The Police and Fish and Game rangers are teaming up again this year to check on shooters to enforce safety messages and make sure everyone is following the rules.
Mr Hoetjes said having the police join the rangers on their rounds has made a difference in recent years.
"Particularly in some of the remoter areas, not just in Northland but all over New Zealand, where traditionally they haven't seen police or rangers."
The safety messages come in a week where coroner Wallace Bain released his findings into the death of teen killed in a shooting accident in the Bay of Plenty two years ago.
Mr Hoetjes said in his 25 years in Northland he was not aware of anyone who had been hurt, seriously injured, maimed or killed in the region as a result of a shooting incident during game bird season.
Shooters are reminded not to drink alcohol while operating firearms.
Mr Hoetjes said the police and rangers don't find many incidents, and they aren't seeing the drinking with firearms that they used to see.
"Our biggest concern is people out there under the influence of drugs operating firearms."
Other safety messages include a reminder that an unlicenced hunter can use a firearm under the direct supervision of a licenced firearms user but they cannot both shoot together at the same time, the licenced hunter must give their full attention to the un-licenced hunter.
Mr Hoetjes said they liked seeing safe firearms usage and wanted to see people have fun and enjoy themselves. He says the checks with shooters are also about finding out what people are shooting and how successful they are.
Mr Hoetjes said it looks like they are in for a busy weekend with licence sales looking good and the weather looking windy with a chance of rain which will suit the shooters.
With two and a half days of sales left, Mr Hoetjes said sales are about 5 per cent up on last year.
"The weather plays a big part. When it's windy and there's a rough ocean the birds come more inland to the ponds and the riversides where the shooters are."
