Anyone planning to take advantage of the high numbers to harvest a duck for the dinner table needs to have a game bird hunting licence. Photo/File
Anyone planning to take advantage of the high numbers to harvest a duck for the dinner table needs to have a game bird hunting licence. Photo/File
Game bird hunters are encouraged to buy their hunting licence now to avoid missing out on what's being predicted as the best season in years.
The 2017 game bird season opens nationwide this weekend.
Fish & Game field officers throughout the country reported that while the long, wet summer wasn'tgreat for holidaymakers, it was perfect for rearing ducks.
Anyone planning to take advantage of the high numbers to harvest a duck for the dinner table needs to have a game bird hunting licence.
Fish & Game New Zealand's planning manager, Robert Sowman said hunters were notorious for leaving their licence purchase to the last minute.
"More game licences get sold in this last week before opening day than any other week of the year and the Friday night before opening day can be the busiest.
"One of the easiest ways is to go onto the Fish & Game website and buy online. The new website is mobile phone friendly, so you can buy without having to queue," he said.
Mr Sowman urged hunters to make sure they were aware of the hunting rules for the region they were planning to hunt in.
"You get a regulation booklet when you buy your licence - make sure you read it to find out how long the season lasts and how many birds you can harvest each day.
"Each licence carries a habitat stamp and the money raised from these stamps is used to save wetlands and create new ponds. This protects and provides great habitat for native birds and fish as well as game birds so it is money well spent."
The 2017 game bird season opens on Saturday May 6 and runs until Sunday August 27.
