Taranaki game hunters can get early start on Paradise Shelduck

Paradise Shelduck can damage pastures and crops.

For Taranaki game bird hunters who can't wait for the traditional May start of the hunting season, Fish & Game is laying on some summer hunting.

Fish & Game has declared a special hunting season over two weekends for paradise shelduck to help farmers disperse flocks that can damage pastures and crops.

The first weekend is Saturday, February 29 and Sunday, March 1, followed by March 7 and 8 in the Taranaki Game Management Area 'C' only.

This area includes the Taranaki province north of the Waitotara River and all of Stratford district.

Hunting hours on each of the four days will be from 6.30am until 8pm. The daily bag limit has been set at 10 parries per hunter.

Grant and Koby Meddings with Bob the dog and a paradise shelduck from the 2019 summer season.

Fish & Game Officer Allen Stancliff says the aim is to disperse the ducks, moving them back to their home territories after they've gathered together for their annual moult.

"This reduces the potential for mobs to cause damage to recovering hay paddocks, chicory crops and areas of new grass, before the main game bird hunting season gets under way in May."

"This year there are some big mobs of paradise on the upper ringplain surrounding Taranaki Maunga and so there should be plenty of birds for hunters."

Hunters who want to take part in the special season must hold a 2019 game bird hunting licence and obtain a $5 permit from Fish & Game or a local game bird licence agent.

The permit is free to land occupiers who want to hunt on their own land, but they still need a permit.

Hunters who didn't purchase a 2019 game licence can still participate in the special season by purchasing day licences on-line at www.fishandgame.org.nz

Mr Stancliff says the special season applies to paradise shelduck only, and all other game birds remain protected and cannot be hunted. Fish & Game Rangers will be out checking compliance over the four days.

"This is a great opportunity for some enjoyable summer hunting that helps our farmers – all we ask is that hunters stick to the rules."

"This year there is no hunting within 200m of any urban sewage oxidation pond."

"Also please remember that hunters need permission to hunt on private land – don't forget to ask the landowner."