Photo Richard Cosgrove/Fish and Game NZ
Fish & Game is reminding game bird hunters to stake their claim for their favourite maimai or duck shooting stand before the start of the new hunting season on May 6.
The process of claiming a hunting stand goes under many names depending on region - marking up, pegging or tagging - but whatever it's called, if a hunter wants to retain their favourite spot, they need to do it before 10am on April 9.
The rule applies to all 12 Fish & Game regions around the country.
"Tagging your favoured maimai allows you to set yourself up for the season ahead, ready to harvest birds over opening weekend - and then have first claim on that spot for the rest of the season," said policy and planning manager Robert Sowman.
Hunters with an existing maimai who have already bought a new 2017-18 game bird licence are able to stake their claim to the maimai any time before 10am on April 9.
Other hunters wanting to stake their claim over an unclaimed maimai for the first time must wait until after 10am on that date.
Rules on who can use a hunting spot also apply once the game bird hunting season begins.
"The rules state that hunters then need to be at the maimai within one hour of the opening hour of hunting. If they aren't there within that time, the spot can be used by any other licensed hunter for the rest of the day," Mr Sowman said.
To reclaim your spot for the upcoming season you first need to buy your 2017-18 Game Bird Licence, which contains your claim tag. The new season licences went on sale on March 16.
Hunters are advised to get their licence early to avoid the last minute rush.
It will give you more time to "mark-up" your spot, tidy up your decoys, get your eye in with some clay bird shooting and leave time for you to do other things, Mr Sowman said.
He said it was crucial that hunters checked the regional regulations for the areas they intended to hunt it - for any changes to season lengths, bag limits and any other rules before heading out on opening day.
For example, there are now six regions with restrictions on the number of shots a hunter can use in their repeating shotguns.
In the Auckland Waikato region, hunters are only allowed to load three cartridges into their shotguns shots, a rule first introduced in 2013.
Eastern and Hawke's Bay asked for voluntary compliance of the three-shot rule last season but are making it compulsory this season. And the West Coast Region is introducing a five shot rule this season.
Wellington and Nelson-Marlborough Regions are banning magazine extensions for shotguns.
The shot restrictions have a conservation aim, and also encourage hunters not to shoot at birds moving out of range.
"It's another tool to help sustainability - that will help limit the number of ducks being harvested," Mr Sowman said.
Hunters in all regions are again urged to take advantage of the longer season for upland game birds, including pheasants and quail, which runs from May 6 to August 27 in a number of regions.
For more go to www.fishandgame.org.nz.