Both Barrels April 2025 - Wellington

The Countdown Is On!

The start of the new game season is only days away and there’s plenty for lower North Island hunters to be excited about.

Our recent aerial trend counts for mallards in the Wellington Fish & Game region reveals a strong population, with higher numbers recorded in both the Wairarapa plains and Manawatu areas than this time last year.

Large congregations of birds were observed on small ponds and dams near recently harvested maize crops. The later-than-normal harvest means there is plenty of crop still to come in, and this will likely keep the ducks localised before they start to disperse as we get closer to Opening.  

Excellent numbers of mallards are also holding on the big water such as Lake Wairarapa, and loafing on the larger rivers in the region.

The rain brought in by the cyclone that dampened Easter holiday plans for some a silver-lining too – it provided a welcome top-up for ponds that had suffered from drought conditions in parts of the lower North Island this past summer.

So, there’s plenty to be excited about on the eve of the new game bird hunting season.

We hope you’re all ready and rearing to go. Make sure you have the following before heading out on Opening Morning:

• 2025 Game Bird Hunting Licence
• Your current firearms licence – ranging teams will be patrolling with police who will want to check this if you’re in possession of a firearm.
• A permit booklet (available from Wellington Fish & Game) if you’re hunting on public reserve land.
• Alternative to lead shot – the non-toxic shot rule now applies to all gauges including .410 this season.  

If you want to keep up with the latest waterfowl happenings, news and weekly weather alerts throughout the season, please sign up to receive our hunting newsletter. 

 

The team at Wellington Fish & Game wishes you a safe and successful season.