Game bird licences and outdoor gear are selling strongly in Otago just days before the opening of the duck-shooting season on Saturday.
Licence sales were up 10% compared with the corresponding period last year, Otago Fish & Game officer Bruce Quirey said.
"Every year around 4000 game bird hunters grab a licence in Otago to head out to harvest healthy, free-range food for their families," Mr Quirey said.
"This is a huge week for licence agencies and outdoor retailers as duck-hunters rush for any last-minute supplies.
"A lot of hunters love checking out the latest waterfowling gear, like remote-controlled spinning decoys, duck calls and other paraphernalia."
An innovation growing in popularity has been layout blinds, which allow hunters to conceal themselves wherever waterfowl may be, for instance, on paddocks, riverbeds and lake edges.
"Most hunters traditionally hunt from mai mais," Mr Quirey said.
"But clever hunters are adapting their methods, because an increasing number of irrigation dams and changing farming practices over the years has provided waterfowl with more options for dabbling and loafing."
Most retailers advise they have good supplies of ammunition this season.
Under the Wildlife Act, anyone wishing to hunt game birds requires a game bird licence.
An exception is landowners or farm managers, who may hunt game birds on their land without needing a licence. The licence exemption applies to the landowner or manager who lives on the property, but not both, and one son or daughter.
"We’re grateful to the many generous landowners who welcome friends and families on to their properties to harvest game birds each season," Mr Quirey said.
The outlook on opening day is for fine weather and light winds followed by showers on Sunday in some parts of the region.
