Police, rangers take aim

HUNTED: Police and Fish and Game rangers will be monitoring duck shooters this weekend. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR HBT141572-01

Fish and Game rangers and police will again be out in force this weekend to ensure duck shooters maintain their limits, have the appropriate firearms licence and are not using lead over water.

Hawke's Bay Fish and Game regional manager Pete McIntosh said rangers and police would continue their patrols throughout the rest of the season after it was reported eight guns, 1000 rounds of ammunition, and 67 ducks were confiscated during opening weekend in the Wairoa area.

"The police are looking for people without a firearms licence and alcohol while the Fish and Game rangers are primarily looking for those using lead over water this year."

He said during opening weekend in the Napier and Hastings area the police and ranger teams contacted over 100 people, with only three not having a game licence and another three using lead over water.

The term, lead over water, comes from using lead-based pellets within 200m of a body of water to hunt duck.

Mr McIntosh explains the worry is because ducks often swallow small stones to help with digestion and can easily confuse the lead rounds, leading to lead poisoning.

During opening weekend in Wairoa, reports said seven people were caught using lead shot and 12-gauge shotguns and had their firearms and ammunition confiscated.

Two people were shooting without a gun licence, two had killed over their limit, a group were caught drinking while hunting, and one was in possession of cannabis and utensils while shooting.

The two men who had caught over their bag limit had shot 67 paradise ducks between them. The legal limit is 10 per person.

Mr McIntosh said shooters should simply follow the law or face their firearms being confiscated and a hefty fine.

He added Fish and Game also wants hunters to adhere to their campaign for a "sustainable harvest" and for shooters to stick to their quotas.