Game bird hunters have been applauded for a "safe and happy" start to the new hunting season at the weekend.
Thousands of game bird hunters turned out for the season opener on Saturday in what is shaping up to be "an excellent season".
Fish & Game communications manager Don Rood says that so far there've been no reports of any serious, or even more minor incidents, "which is hugely encouraging and we hope of course, that hunters can keep it up."
Mr Rood says that with an estimated near 40,000 licensed game bird hunters, it is a relief to have everyone make it home safe and happy from Opening Day - regardless of how many birds they've managed to harvest.
"Fish & Game worked with Mountain Safety Council in a concerted effort to drive home the key messages," he says.
We helped in the filming of a Mountain Safety Council video which, it must be said, tells a rather dark story of a tragic accident.
"The video has already had 110 thousand views on Facebook and another 30 thousand on YouTube.
"It's a cautionary tale may well have prompted a number of folk to look hard at their safety procedures and practice."
Most hunters know full well the seven rules for firearm safety but sometimes a little complacency can set in and a sharp reminder is all that is needed, he says.
"A couple of key messages are that when walking in to your hunting possie your shotgun should never be loaded.
"When climbing a fence, reach through and place the gun on the ground first."
There were also risks in the often cramped conditions of maimais.
"Being safe in the maimai means of course making sure your hunting mates are well clear before firing, and checking your firing zone."
The fine clear weather across most of New Zealand made the start of the season hard work in many areas - but this was balanced by an abundance of ducks in parts of both islands.
There is always variation but some areas were a standout - hunters achieving limit bags quite quickly, Mr Rood says.
Some of the best hunting reports, and not unusual for Opening Weekend, emerged from the South Island.
Across in the Bay of Plenty, reports were still coming in from officers out in the field but the Kaituna reserve near Te Puke had shot "superbly well" with some hunters getting their limits by 9.30am.
In Taranaki field officers told of seeing "lots of ducks but few hunters." One pair of hunters hunting south of Inglewood told Stuff.co.nz the "sky had been black with ducks."