The duck shooting season starts on Saturday and hunters in Tairāwhiti can expect to see a greater number of juvenile birds, says Fish and Game NZ. Photo / NZ Herald
The duck shooting season starts on Saturday and hunters in Tairāwhiti can expect to see a greater number of juvenile birds, says Fish and Game NZ. Photo / NZ Herald
Hunters are locked and loaded for what is shaping up to be a successful start to the duck and upland game season this weekend.
Fish and Game New Zealand is expecting a productive beginning to the mallard season in the eastern region due to an increase in the ratio ofjuvenile to adult birds.
“Each year we trap about 1000 to 1500 mallard and grey duck,” Eastern Fish and Game senior officer Matthew McDougall said.
A duck-trapping process, which Fish and Game has been doing for 30 years, gives “a rough idea as to what the breeding season has been like”.
“During that time the average number of juveniles to adult mallards in the trap sample is 1.96. This year the ratio was 2.8, which is the second-highest ratio in the last 12 years.”
McDougall said summer rainfall was a good indicator of population growth and the region had had plenty.
Hunters tended to do well over opening weekend when there were plenty of juveniles around, provided the weather played its part, he said.
Hunters are reminded of the need to know the rules around the duck hunting season and rangers will be out and about to make sure these are being followed.
Rangers would be out again this year, accompanied by police and firearms safety staff, McDougall said.
