West Coast > Hunting News June 07

West Coast hunting news June

As reported in the April edition waterfowl hunting opportunities are going to waste on the ‘Coast. But the good news is the last few weeks of the season usually provide the best hunting and with the mallard season closing on 31 July there is still plenty of time to do something about it.

A recent flight around the Region revealed very healthy concentrations of mallards in riverbed camps, especially on the Wanganui and Whataroa riverbeds in South Westland, and the Grey River further north. In fact all of the larger braided lowland rivers are supporting big numbers and there are essentially two ways to get amongst them. Both methods require a little pre-hunt research but there is little doubt that the time will not be wasted.

Except during a full moon phase (when ducks fly late) an evening or two spent on a riverbed should reveal the direction from which ducks head off at last light to feed. The options then are either to set up in preferred feeding areas for some evening hunting (can be frustrating if ducks arrive too late) or, plan for a daylight start at a loafing area. Duck loafing haunts will be readily obvious by an accumulation of feathers and faeces. More usual locations are near a shallow fall at the head or tail of a pool, a long open shallow beach area, or sometimes a backwater. If the exact spot cannot be found a generous decoy spread in the general vicinity should enable the well hidden hunter to call enough birds out of passing mobs to ensure success. Wherever riverbed ducks choose to loaf it is almost certain that the would-be hunter will be faced with a lack of cover. Often there will be sufficient logs and branches handy to drag a few together but don’t over do it because the canny mallards will notice. A better option is to acquire a pair of light grey overalls and with face and hands well concealed use just enough natural cover to break your outline. This will work for the first half-hour of light at least giving time to work out the flight-path and wind, perhaps enabling a move to better cover nearby.

With some frosty weather at last in the offing the remaining weeks of the season should also see ducks inhabiting small creeks and farm drains. Late afternoon is the best time for jump shooting, and a stint until dark near a recently grazed paddock can round off the day nicely.

Chris Tonkin

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