Both Barrels May 2026 - Central South Island

Opening Weekend Ranging Report

The family duck hunt tradition continues in Mackenzie Country and South Canterbury

On Saturday May 2nd, Opening Day of the 2026 game bird hunting season (duck hunting season), Central South Island Fish & Game had teams of rangers operating in three areas, Temuka, Fairlie and Wainono Lagoon.

Image above: L-R Dave Jarrett, Bruce Osmon and Paul Herring hunting near Temuka on opening weekend' - credit Rhys Adams

Opening Day weather was pleasant for hunting with low cloud clearing early to a sunny day and mild temperatures, well suited for what is for many hunters a social occasion with friends and family first and foremost.

Rangers checked on 78 hunters, a mix of local and visiting hunters.  Rangers were pleased to find the majority of hunters fully compliant with the hunting regulations. However, four individual hunters were found offending, hunting without a game bird licence and/or in possession of lead ammunition within 200 metres of open water.

Ranger’s Observations from Opening Weekend

On opening weekend, hunters who tended to be having more success generally appeared to be putting the most effort and thought into their decoy spreads — particularly the use of motion. Motion devices such as wing spinners (Mojo Ducks), pulsators, and other movement-enhancing setups can make a real difference in attracting birds and increasing action over opening weekend. Wing spinners are particularly effective at attracting the attention of ducks from long distances, especially on larger water bodies where birds may otherwise overlook your spread. They can be especially useful when trying to attract ducks that are not already regularly using the area, as these birds may not naturally be looking toward your location. Pulsators can also be highly effective on calm days when there is little to no wind creating natural movement on the water. The ripples and subtle movement created by pulsators help make a decoy spread appear far more realistic and natural to passing birds.

The importance of motion and realistic-looking decoy spreads was particularly noticeable on large water bodies, where you have multiple hunting groups set up in relatively close proximity to each other. In these situations, attention to detail becomes especially important. If you are set up beside another hunting group that has put more emphasis into motion and creating a more realistic-looking setup, while your spread lacks movement, birds will often favour their spread over yours. This can quickly lead to a frustrating day, particularly on heavily hunted water where ducks have multiple options to choose from.

However, after opening weekend, mallards can often become more cautious of wing spinners, although this can vary depending on the area and hunting pressure. It often comes down to trial and error. If you are hunting an area where birds are already regularly using as their park up / feeding location, a wing spinner may not be necessary, as ducks are already intending to use that location.

Ideally, motion decoys should be used selectively rather than running continuously. Having a Mojo Duck connected to a remote allows hunters to turn the decoy on briefly to attract the attention of passing birds, before switching it off again as birds come in for a closer look. This can often create a more natural-looking setup and help reduce the chance of educated birds becoming wary.

Head to the Fish & Game New Zealand Hunting knowledge Hub for more info on decoy spreads and motion decoys, CLICK HERE.

Game Harvest Survey

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 hunters on average harvested approximately 12 game birds in total for the weekend, with 8 of those being mallard.

Outlook for June

After opening weekend, many hunters tend to lock their guns and decoys away for another year. However, duck hunting after opening weekend can still provide some rewarding shooting if you are prepared to put in the effort.

Following the pressure of opening weekend, ducks often move into quieter areas where they experience less disturbance for the remainder of the season. Hunters willing to spend time scouting and locating these areas can often find excellent opportunities post opening weekend.

Ducks will also often gradually return to areas that received heavy hunting pressure on opening weekend once disturbance levels ease. Over time, numbers can slowly build back up on these ponds and maimais, potentially providing hunters with another opportunity to successfully hunt the same areas later in the season.

Don’t Forget About Our Managed Wetlands!

Charles Keenan setting up some decoys on one of our managed wetlands post opening weekend - credit Blake Harper

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 hunting 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, fill out the permit application found at the bottom of the web-page, 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