‘Pleasing response’ to duck band call to duck hunters

‘Pleasing response’ to duck band call to duck hunters

Fish & Game says game bird hunters have responded well to the call for them to send in duck band details from birds they’ve bagged – with a prize draw speeding up the returns.

Hunters who send their returns in before August 31, 2014, go in the draw to win one of five Shearwater Gen II waterfowling jackets, provided by Hunting & Fishing New Zealand.

Eastern Region Senior Fish & Game officer Matthew McDougall says the response has been pleasing – with an “early influx” of band details received. “We don’t normally get this many so quickly.”

Mr McDougall says the returns have shown some of the birds have made a “fair old hike” from where they were banded. One mallard banded last year north of Gisborne was recovered from near Masterton, after travelling over 300 kilometres.

“The returns indicate some good survival rates - another banded near Wairoa eight years ago, was harvested near Te Puke.”

Mr Mc Dougall says that hunters are reminded to send their band details in if they haven’t already, with the August 31 (2014) deadline in mind.

Hunting & Fishing New Zealand Marketing Manager, Andy Tannock says the company is pleased to hear that its promotion has struck a chord with hunters. “As keen hunters ourselves, we’re very happy to contribute to Fish & Game’s research, which should in the long run mean more ducks to hunt.

“It’s a pretty simple message,” he adds, “if we all ‘band together’ and do our bit towards the mallard research project by simply returning band info, it will make for better data going into Fish & Game’s management of duck populations, and that’s a win for us all.”

The banding helps Fish & Game determine productivity, population sizes, movement, and not least, survival rates for both adults and juveniles of both sexes.

Details of the Banding Together prize draw can be found on Fish & Game’s website – on the hunting page: http://hunting.fishandgame.org.nz

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