Northland > Hunting News June 2007

Northland Update June 

Weather and water have done their dammedess to spoil what was shaping up to be a great season.

Autumns turned into summer and the rain bomb near Whangarei pushed all of the dabbling duck mobs away from the Hikurangi swamp basin.

Still clear days and little wind kept ducks away from their normal autumn winter haunts as huge rafts of birds took sanctuary on northlands many large harbours and coastal wetlands.

Those determined to make the best of it have been doing well with a change in tactic to targeting these birds. Boating/shooting activity is a lot higher than usual as hunters chase birds on the salt with tidal influence playing a huge factor.

Sheltering in mangrove estuarine areas seems the mode at the moment with incoming tides pushing birds out to shallower harbour margins. Large flights are being observed at night as flocks move inland to forage at night. Hunters that study this ritual tell us that finding the right feeding area is the key and that bag limits are easily attained once these areas are identified. Quick twilight pass shooting seems to be bagging good numbers especially where new or lush grass is found.

Other notable species that seem to be providing good opportunity and numbers has been the Paradise Shelduck with hunter phone interviews showing a greater than normal bag harvest per hunter than in previous years. These birds provide excellent opportunity for the novice or young hunter who need that initial excitement when other species are hard to shoot.

Upland game especially Pheasant have been outstanding with good numbers being seen and harvested. The warm autumn period and the abundance of ground food have helped no end to making this happen. Birds reared this season that don’t get harvested will bolster breeding stocks and help for better tallies next year.

Quail numbers have been high judging by the sightings and their appearances in areas not seen for years. Great for next season and beyond.

Overall the season is progressing steadily as winter finally arrives and other opportunities unfold. This weekend is the end of the season for dabbling ducks in northland so take advantage of the extra guns in the field, as more birds will be flying. Tight Patterns.

back 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.