Both Barrels June 2025 - West Coast

Late-Season Hunting Awaits — Make the Most of It!

After a stable start to the season, late May and June’s weather has delivered far better conditions for getting game birds moving. Wind and occasional heavy rain help stir up the birds, prompting them to shift locations in search of food. As a hunter, this movement is exactly what you want, birds in the air, creating opportunities to draw them into your decoy spread.

Image above: For mobile hunters chasing birds in open ground, layout blinds are hard to beat.

With the shortest day fast approaching and colder temperatures setting in, birds are beginning to mob up. This is especially true for Paradise Shelduck, which often gather in large numbers on paddocks of fresh new grass during frosty periods.

Scouting becomes even more critical during this time. When birds are concentrated in certain areas, being slightly off-target can mean a quiet morning—but with the right preparation, it can also result in an outstanding hunt.

The season is far from over. In fact, some of the best decoying action often occurs in July. As the season progresses, birds will begin to pair off. This is a great time to be selective in your harvest. Lone drakes are ideal targets, allowing you to leave established breeding pairs undisturbed to support future populations.

No better way to finish a hunt than with a few “blue pheasants” in the bag.

So keep an eye on the weather, scout smart, and make the most of the excellent hunting June and July can offer.

Hunt Somewhere New

The West Coast is unique when it comes to finding hunting opportunities for waterfowl because we have plenty of habitat and not enough hunters.

Most landowners are happy to grant access if you take the time to call or visit and ask politely. Opening Day is usually busy, but later in the season you should have no problems getting permission.

To find good spots, take a drive and look for game birds or use tools like Google Maps to scout habitat. The Fish and Game regulations booklet also includes a list of huntable properties to help you get started.

Don’t overlook wet hollows — they’re often hotspots for feeding birds

When you find a good location, visit the nearest farmhouse. Landowners often appreciate hunters helping manage bird populations and readily grant access. We can also assist you in identifying landowners if you need help.

If you are denied access, it may be because the landowner hunts themselves or has had negative past experiences. Remember, your behaviour affects not only you but every hunter who follows.

Always respect the rules, be courteous, and thank those who allow access. This helps maintain and grow hunting opportunities for everyone.

West Coast hospitality is there—you just need to seek it out.

Get out, be visible, ask permission, and utilise the full West Coast game bird season.

Organised Hunts Update

We’ve now completed two of our three scheduled organised hunts for the year, and both have been a great success so far.

Our first hunt, held at Barrytown, was a fantastic success. Hunters enjoyed some exciting pukeko drives, with plenty of fast-paced, close-range shooting as birds flushed from the winter feed crops.

Up-close and action-packed.

The second event, the South Westland Gamebird Hunt, took place last weekend. Participants explored new areas and took moderate bags of paradise shelduck and pukeko, along with the occasional duck. It was not only a productive hunt but also a great social outing.

Unfortunately, we regret to inform you that the Karamea Gamebird Hunting Trip has been cancelled for this year. Due to unforeseen staffing constraints and changes in team availability, we are currently unable to dedicate the necessary time and resources to run the trip to the standard you’ve come to expect. We appreciate your understanding and continued support. Plans are already underway to return to Karamea in 2026, and we look forward to making next year’s trip better than ever.

If you're not on the keen hunter’s list but would like to receive updates about these events, please email [email protected].

Coming Up: The Shortest Weekend Duck Hunt – June 21–22

This coming weekend (Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of June), Fish & Game encourages all hunters to head back out into the field for the annual Shortest Weekend Duck Hunt.

At the request of hunters, Fish & Game promotes this weekend each year as a chance to get hunters out in force again and to keep birds circulating—a second opening weekend, in essence.

Birds will have settled well since Opening Day in May, and it’s a great opportunity to check your usual spots for increased activity. With day licences available, this is also an excellent chance to introduce someone new to the sport.

Keep an eye on our calendar below for key event dates and updates.

 

Event	Date	Location
Pukeko Drive	25th May 2025	Barrytown
South Westland Gamebird Hunt	14th & 15th June 2025	Harihari
Shortest Weekend Duck Hunt	21st & 22nd June 2025	West Coast
Game Bird Hunting Trip	Cancelled	Karamea
Closing Weekend	26th & 27th July 2025	West Coast
Opening of Summer Pukeko Season	1st January 2026	West Coast
Opening of Summer Paradise Shelduck & Swan Season	28th February 2026	Locations 200m or more from open water for Paradise Shelduck on the West Coast
Closing of Summer Seasons	22nd March 2026	West Coast

 

Hope to see you out there.

Baylee Kersten, West Coast Fish & Game Officer