Both Barrels May 2025
- F&G NZ
- 26/05/2025
Hunt Like a King this Weekend!
Game bird hunters in New Zealand have so many hunting opportunities that it could be said we are the royalty of the water fowling and upland game bird hunting worlds.
We have some of the best public water hunting sites in the world, so much so that we at Fish & Game are noticing more and more overseas hunters coming to check out what New Zealand has to offer.
This weekend, we have some prime hunting opportunities from Northland to Southland and everywhere else in between.
A long weekend is the perfect chance to gather your hunting crew around you once again and go hunting. Also, why not invite some new hunters to your crew and introduce them to game bird hunting?
They could get a day licence so that they can dip their toes into the game bird hunting water and try it out.
Plus, many of our regions have “take a mate” hunting special licences, so check out the regional links above and see if you can spread your enthusiasm for game bird hunting with more people.
Opening Weekend
All reports indicate that opening day around the country was a great event enjoyed by all.
The Minister for Hunting and Fishing, James Meager, even dragged himself away from a National Party Conference to go hunting in the Sinclair Wetland with Fish & Game CE Corina Jordan, Deputy CE Richie Cosgrove and NZ Hunter's Greg Duley.
This fantastic wetland south of Dunedin was the site for many opening morning hunters and Fish & Game were thankful for the efforts of Greg finding us an ideal spot for a great morning's hunting.
Our Ranger teams were out and about around the country and reported good bags by hunters all over the country. Hunters in Canterbury were still happy despite the unexpected rain dump earlier in the week, which made hunting on Lake Ellesmere very challenging due to high lake levels.
Hunters who adapted to the conditions around the country did well and it was great to see so many hunters out and about on the weekend.
Remember, the season goes for many more weeks for some species so be adventurous and chance your arm at some different types of game bird hunting.
Junior Hunting Adventure
Fish and Game spent last weekend supporting the next generation of game bird hunters.
There was no better time than Youth Week for the best junior hunting adventure in New Zealand, held in the Central Hawkes Bay.
Fish & Game welcomed eight young hunters from all over New Zealand to the Wilson wetland; All were winners of our Junior Duck Hunting Adventure competition.
Our young hunters came from as far away as Auckland and Mid Canterbury to experience the chance to hunt on some wetlands created by the landowners in conjunction with Fish & Game and the Game Bird Habitat Trust.
On the first afternoon, we took them through a session of gun safety & all young hunters had a go at simulated sporting clay target shooting to prepare for their hunting adventure the next morning.
A shout out to Patangata Clay Target Club and Dave Hern (Clay target champ) who provided one on one tuition and mentorship for our lucky winners.
Following a duck dinner that night and some gear selection, our lucky winners were up at 4.30 am to get ready for their hunts.
Split across two sites, one team hunted Ben and Beth Wilson’s wetland, and the other team hunted Gerald Wilson’s nearby wetland.
Early morning fog provided a little challenge but that didn’t prevent our young hunters showing they could cut the mustard with some of the best hunters out there.
The clay target training paid off with our young hunters all contributing to a great harvest that enabled each of them to head home with a whole mallard, and a selection of paradise shelduck and swan breasts ready for them to try out some recipes from the Fish & Game cookbook.
All junior hunters received a goodie bag kindly provided by our sponsors, Hamills Napier, Stoney Creek, Ridgeline, Killwell & Hunting & Fishing.
A big thank you to Hunting & Fishing Palmerston North for sponsoring the ammunition for the weekend and providing all of the winners with a head torch.
This amazing opportunity to support the next generation of hunters would not have been possible without the support of Ben & Gerald Wilson and their families for hosting us and Dame Lynda Topp for her guidance.
Firearms Registry Changes
A reminder from the Firearms Safety Authority that, as of June 24, 2025, purchasing ammunition will become an activating circumstance for the Firearms Registry. This means you will have 30 days from the date of purchase to register all firearms in your possession. You can learn more here.