Both Barrels June 2025 - Nelson Marlborough

Volunteers needed to run Rabbit Island trapline

Our dedicated volunteers who have run the Rabbit Island trap line are keen for someone else to take the reins.  We are looking for a couple of hunters to take over this line, which involves a couple of hours each month to check and clear around 50 traps along the eastern estuary edge of Rabbit Island.  This area is important habitat for native birds such as Banded Rail and fernbird, among other species.  Thanks to Graeme Ivey, Robert Dodunski and Chris Tonkin for their superb efforts over the past seven years!

If you’re keen to get involved, contact Jacob Lucas here.

Robert Dodunski and Lawson Davey clearing the trapline along the estuary edge.

Nelson Trout Club building traps for catchment group

While not related to game bird hunting, it’s been fantastic to be involved with the Nelson Trout Fishing Club, which has built nearly 200 predator traps for the Motueka Catchment Collective (MCC).  The traps will be distributed to landowners in the Motueka Catchment so they can undertake their own predator control to support native bird and insect life.  The plan in the future is to build more traps for targeted conservation projects to be used within the Motueka Catchment – the most popular trout fishery for the Club. Outstanding work from this group, and fantastic to see anglers and hunters getting involved in conservation.

Nelson Trout Fishing Club in action, building traps for the Motueka Catchment Collective.

Waimea Bermlands Hunting – Working to maintain access here and elsewhere

On behalf of gamebird hunters, Fish & Game lodged a detailed submission on Tasman District Councils draft Waimea River Park management plan, to try and retain existing, and explore new, opportunities for pheasant, quail and duck hunting as the river park develops and gets busier public access-wise.  Staff will be attending the River Park submissions hearing process on behalf of hunters to advocate for this.  Fish & Game staff also previously lodged a detailed submission on Marlborough District Council's Grovetown Lagoon management plan, to try and also retain existing hunting at that location, and will be attending a July hearing for this, on behalf of hunters.