2015 game bird season tipped to be a quacker

2015 game bird season tipped to be a quacker

Wednesday, April 29,2015 – GAME bird hunting kicks off this Saturday (May 3) and Wellington Fish & Game is picking a much improved season with more ducks around the lower North Island this year.

Staff have finished their mallard trend counts across the region and are encouraged by results that indicate numbers are the highest they’ve been in four years.

“We’re even hearing long-time hunters talking about how many more ducks are around and our own surveys confirm that,” says Wellington Fish & Game manager Phil Teal.

A wet winter and spring afforded excellent conditions for waterfowl breeding, even giving hens a shot at a second brood.

This means there’ll likely be more juveniles around which bodes well for hunters.

“With fine and settled weather forecast for Opening morning though, conditions could be better for the start of the season. But recent heavy rain has spread the ducks around so hopefully most hunters will see birds flying.

“Hunters are still very excited. Like us, they certainly see the season shaping up to be a good one.”

Mr Teal points out that police officers, Wellington Fish & Game staff and rangers will be inspecting hunters on both public and private land.

The police will be checking for alcohol and drug use, as well as ensuring hunters have firearms licences and are following gun safety rules.

The team of rangers will make sure hunters have a 2015 Game Bird Licence, are using steel or other non-toxic shot in their 12-gauge shotguns when hunting near water, and are complying with the other game bird regulations including bag limits.

“We generally see good levels of compliance but occasionally there’s the odd bad apple who tries to flout the regulations,” says Mr Teal. “After having their shotguns confiscated and being delivered eye-watering fines, they’d tell you that it pays to play by the rules.

“We encourage all hunters to stick to the rules and play it safe this season – no bird is better than no buddy. There’s no compromising safety!”

Wellington Fish & Game regulation changes for the 2015-16 season at a glance:

• The mallard and grey duck limit remains the same at six birds per day over the six week season.

• The summer season for paradise shelduck has been removed. The bag limit for the six-week season is six birds per day.

• The special season for black swan at Queen’s Birthday weekend has been removed. The eight-week black swan bag limit of three birds per day applies across the whole region.

• Hunters should be sure to check the full regulations before heading out this season. These can be found on the Wellington region webpages of the Fish & Game website – www.fishandgame.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media