A small group of animal rights protesters at the North Canterbury Hunting Competition have claimed in a Facebook post that children threw rocks at them and  the road was blocked when they tried to leave the event.

Event organiser Mat Bailey has denied the allegations.

"They made all that up, and we don't really care about their feelings.

"Welcome to the country," Bailey said.

The quintessentially rural event took place on Sunday, June 30, in Rotherham amid a sea of Red Band gumboots, Stoney Creek jackets, and more than the occasional mullet as a fair amount of Speights went across the bar.

The event has attracted its fair share of controversy for its feral cat category in the past, but organiser Mat Bailey says there has been no significant backlash this year.

"I think more cats were entered than anything else, so we are pretty happy with that.

"We haven't had the backlash like last year. I think the country warmed up to the idea, and we have had people wanting to sponsor the event because we have done that."

Bailey said the protesters at previous events had given the competition a good publicity boost, and he welcomed their presence.

"If they hadn't made a fuss, maybe a couple of cats would have been shot, but as soon as they poked the bear, everyone was into it. So it's sort of backfired on them, but it's good for conservation."

A convoy of hundreds of utes rolled up throughout the day, depositing over 1500 entries that included deer, chamois, possums, goats and even rats.

341 feral cats were culled, with one farmer entering 65 cats to claim a $500 prize.

Around five protesters from Christchurch Animal Save showed up late in the day after reportedly initially going to the wrong venue.

They were met by a group of children at the gate, holding a baby possum.

Protester Sarah Jackson took the possum, instructed the children to "Google what compassion means," and accused them of being "conditioned."

"We are here to protest this blood sport that glorifies the killing of animals.

"They are hiding behind conservation," Jackson said.

Jackson said the group supports non-lethal pest control methods and that other issues should be considered before condemning animals.

"There are humans at both ends of the spectrum profiting from that, and they should be looked at first, like cat breeders.

"Human activity and animal farming are responsible for habitat loss and species extinction."

Children under fourteen were not allowed to enter the competition, but a kids' carrying competition in which children could pull a dead animal over obstacles was a massive hit, as was the helicopter-dropped lolly scramble.

$55,000 of spot prizes, including a late model Toyota Hilux, were given out.

With around 120 deer donated to charity Hunters4Hope, Bailey said there is 'bugger all waste' at the event.

"Last year, Hunters4Hope took around 50 deer, and this year, they hope to make as many as they can to process for the Hope Community Trust that will go to food banks.

"The antlers get sold, and the money goes back to the school, and possums get taken for fur."

In addition to the event's proceeds going to support the Rotherham School and community, the donation of venison to Hunters4Hope means around 12,000 meals are given to food banks from the competition.

The organisation donates 500 kilos of mince to food banks every month, and the hunting competition means there is enough meat to sustain a steady supply during the quieter season.

Hunters4Hope founder Steve Hill, who runs the organisation with Adam Kriesel, says the prizes at this year's event have encouraged more entries.

"High Peak Station have come on board and donated two overnight guided meat hunts to two hunters who donate their deer to Hunters4Hope at the competition."

The event concluded with a late afternoon prize giving.

By Claire Inkson