Wellington> Hunting News May 2008

WELLINGTON GAME SEASON START BETTER THAN EXPECTED

The Gamebird season in the Wellington Fish & Game region got off to a better than expected start.  In fact it was virtually the same harvest rate per hunter as last year – which was average to above average.

“The best opening in years” was the comments from many hunters in the Wellington region – this being partially due to those hunting on permanent water bodies doing very well, as mallards used these sites more intensively due to the reduction in available habitat caused by the dry summer. This comment was offset by some hunters in temporary or very shallow sites who had to work longer and harder for birds in these ‘quiet’ patches.

Strong southerlies late in the week prior to opening day made for good hunting conditions in the southern Wairarapa with better than expected numbers bagged.  This was true also in the northern Wairarapa where many bag limits were taken by many hunters. 

The Manawatu and Kapiti Coast areas were a bit patchy although many hunters still got their limits.  Duck numbers going into the season were better than last year but many remained in temporarily flooded paddocks from the downpours received towards the end of the week prior to opening.

Rangers were very active in the Manawatu and Wairarapa areas with most hunters complying with the regulations.  A few hunters in the northern Wairarapa were found to be hunting with lead shot which is a breach of the current regulations.

Prospects for the next few weeks continues to be promising -  those that hunted on permanent water bodies are still likely to do well.  The rainfall events we have had since opening weekend have spread the birds around as they will have a greater choice of areas to forage and roost.  Those that were on temporary or very shallow sites will get more flights of birds and the harvest will even itself during the  season.

What to look for …..
…….in the Manawatu:
Mallards have dispersed into smaller groups and will still be attracted to permanent water bodies and also temporarily flooded paddocks.

…….In the Wairarapa:
Mallards will be seeking refuge in the eastern shore wetlands of Lake Wairarapa and smaller ponds and backwaters as we get the wintry weather that keeps the birds off the big open waters.

Still worth checking out sites for Canada Geese that become easier to target and decoy after the first three or four weeks.

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