Fish & Game reminder - still plenty birds in season

Auckland-Waikato Fish & Game is reminding hunters there are still plenty of opportunities to target some game birds in the weeks ahead, even though the mallard season has closed.

A number of game birds are still in season – including Paradise shelduck and black swan which can be hunted to June 30, and cock pheasant, pukeko and quail – which can be hunted in most areas until August 25.

Auckland-Waikato Northern Game Bird Manager John Dyer’s message to hunters is don’t pack up early for winter, “turn your attention to some of these birds that make for exciting hunting, especially with a dog to flush the birds.”

Mr Dyer says the long drought has meant that pheasant numbers are extra high this year, “a pretty good excuse to get out with the dog and hunt scrubby farm or forestry areas.

“The dry conditions appear to have suited pheasants, as the cock birds seem to be in top condition and most suitable patches of cover seem to have their share.”

He says that although quail aren’t as common as they once were, there are still pockets of suitable country, especially where broom or gorse is growing.

Mr Dyer says there are ample opportunities to hunt pukeko, with the bag limit of 10 and hunters are encouraged to thin their numbers in the many places where they’re causing a nuisance to farmers and other landowners.

“The pooks also kill ducklings and eat duck eggs so you’ll be doing us all a favour.”

Mr Dyer is reminding hunters to check the regulations on season lengths and bag limits for the areas they’re hunting. During the mallard and grey duck season (ended June 2) one group of hunters near Clevedon harvested six birds each on both Saturday and Sunday, unaware the bag limit was 10. “Another group were unwittingly going for 15 each on the Waipa.”

The mallard and grey duck season was one of the region’s better ones, even taking account of the drought, going by hunter surveys and feedback from our rangers, he says. “Most hunters did quite well and many good bags were recorded across the region.”

Most hunters supported the short season - recognising that the duck population could do with some help, he added.

Mr Dyer is urging hunters who haven’t done so, to send in their band numbers, “while you can still remember the details of when and where you harvested the birds.”

Phone 0800 BIRD BAND (0800 2473 2263).

ENDS

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