Both Barrels April 2025 - Eastern

If you are reading Both Barrells – then you’re probably a game bird licence holder.

If you’re reading Eastern’s section – then you’re probably hunting in our region.

Bottom line – over the majority of eastern region we’ve been in drought with our wetlands water levels low and farm ponds dry, or very close to dry. Those places with good water, we are seeing good numbers of ducks and other waterfowl.

The recent rains (cyclone) have not really seen a great increase in water in the ponds and wetlands, but those areas with some additional water will see a rise in ducks arriving as the freshly flooded grasses and weeds in the ponds area are a great feeding source.

If you are in the unfortunate situation of having a dry pond for opening – don’t throw it in – ask around your mates and see if you can hunt with them – or find a local estuary or river (stream) area to throw a few dekes out and give it a go – you never know what might turn up (make sure the area is not pegged and check your firing zone). Hitting the paddocks to shoot a few parries using a camo net and some silhouettes is better than not hunting at all !!

Hopefully all your noisy preparation works have been completed and your maimai scrubbed up – as doing this the few days before will surely scare off any resident birds you hope to harvest at your hunting site – so avoid the temptation to do any unnecessary trips to your pond until the Friday before opening.

Just a reminder, there are other game birds to target throughout the season - it’s not all about mallards. Swan and parrie meat is great for salamis with the other main stay being “coat’n cook” bites, lightly fried in the pan. A great morning walk chasing pheasant and quail can result in a change of flavour at the table. And don’t forget to target Pukeko, as the breasts are delicious, they are fun and challenging to hunt (to get a daily limit), and the region’s numbers need thinning out.

On a serious note for this season, firstly make sure you are safe, both in the water and handling guns. Secondly, make sure you are legal, both in terms of having a game bird hunting licence and complying with the hunting regulations, and undertaking gun and ammo travelling and storage laws (rangers will be out and about). Thirdly, don’t dump your carcasses in public places, this creates a bad image to the great unwashed, and generates unnecessary work for staff. Lastly, utilise your licence value – get out there more than just opening weekend, hunt other regions and target different species.

Opening weekend to many is a tradition with a social component to it – be it always bacon and egg pie (no peas) for lunch, a few beers that evening (after the guns are put away), or a wee dram to acknowledge those who have passed (both dogs and family) who made duck hunting and opening weekend what it is to you.

Enjoy your opening weekend and season.

And remember – duck hunting – the joy should be in the doing, not the getting!!