Duck shooting season: Plenty of paradise ducks taken as season starts in Gisborne, mallards in shorter supply

Duck shooting season started well at the weekend in Gisborne for those hunters after the paradise variety, but the mallards were not so easy to bag. Photo / NZME

The mallards were hard work, but Gisborne hunters got good bags of paradise ducks when the annual duck shooting season started at the weekend.

Eastern Fish and Game senior officer Matthew McDougall said reports from rangers across Tairāwhiti indicated a positive start for paradise ducks.

“The mallards were pretty tough work apparently to get decent bags.

“But the hunters shooting in the maize paddocks were getting big bags.”

McDougall said the rangers also reported good behaviour from the hunters.

“All the people they spoke to were compliant with the regulations, and were having a good time.

“We’re really pleased about that.”

The duck shooting season for mallards ends on King’s Birthday weekend – and at varying times across the region for paradise ducks.

The upland game shooting season for pheasant ends on the last Sunday in August.