Both Barrels May 2025 - Central South Island

Opening Weekend Ranging Report

Two teams of Central South Island Fish & Game rangers were out and about on Saturday 3rd May for the Opening of the 2025 game bird hunting season. One team covered the area south of Oamaru around Maheno, while the other ranged the Ashburton District.

Image above: Three generations of the Hunt family enjoying their first opening on the pond of their new property’ - credit Rhys Adams

The Maheno team spoke to 28 hunters. All hunting parties that were spoken to had managed to bag some birds, with a mix of mainly parries and mallards. The team encountered many multigenerational parties which was pleasing to see and indicated that game bird hunting opening remains a family tradition for many, and that the future of game bird hunting is strong.

The Ashburton team spoke to 23 hunters. The heavy rain the week leading up to opening day in the northern part of South Canterbury region made a lot of the rivers unsuitable for hunting. However, those that still managed to get out experienced varying levels of success, with only a select few hunters managing to bag some birds. Despite this, many hunters were happy to be out with family and friends socialising.

Lead ammunition

CSI F&G Rangers Hamish Stevens and Nikki Dellaway approaching a group of hunters - credit Jase Van Beers

Despite twenty years of prohibiting hunters from possessing lead ammunition within 200 metres of water, rangers still encountered four hunters in breach of this rule on the Saturday of opening weekend.

A common mistake hunters make is storing both their steel and lead ammunition in the same ammo box or container. Even if you don’t intend to use lead shot, simply having it in your possession within 200 metres of water is still an offence.

We strongly encourage you to check through your shot gun ammunition stores and separate lead ammunition from non-toxic steel ammunition to avoid any inadvertent offending.

Typically, steel ammunition, has “STEEL” written on the cartridge case – making it a straightforward task to identify steel ammunition.

If the cartridge case doesn’t have STEEL written on it, treat it as lead.

Game Harvest Survey

Matthew Williams of Oamaru with a mallard duck and paradise duck harvested from All Day Bay Lagoon near Kakanui on Opening morning - credit Rhys Adams

Every season Fish & Game phone a selection of game licence holders to survey their harvest. Harvest information is compared with previous seasons to assess the effects of bag limit and season length regulations. Phone surveys are undertaken every fortnight after opening – so expect a call sometime between now and the end of July.

Thanks, heaps, to all those hunters that provided Opening Weekend harvest info.

Preliminary harvest survey data from opening suggests that it was a modest opening for many in the CSI Region – statistically speaking, the average hunter harvested about 13 game birds in total for the weekend, with about 7 of those being mallard.

Outlook for June

Ducks making the most of some surface water in a paddock after some rain - credit Rhys Adams

Winter often brings periods of heavy rainfall, leading to widespread surface water. These temporary areas create ideal feeding grounds for ducks foraging for worms and invertebrates. This can provide a great opportunity to set up in a well-scouted area where you’ve observed ducks congregating. One tip is to ensure your lay out blind or makeshift maimai is well concealed and blends in naturally with the surroundings you are hunting. Ducks are smarter than you think, especially as the season progresses into the mid to late stages.

Another feature of winter is frost, which can make the idea of heading out in sub-zero temperatures less appealing. However, after several consecutive frosty days, many ponds and still water bodies begin to freeze over. This can work in your favour, as ducks are forced to move to open water, particularly rivers, creating a good opportunity to target these areas.

Don’t forget about our managed wetlands!

Blake Harper after a successful morning shoot on one of our managed Wetlands post opening weekend - credit Charles Keenan

CSI Fish & Game administer hunting at four wetlands and although these wetlands were balloted for Opening Weekend, from now till the end of the season these wetlands can be hunted by all licence holders, provided you obtain a permit and, if required, contact the landowner prior to hunting.

Our wetlands can provide quality shooting post Opening Weekend, especially if you can time your outing with some rough weather.

Click here to jump on our website to check out the wetland maps and info.

While there, save a permit application form, fill it in and email it to us, or alternatively get in direct contact with the office.

CSI Fish & Game contacts: email [email protected] or phone 03 6158400.

Check out this YouTube video of what is on offer at our Fish & Game Wainono Wetland Reserve

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Goodluck out there,

Blake Harper

Central South Island Fish & Game Officer