Special paradise duck hunting season opens early

John Davidson waits for ducks to fly in.

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

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

The hunt will take place this weekend as well as on March 3-4 in the Taranaki Game Management Area C only. This area includes the Taranaki province north of the Waitotara River and all of the 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.

Fish & Game officer Allen Stancliff says the aim is to disperse the ducks, moving them back to their home territories after they have collected 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."

Hunters who want to take part in the special season must hold a 2017 game bird hunting licence and obtain a $5 permit from Fish & Game or a local game bird licence agent. The permit's free to land occupiers who want to hunt their own land, but they still need a permit.

Allen says the special season applies to paradise shelduck only, and all other game birds remain protected, they cannot be hunted. Fish & Game rangers will be out checking on 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."