Rangers warn over lead shot use

Fish & Game are reminding prospective duck shooters that early preparation is key to getting things right on next Saturday’s season opener.

In a statement, Central South Island Fish & Game officer Rhys Adams said the opening weekend of duck-shooting season was always a much-anticipated event.

"[It is] famed for reconnecting friends and family and providing a few free-range duck dinners.

"Hunters should have their location for opening sorted and mai mais scrubbed up in advance, so they are poised and ready to go at dawn on Saturday.

"The relatively wet summer on the plains and foothills should have set up water levels nicely at hunting ponds.

"Further inland, it has been a much drier so we encourage hunters to check their ponds as soon as possible to organise an alternative spot if required."

On the 2024 game season opening a lack of attention to preparations resulted in several hunters in the Fairlie area breaching the law and having their ammunition and shotguns seized by Fish & Game rangers, Mr Adams said.

"It is important to pre-organise ammunition when hunting around water, only non-toxic shot such as steel ammunition can be used while hunting game birds within 200m of open water.

"Last season our rangers found hunters in possession of both illegal toxic lead shot and legal non-toxic steel shot while hunting over ponds.

"We urge hunters to separate stores of lead and steel ammunition ahead of opening — this is not a night before opening task.

"The golden rule is if the ammunition doesn’t clearly have the word ‘steel’ printed on it, treat it as lead ammunition, separate it and leave it at home."

Hunters found in illegal possession of lead shot can attract penalties including criminal conviction, a maximum fine of $5,000 or community work, and forfeiture of seized birds and equipment.

Central South Island Fish & Game undertake annual game bird population surveys, and the latest results suggested that the relatively wet summer on the Canterbury Plains had supported a productive breeding season.

Mr Adams said the results bode well for the 2025 season.

"Our Canterbury Plains surveys of mallard duck and paradise shelduck population undertaken in March observed healthy numbers — the third highest count since records began for mallard duck and the highest on record for paradise shelduck.

"Annual population monitoring shows black swan numbers are currently high in the Wainono Lagoon area and in the Mackenzie Basin and we encourage hunters to target their daily bag limit of five black swan, to utilise this great harvest opportunity."

Central South Island Fish & Game rangers will be active around the region on opening weekend, checking on licensing and hunters’ adherence to the game bird shooting regulations.

Hunters are reminded to obtain their game bird licences and review the 2025 game season regulations, Mr Adams said.

"Although there are no changes to the Central South Island Regional regulations for the new season, we urge new and experienced hunters alike to study up on their requirements.

"Hunters seeking clarification of any regulation are urged to contact our Fish & Game Office in Temuka to speak with one of our team of rangers. We are here to help.

"Rain, hail or shine, we hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable opening weekend and we look forward to meeting hunters in their mai mais while we are out ranging."

The Central South Island Region game bird season is open until July 27 for waterfowl species: mallard duck, grey duck, NZ shoveller duck, black swan and pūkeko. 

— APL