Auckland / Waikato >Hunting News > July 2008

The season to date.

We frequently get asked, in the Game Bird Hunter Phone Survey, “How did the rest of the region go ?”.  So here's a quick summary for the rest of you, based on those many hundreds of survey replies:

Opening weekend went well for many hunters, much better than expected in the dry conditions.  Those who had permanent water, be that lakes, rivers or ponds generally all did well. If there was maize being harvested nearby and birds were working the fields, so much the better when they came back for a drink.  Those hunters with barely flooded or dry ponds simply listened to all the gunfire around them. Of course, there's always exceptions, in part due to luck, position, technique, etc.  For instance, 2 shooters watched another get his limit both days just 90 meters away while they got just 3 between them.  Needless to say, when he vacated his spot, they were in like Flynn and their luck changed. 

The dry weather continued to plague us and the middle of the season was generally quiet unless folks had killer ponds tucked away.  But even these failed to produce unless they were flooded.  Drift shooting also worked for some in boats on the Waikato and etc., or in small canoes in willow clad streams.

The final weeks hotted up with the wind and rain finally arriving.  Those that were still actively pursuing ducks generally made the most of it.  Again, some would get near limits while those in the same swamp got just the odd swan or pook.  It probably all comes down to being on hand before first light, better calling, use of decoys, etc. 

One of the questions we asked hunters is, did they want the season shortened or lengthened ?  The present our season is 8-weeks long and by far the majority wanted to keep it that way.  A season that was 2 weeks shorter, for instance, would have seen many missing out on that good (duck hunting) weather.  Such as the 2 young men licence-checked who'd found their pond empty on opening weekend, the middle of the season hard going and then both scored near limits when the rain arrived. Some hunters surveyed wanted a late season, but of course, ducks are starting to pair by then.  A few wanted a split season but previous experience suggested that landowners, who by law don't need a game licence on their own land, and who therefore don't get a copy of the regulation booklet either, simply shot right through the split.  So the anticipated second weekend proved to be fizzer year after year. 

The Remaining Season:

This has been a great year for upland game because they had such a good breeding season over summer. Those same birds are now in great condition with some pheasants topping out near 3 pounds. You never know, it might be the last year you can hunt them with lead in any gauge, as next year your sub-gauge upland shotgun might be obsolete.  It's certainly not Auckland Waikato making such rules so don't blame us. In fact, we've asked that this matter be clarified for hunters so they have some certainty when laying down the big dollars.  Talk to your New Zealand Fish & Game Council rep. if you agree. 

The future of Canada geese is also in question with Federated Farmers wanting to make a political issue out of this.  It didn't seem to be such a problem before Dirty-Dairying....

Those farmers who do have geese on their property in any numbers know that F&G generally go out of their way to respond to complaints – and a lot quicker and more efficiently we suspect that some of those organizations who would like to expand their empires by taking over this role.  If you're still waiting for a city council to put a footpath outside your door 40-years after your subdivision was built, you'll know where we're coming from. 

If geese are made pests and landowners can poison them at will, like sparrows, there will be no F&G overseeing of what happens.  If the farmer puts out a ton of poison and only parries, mallards and swan eat it, then obviously he'll lay out another ton of poison and hope the world's wariest gamebird will be more stupid next time.  That's the disaster DoC's Minister is being encouraged to allow to happen.
 
You can help prevent this situation by making that extra effort to harvest geese this year.  They're there for the taking and one Auckland based hunter boasts he's up to 260 already.  If you're struggling to get your first goose, or even your 21st, keep at it.  2008 may be your last chance and the better you demonstrate you can control this bird, the more likley we'll keep the management of it. The alternative is not good.

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