Wellington> Hunting News May 2009

 It was a good start to the waterfowl hunting season in the Wellington Fish & Game region.  While fine weather in the Wellington region favoured the ducks for the first two days of season, hunters reported a great day out. Many limit bags were taken by hunters particularly in the Manawatu.  Even though conditions for opening were not ideal, most hunters were more than satisfied with the numbers of birds harvested.

Rain and wind in the week leading up to the season spread the birds around of ponds and large waterbodies, so most hunters had to work a bit longer for their limits. Ducks remained in temporarily flooded paddocks from the downpours received towards the end of last week.

With a higher duck population in the Manawatu district most hunters got off to good start with numerous flights of birds decoying in till past mid morning on Saturday.  Many hunters were happy with opening weekend and the tallies they got.

Good numbers of birds harvested were reported from the southern Wairarapa district around Lake Wairarapa.  While many bag limits were taken in the northern Wairarapa it was a bit more patchy – likely to be influenced by the “green drought” reported by farmers.  Other species such as paradise shelduck were also numerous in many of the bags taken.

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.

The main waterfowl season continues for eight weeks and some other species such as pheasant have an extended season into August. While there rainfall immediately prior to the season which had the effect of spreading birds over large areas, rather than being concentrated  in small open water areas, there are likely to be more birds around for the rest of the season.

Phil Teal, Regional Manager, Fish & Game NZ Wellington

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