On a wet and overcast Saturday morning, Aaron Kubala headed out to his mai-mai on Dobbs Rd alongside his mates Mitch Weir and brothers Nicholas and Daniel Bastiaansen.
Mr Kubala, who has been an avid duck-shooter since he was introduced to it by his father Peter, said this year was one for the history books.
"It was a really good year, maybe the best year yet. Just a ton of ducks," Mr Kubala said.
Overcast conditions on Saturday morning were perfect for the start of the season as the low visibility drew more ducks, Mr Kubala said.
All the duck-shooters he spoke to had similarly great days.
There was a lot of breeding — it’s been very wet down here," he said.
"We hit the limit both days."
Despite the chilly day, the atmosphere in the mai mai was anything but dreary with yarns flowing, only interrupted by the honking of duck callers.
For seven years, Mr Kubala has been heading out each opening weekend with the same crew.
It was as much about socialising as it was about shooting, he said.
"It’s just a really good excuse for friends to get together. As a male, unless you have an activity on, when do you catch up with your friends at all?"
Opening weekend may as well be a public holiday down South, Mr Kubala said.
He and many other duck-shooters he knew circled and cleared the date, finished work early on the Friday and made a weekend of it.
"It’s especially popular down here. Southland stops for duck-shooting," he said.
For the rest of the season, Mr Kubala will be heading out with his father, whose guidance has helped make him the bane of ducks in the region, he said.
"[Duck-shooting] can be hard to pick up. You definitely need to go and learn with someone.
"I’ve gone out with Dad since I was 10, so I’m pretty spoiled — he was mad keen."
