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Local hunters are heartened that the Government has confirmed there will be a game and bird hunting season this year, but a delay to the duck shooting season has left uncertainty.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today that hunting game on private land during level 3 will be permissible as long as hunters stay within their region and their bubble.
However, hunting on public conservation land will still not be permitted.
“While many hunters may want to head to popular spots on public land to target the last stag of the roar, under alert level 3 hunting on public conservation land will remain off limits,” Ms Sage says.
What may have more of an impact locally is the decision to delay the duck hunting season from May 2 until at least May 23 or possibly as late as June 6.
Ms Sage has suggested the duck shooting season end date would also be extended, but dates for different regions and for different species of duck are yet to be announced.
Wellsford Game Shooters Club secretary Keith Norburn says a shortened season for mallard and grey ducks, in particular, is unfortunate.
“It is a bit of a disappointment, especially when we pay $98 a year for a licence,” Keith says.
The mallard shooting season typically ends on June 3 in the Auckland region and June 30 in Northland.
Hunting mallards and greys is popular with younger and social shooters because they are easier to hunt than paradise shellduck.
There is also some risk that a delayed or shortened season may increase paradise shellduck numbers, which are an agricultural pest for northern farmers.
Keith says the delay in season has meant the Game Shooting Club will cancel its annual fundraiser on opening day, but weigh-ins may still be organised.
“The club will manage, and we are still looking forward to the season. The delay may make for a better season if the rain floods paddocks anyway.”
Hunting and Fishing Warkworth owner Colin Barlow says he has been fielding calls this morning from hunters keen to understand the restrictions.
He says overall, the announcement is a good thing and he is pleased the government has provided retailers certainty by confirming there will be a game bird shooting season.
However, retailers typically carry stock from February to May and a shortened timeframe means there will likely be a shortfall in sales.
According to Fish & Game New Zealand, which has worked closely with the Government on the restrictions, if level 2 is introduced between May 11 and 15, the season will open on May 23.
However if level 2 is introduced between May 16 and 29, the season will not open until June 6 so as not to coincide with ‘moving day’ when farmers typically shift their herds.
Fish & Game is reminding hunters that it will be ‘undertaking compliance work’ throughout and prior to the season to ensure that the new season dates are being adhered to.
