaged by [helicopter shooting] activity.''
The Upper Clutha Angling Club considered trout and salmon also did not get enough attention in the draft strategy.
Presenting the 50-member club's submission, president Rick Boyd said angling received ''scant mention'', yet was one of the most widespread and popular recreational activities in the region.
Mr Boyd said the strategy acknowledged walking, cycling, skiing, tramping and four-wheel-driving ''but for some unknown reason fails to make any mention of recreational freshwater fishing''.
Professional fishing guide Ian Cole also lamented the strategy's lack of inclusion of fishing.
''To ignore such an intrinsic recreational value of the Doc estate does little to engender support from otherwise very like-minded conservation orientated user groups.''
Alpine Helicopters director Nick Wallis submitted there should be more opportunity for helicopter landings in the Mt Aspiring National Park.
Mr Wallis said there was particularly strong tourist interest in landings on glaciers, in heli skiing and in fishing remote rivers.
He believed there were areas of the park where more helicopter landings could be accommodated without creating conflict with other park users.
The draft strategy attracted 300 submissions.
The panel hearing submissions is chaired by Doc's Queenstown conservation partnership manager Greg Lind and is due to resume in Dunedin on November 4.
