Photo supplied
More than 65,000 New Zealanders are believed to have turned out for the opening morning of the game bird season with low cloud, a bit of wind, and in some cases, rain, meaning excellent shooting conditions.
“Some of the wettest spring and summer seasons on record in many regions have meant that the waterfowl population is thriving,” Fish & Game NZ chief executive Corina Jordan said.
Corina joined duck shooters on Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere for opening morning.
“The weather has provided perfect conditions for brood rearing and recruitment, with plenty of wet and ponded areas providing ample food.”
Jordan said feedback from hunters on the opening day had been positive.
“So much of opening weekend is about the tradition of coming together to spend time with loved ones and enjoying being in the outdoors.
“Often, our ranging teams encounter three generations hunting from the same maimai – a spot that may, in some cases, have been used by great-great-grandparents.
“For many people, it is a sort of pilgrimage as much about rekindling friendships and family bonds as it is about harvesting wild kai, for many people.
“It is also a great time for strengthening relationships between rural and urban communities, with hunters coming from all walks of life being welcomed into rural communities and onto rural properties.
“Importantly, the collective harvest of wild, free-range game birds provides safe, sustainable, and ethical food for families across the country.”
Auckland Waikato Fish & Game Officer David Klee said rangers were very pleased with a high level of compliance; there were good numbers of birds around for hunters to harvest.
Other North Island regional rangers also reported good behaviour by shooters.
But in Canterbury several firearms were seized from hunters for offences including shooting without licences and some using lead shot.
Rangers reported offences were detected across the region from the Hurunui to the Selwyn and Hororata areas.
North Canterbury Fish & Game Officer Richie Cosgrove said conditions were harder for North Canterbury hunters, with high clouds and strong winds in some places.
However, hunters were having success throughout the region with good numbers of ducks harvested, and large numbers of hunters were out for opening morning in the region.
Otago Fish & Game Officer David Priest said compliance was poor on the first day.
Lead shot continued to be a problem. Five shotguns were confiscated for the use or possession of lead shot. Two shotguns were confiscated for no licence.
In addition, three teal were seized from one maimai and three shoveler hens from another maimai.
“Hunters were not able to identify their targets, and they shot teal thinking they were mallards, nor had they checked the regulations for changes to note they were only allowed to harvest one drake shoveler in the Otago region and shot hens,” David said.
