Northland > Hunting News May 2007

Bright and clear day ushers in 07 season

Hunting in the Northland Region has commenced well and truly as the 2007 opening morning dawned clear and bright.

The usual barrage from the guns with the change of light could be heard for many miles as the hunters got underway.

To say it was a great morning for Northland hunters would be correct if they were out in the boat fishing or lying back for a spot of sunbathing.

All the ingredients for a fantastic season were present with excellent bird numbers, abundant food supplies and good amounts of water available over which one could shoot. The downside was obviously the very fine weather and the lack of wind.

One can only guess at the number of opening mornings of the various game seasons that have actually swung in favour of the hunting fraternity. The birds are generally always the clear winners. Despite the long faces there were still licence holders who shot their limits and had an exciting weekend.

Reports from our ranging personnel confirmed the obvious with a lack of shots being fired later in the morning as the birds settled onto the larger open water areas including the harbours and out on the open coast.

Paradise Shelduck featured greatly in the hunter’s bags around the region with good numbers being reported, and with the increase in the daily harvest being featured as a real positive.

Hunters interviewed reported that the evening flight activity was more productive especially as the birds were flying around because of the full moon phase. Those that diversified their hunting habits to maize cropping areas did extremely well with limits taken in as little as 20 minutes.

Hunters can take heart from the fact that although opening weekend results were light it means that there still is a long way to go through the season and it just means getting out and making the opportunities.

As far as the season’s prospects are concerned hunters can expect better than normal tallies as the autumn phase moves on and the wetter weather patterns emerge.

Regulations changes now mean that Geese and Shelduck have extra incentives that will allow hunters longer hours and more opportunities. Please check these carefully as offending is taken very seriously by those that give their time freely for the sport.

Upland game numbers are very high and should give those targeting them an excellent season. Reports from throughout the Northland Region have been outstanding with birds being observed in places not seen in for years.

A weather pattern swing will even the odds so get your licence and get outdoors as this year promises to be a cracker.

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