This is our premier game award. To become a Master Bowhunter a member must achieve five big game awards and five small game awards.
The Big Game Award System:
Only a single kill is needed to gain a big game award but each subsequent award must be for a different species, up to five awards.
There are 12 game species available for these awards. 
Note that this is a reduced list of big game as it does not include sharks or stingrays, pigs have to weigh 30 kg or more and there are special rules for red deer. The big game list is: Chamois, Tahr, Pig (minimum weight 30 kg), Red deer (see below), Fallow deer, Sika deer, Rusa deer, Sambar deer, Whitetail deer, NZ Wapiti, Kingfish (minimum weight 15 kg) and Wallaby.
Red Deer: To gain a big game award for a red deer it has to be shot on public conservation land, the hunter must have a current DOC hunting permit for the area where the animal was shot and the permit number must be entered on the claim form.
All game for these awards should be claimed on-line or on big game animal or fish claim forms.
The Small Game Award System:
Each small game species is allocated game points as detailed below and awards are won by accumulating the required number of points as follows:
| Award | Colour | Points |
|---|---|---|
| First Small Game Award | White | 20 points |
| Second Small Game Award | Black | additional 30 points |
| Third Small Game Award | Blue | additional 50 points |
| Fourth Small Game Award | Red | additional 70 points |
| Fifth Small Game Award | Gold | additional 100 points |
On each award, only 20 points may be gained for any one species. However, points in excess of 20 will be carried over to the next award.
Small Game Species Point Allocation
| Mammal / Marsupial | Points |
|---|---|
| Pig under 15kg | 10 |
| Ferret | 8 |
| Stoat | 8 |
| Weasel | 8 |
| Goat | 5 |
| Hare | 5 |
| Wallaby* | 5 |
| Rabbit | 2 |
| Possum | 1 |
| Rat | 1 |
*Denotes use of artifical light
| Bird | Points |
|---|---|
| Rook | 5 |
| Magpie | 5 |
| Peacock | 5 |
| Myna | 2 |
| Turkey | 2 |
| Fish | Points | Fish | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingfish (under 15kg) | 10 | Dogfish | 8 |
| Shark (under 20kg) | 10 | Snapper | 8 |
| Kahawai | 8 | Grass Carp | 5 |
| Stingray (under 20kg) | 5 | John Dory | 3 |
| Barracuda | 4 | Trevally | 3 |
| Mullet | 3 | Butterfish | 2 |
| Blue Cod | 2 | Mackerel | 2 |
| Kelp Fish | 2 | Koi Carp | 1 |
| Parore | 2 | Octopus | 1 |
| Flounder | 1 | Eel | 1 |
| Sole | 1 | Any other fish | 1 |
All game for these awards should be claimed on-line or on small game claim forms.
Wallaby
Wallabies shot at night using any form of artificial light are small game animals; all others are big game animals.
Note: NZ Fisheries bag and size limits apply at all times. Please check the recreational fishing rules here. Additionally minimum length for fish is 250 mm.