Fish and Game has slashed the number of ducks hunters can shoot in the Eastern Region when the season opens this Saturday morning.
Senior officer Matthew McDougall said plummeting duck populations meant hunters can only bag six per person as opposed to 10.
It was going to be pretty tough out there because of lower numbers and hunters were being encouraged to go after the males, he said.
"We are just trying to save a few hens to go through into the breeding season. So one of the messages we are pushing is for hunters to get what we call the green heads (males)."
Its monitoring programme estimated there were about 200,000 ducks in the Eastern Region, which included the Western Bay of Plenty. At their height populations reached 700,000 and numbers were the lowest recorded in nine years.
"The population is cyclical and it's in one of its low points."
Mountain Safety Council's firearms and hunter safety programme manager Nicole McKee was urging hunters to check their firing zones and avoid unintentional incidences. More than 30,000 licences were expected to be issued.
"That means following the seven basic rules of the Firearms Safety Code and using common sense."
She said the key reminder for hunters was to check their firing zone before they began shooting for the day.
"Take note of where other maimais, boats, hunters, stock and dogs are located. With moving targets such as game birds in flight, it is imperative that you're aware of your field of fire as the pattern of shotgun pellets spreads as you move."