More than 65,000 New Zealanders are thought to have actually ended up for the opening early morning of the video game bird season with low cloud, a little wind, and in many cases, rain, suggesting exceptional hunting conditions.
“Some of the wettest spring and summertime seasons on record in lots of areas has actually indicated that the waterfowl population is prospering,” says Fish & Game NZ president Corina Jordan, who signed up with hunters on Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere for opening early morning.
“The weather condition has actually supplied ideal conditions for brood rearing and recruitment, with a lot of wet and ponded locations offering adequate food.”
Corina says feedback from hunters on the opening day has actually been positive.
“So much of opening weekend has to do with the custom of coming together to hang around with enjoyed ones and delighting in remaining in the outdoors.
“Often, our varying groups experience 3 generations hunting from the very same maimai – an area that might, in many cases, have actually been utilized by great-great-grandparents.
“For many individuals, it is a sort of trip as much about reviving relationships and family bonds as it has to do with gathering wild kai, for many individuals.
“It is likewise a good time for reinforcing relationships in between rural and city neighborhoods, with hunters originating from all strolls of life being invited into rural neighborhoods and onto rural residential or commercial properties.
“Importantly, the cumulative harvest of wild, free-range video game birds offers safe, sustainable, and ethical food for households throughout the nation.”
Brad Evans and Logan Dense having an effective early morning at Lake Brunner. Photo: Baylee Kersten.
Regional Wrap:
Northland – Fish & Game Officer Graham Gallaghan
Everyone was well-behaved; there was great deals of ponded water around, which indicated hunters needed to take a look around, however those that did were having success, and no concerns were identified.
Auckland Waikato – Fish & Game Officer David Klee
Rangers were really happy with a high level of compliance; there were good varieties of birds around for hunters to harvest.
Eastern – Fish & Game Officer Anthony van Dorp
Hunting is sluggish in many locations, however some good bags taken early in the day in seaside locations. So far, all hunters are totally certified and happy to see Rangers. Wet weather condition ..really… in some locations with some roadways closed due to weather.
Wellington: Fish & Game Officer Hamish Carnachan
No Compliance concerns, and good varieties of birds about with hunters succeeding; the weather condition was overcast, so not ideal for hunters. But the hunters were delighting in the chance, and bag limitations were accomplished.
Nelson Marlborough: Fish & Game Officer Jacob Lucas
The finest conditions for hunting for 20 years welcomed hunters in Marlborough. However, High river conditions and flooding has actually affected some hunter’s capability to get to their areas. Some exceptional hunting in the Para wetland, as it flooded today. There were good bags with many hunters examined. In Tasman, Waimea plains was hunting well with strong northern timing completely with a high tide. Many rivers flooded here, too, significance Plan B was required for some hunters. Nevertheless, there were good varieties of hunters out.
West Coast: Fish & Game Officer Baylee Kersten
Near-ideal conditions welcomed sturdy video game bird hunters for the opening early morning of the 2023 season.
A wet week caused an early morning with low cloud, which cleared for some terrific hunting opportunities.
Rangers report lots of hunters were visitors to the area with historic connections or entirely brand-new and using the exceptional hunting opportunities in the location. Generally, with flooded pastures and high-water levels, birds are more uniformly distributed among the area’s hunters, which was definitely the case today.
Rangers did not experience hunters with complete bags of birds however did see a varied and good variety of types spread out among the hunters. That was to be anticipated with a dispersed population of birds and no big flocks. The latter is generally an item of hunting pressure and is primarily come across later on in the season. With the good numbers observed in flight today, hunters can just anticipate the hunting to enhance throughout the season.
North Canterbury: Fish & Game Officer Richie Cosgrove
Conditions were more difficult for North Canterbury hunters, with high clouds and strong winds in some locations. However, hunters were having success throughout the area with good varieties of ducks collected, and great deals of hunters were out for opening early morning in the area.
Unfortunately, numerous guns have actually been taken from hunters for offenses such as hunting without licences and some utilizing lead shot. This is frustrating thinking about the prevalent promo of the requirement for hunters to have a licence when hunting video game birds. Offences were identified throughout the area from the Hurunui to the Selwyn and Hororata locations.
Central South Island: Fish & Game Officer Rhys Adams
Good day, good weather condition for happy hunters having a good day out. Steady varieties of mallards for hunters to harvest, however hunters are eagerly anticipating the rough weather report on Sunday. Rangers were active in the Waimate through to the Timaru location.
Otago: Fish & Game Officer David Priest
The day has actually been warm. Bags are low, with hunters primarily bagging a hand loaded with ducks each. Nevertheless, hunters experienced have actually mored than happy to be out.
However, Compliance has actually been poor today; Lead continues to be an issue. We have actually seized 5 shotguns for the use/possession of lead.
Two shotguns were seized for no licence. In addition, 3 teal were taken from one maimai and 3 shoveler hens from another maimai.
Hunters were unable to determine their targets, and they shot teal believing they were mallards, nor had they examined the guidelines for modifications to note they were just enabled to gather one drake shoveler in the Otago area and shot hens.
Southland: Fish & Game Officer Cohen Stewart
In Southland, the warm and warm weather were perfect for grilling however made the hunting tough. However, those hunters that got some motion on their ponds by utilizing motorized decoys or jerk cables were getting some good harvests.
Fish & Game handle trout, salmon and video game birds to offer healthy entertainment for Kiwis, working to safeguard the environment that anglers and hunters have actually taken pleasure in as a custom for over 150 years.
