On Saturday, the opening day of the 2025 game bird shooting season, a team from Central South Island Fish & Game was operating in the Maheno area, south of Oamaru.
"Opening-day weather was pleasant for hunting and socialising with clear skies and a moderate breeze from the west, helping to put movement in hunters’ decoys and direction for the birds to land," a Fish & Game spokesperson said.
"In comparison to last year’s drought conditions, which left many ponds dry and hunters out of options, the wet autumn provided great water levels, and many hunters were out enjoying their opening.
"Farmer Mike Holland, of Waianakarua, hunted his farm pond with family, including 4-year-old grandson Franklin Attfield and their canine companion. On Mike’s second farm pond, several visiting and local hunters enjoyed their morning, harvesting a mix of mallard duck, paradise shelduck and Canada geese."
Nearby, in Maheno, three generations of the Hunt family enjoyed their first opening on the pond of their new property.
Of significance was 5-year-old Douglas Hunt’s first opening-day experience.
He really enjoyed helping gundog Charlie retrieve the ducks that fell behind the pond into the paddock.
Oamaru man Mathew Williams hunted the Fish & Game-owned All Day Bag Lagoon near Kakanui with success. Mathew was one of three parties who were granted opening weekend hunting rights to the lagoon through an annual ballot administered by Central South Island Fish & Game.
"Rangers checked on 28 hunters, a mix of local and visiting hunters.
Although the majority of hunters were fully compliant with the hunting regulations, three hunters were found offending, being in possession of lead ammunition, while hunting within 200m of open water.
"Hunters’ harvests were mixed, with most harvesting a mallard duck or paradise shelduck by noon on Saturday.
"Preliminary data from the game bird harvest survey indicates hunters across the region harvested about nine mallards and three paradise shelduck each, on average, for the weekend [two days]."
The occasional black swan, pūkeko and New Zealand shoveler duck were also harvested.
"Central South Island Fish & Game has issued 2282 combined adult and junior 2025 game bird hunting licences. This is a moderate number and up by approximately 10% on last season which was impacted by drought with many dry ponds resulting in reduced hunting opportunity."
The main game bird season is open until July 27.
Day game bird hunting licences are on sale from Monday.
The Central South Island region includes the Waitaki Valley and areas North of Shag Point and including the Waianakarua and Kakanui catchments.
The Otago Fish & Game region extends south of Shag Point.
Hunting regulations vary between Fish & Game regions and hunters are reminded to check the game bird hunting regulations before going hunting.
Any clarification should be sought from a Fish & Game office.
— APL
