Both Barrels June 2025 - Otago

  • Otago
  • 19/06/2025

Both Barrels June 2025 - Otago

Mid-Season Moves: Winter Hunting in Full Swing

Welcome to the June edition of Both Barrels for Otago. We’re now past the halfway mark of the mallard season, but there’s still plenty of opportunities to get out.

The Matariki long weekend offers a chance to connect with friends and whānau outdoors and harvest healthy, tasty game for the table.

Image above: Moss the GSP looks pleased after a good day’s harvest. Photo: Jack Pow

Did you know Otago Fish & Game provides a fortnightly regional game bird hunting report, The Game Call? Check out what you might have missed so far this season. Select here!

You can also subscribe here to receive the latest info, tips, and photo and recipe competitions to your Inbox every second Thursday.

 Mallards mob up at the top of Lake Wanaka. Photo: Mason Court

Waterfowl Hunting

  • Scouting is key to successful waterfowling for the rest of the season.
  • Hard frosts have pushed many birds off frozen ponds and onto rivers and lakes. Hunters are adapting by scouting and targeting specific camps of mallards.
  • Kicking off the Matariki long weekend, strong winds and showers are expected move ducks around, especially near the coast. Conditions should ease, particularly inland, as the weekend continues.
  • Birds on paddocks have been feeding on worms and leftover crops and returning to ponds where there is less ice by evening.
  • Surface water has also attracted ducks. Consider layout blinds and floater decoys for shallow water setups.
  • Some rivers such as the Taieri may suit drift hunting — check river flows online: ORC Environmental Data Portal.
  • On the bigger rivers, look for birds loafing on gravel bars. On frosty days, be sure to check those sunny nooks on river bends.
  • As the weeks progress into July, birds will start to pair up. When you see that behaviour, consider using smaller spreads and setting decoys in pairs. There’s a good chance of calling in lone drakes.
  • The mallard season in Otago is open until Sunday, July 27.

The rose among the matagouri thorns: a cock quail in full colour. They taste as good as they look. Photo: Mason Court

Upland Game Bird Hunting

From most anecdotal reports, the quail hunting season in Central Otago has got off to a quiet start. Recent snow and hard frosts have helped to disperse coveys.

  • For the Matariki long weekend, conditions for upland hunting look fair on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Persistence is essential when quail hunting. Don’t be afraid to put in some long walks into good habitat. Look for birds seeking food and shelter around briar rosehips and on warm faces.
  • Be ready when your dog indicates interest. Keep a close watch and be prepared to rattle a few bushes where the dog may be signalling. It’s easy to pass birds holding tight in cover.
  • The upland game season in Otago is open until the end of August.

Bait Operations – Dog Safety Alert

Hunters with dogs should be aware of upcoming poison operations to control possums in TB management areas:

  • Pisa North: Aerial 1080 drops (starting post-July 1) will target possums in Luggate Creek and Alice Burn. Contact: 021 231 9712 or [email protected] for maps.
  • Strath Taieri & Clutha Buffer: Ground-based trapping and poisoning begin July 1. Contact:

Keep dogs well away from bait zones and carcasses.

Bird Flu (HPAI H5N1) Update

MPI advises the current risk of avian influenza reaching New Zealand is low. The virus has not been detected in NZ, Australia, or the South Pacific, but that risk would increase if outbreaks reach the West Pacific region.

  • Ducks, swans, and shorebirds could be vulnerable if exposed.
  • Hunters should practise good biosecurity and stay informed.
    More info: www.mpi.govt.nz/HPAI

Local regulations

Planning to hunt in another region? Be sure you know the local regulations.

  • Each region has its own set of regulations working in conjunction with the national regulations.
  • These include bag limits and season lengths.
  • Download regulation booklets for each individual region from the Fish & Game website by selecting here.

Keep our game bird hunting tradition alive and introduce a buddy. Grab a day hunting licence online and let the adventures begin.

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