It was good news for the ducks and relatively slim pickings for hunters at the opening of the duck hunting season in the Rotorua region.
Hunters on Lakes Rotoma and Rotoehu reported reasonably lean bags as clear, still weather conditions on Saturday conspired to make hunting difficult, said Eastern Fish and Game officer Mark Sherburn.
"The conditions were not favourable around the Rotorua lakes area."
Mr Sherburn was among a number of Fish and Game officers out and about checking compliance in the wider region, which included Bay of Plenty, Taupo, East Coast, Rotorua and Rangitaiki Plains.
"Everyone I talked with were all enjoying their day out but many had not achieved the limit six mallard ducks," he said.