Nelson Marlborough > Hunting News May 07

An improvement on last season

By Rhys Barrier

As always, the weather played the most significant influence on hunter bag limits on opening weekend. In general the conditions were not conducive to good hunting with fine clear conditions and not much wind. There were isolated pockets of success however, with one hunter getting his bag limit by 7:30am on Saturday morning due to thick fog in the area he was hunting. A few other areas received wind on Sunday and good shooting was reported where this occurred. The hunters whom put the work in with pre-feeding also did well, as did the top maimai spots in areas such as the Wairau Lagoons. The general consensus in Marlborough was that bird numbers were up on last season, due to a better breeding season.

The weather over the 2006 spring/early summer breeding season differed from the previous breeding season in a manner considered positive for all waterfowl species. Significant rainfall over the 2006 spring and early summer maintained water and food in most wetland areas which contributed to an excellent breeding season. While things dried out a bit in March, overall the 2006 spring/summer period was far more conducive to higher waterfowl numbers than the 2005 season, which in Marlborough was reported as being one of the poorest many hunters could remember.

There should be some good hunting available in the region this year for those hunters whom have the flexibility to hunt when the weather conditions are conducive to getting birds moving. Those that sit in the maimai for the first two weekends only, as they have done for the last 30 years, may be destined for disappointment however, as the massive landuse changes in the region including loss of much of the areas pea cropping, and large scale viticulture development, have not been positive for the mallard population in the Nelson/Marlborough area. Bag limits are still available in some areas however for those that can adapt to the changing situation, put in the effort, and hunt to the conditions.

Return to Both Barrels

If you would like to be kept in touch with Gamebird hunting news and other hunting information, please sign up for Both Barrels, our Gamebird hunting email newsletter.