Central South Island > Hunting News May 2008

Flight disrupted by Hunters.
Graeme Hughes

The Canterbury Pigeon Flying Club released 100 pigeons at Invercargill on Saturday 3rd of May. On reading this in the Otago Daily Times I was surprised to learn that the release had taken place for two obvious reasons, the weather was atrocious, and of course it was the opening day of the game bird hunting season. The news article went on to say that the flight should have taken about 6 hours however only 30 arrived at their Christchurch destination. A member of the pigeon racing club interviewed by the reporter claimed that duck hunters were to blame. He was quoted to say “Those buggers will shoot anything!”

I wasn’t sure if I should smile or snarl. Why racing pigeons, hell bent on finding the home loft and  a ration of delicious pigeon peas,  would descend to inspect a hunter’s  duck decoys or be remotely interesting in the “lonesome duck call” defies explanation but hunters anywhere between Southland and North Canterbury have some explaining to do. Where are 70 racing pigeons? 

While the pigeon fancier’s allegations have no substance the article does show that waterfowl hunters are not on the Pigeon Flying Club's Christmas card list and that the non-hunting public have been led to believe that we duck hunters will shoot at  anything that flies and that we  have annihilated a large flock of valuable racing pigeons.

Many hunters target feral or Rock pigeons outside of the recognised waterfowl season. The hunters are welcomed by cropping farmers.  Pigeons, often several  hundred in a flock, can cause considerable damage to grain crops either immediately after drilling the seed  or just prior to a harvest. As any pigeon hunter will know it is not uncommon to find a banded bird amongst those picked up at the end of the hunt. Why the “domesticated” pigeons betray their owners and go “AWOL” is not really known however the old adage “Birds of a feather flock together”  could be a simple answer and the reason why the  pigeon has  become a common New Zealand species. In cities, parks, railway stations, on wharfs, around grain stores and across arable lands feral pigeons are well known and considered to be a significant pest species.

Pigeon hunting provides relief for the farmer, increases the skills of wing shooters, is a perfect training ground for aspiring hunters and many a duck dog started its career retrieving feral pigeons.  No licence is required and young pigeons make excellent table fare.  So it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a wayward racing pigeon could fall to a hunters gun on opening day of the waterfowl season, but in reality, this occurrence would be rare. 

Since that ridiculous pigeon release date, the club president reported to the newspaper  that “a handful of pigeon survivors had turned up in the past few days, including one bird found at Milford Sound and a second by a woman  at Kaitangata”. The non-hunting public may visualise the “survivors”  landing on a wing and a prayer, scarred and  dishevelled,  bearing obvious injuries received during a week of dodging duck hunters. 

One  Otago duck hunter, incensed by the accusation,  put pen to paper and in a letter to the editor  attested to the completely unsuitable climatic conditions on the race day and suggested that the club stop looking for excuses for a poor return rate,  “Release the pigeons in acceptable weather conditions and don’t hold races on the opening weekend of the duck shooting”.
 Common sense really. 

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