Nelson Marlborough > Hunting News May 2009

There was brilliantly fine weather over opening weekend, which meant a good day for ducks. Most hunters were successful at bagging some birds, and those hunters that had done their homework did extremely well.

These hunters had been feeding ponds or had found isolated ponds that hadn’t dried out during summer that were close to crops. There were good numbers of birds in most areas, except around Murchison, where numbers of Paradise Shelduck have been declining in recent years for reasons unknown.

This weather this year has been very good for breeding numbers. The extended fine weather and the rapid cooling-off, has been good for breeding upland game, particularly quail. The good number of pheasants and the excellent number of quail means we are anticipating excellent upland game hunting over the 7 days commencing on Queens Birthday weekend. 

Queen’s Birthday weekend also sees the traditional Molesworth Goose Hunt with around 130 hunters participating. Entries for the hunt have now closed.

Neil Deans, Manager, Fish & Game NZ Nelson / Malborough

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