Both Barrels May 2026 - Northland

Opening weekend summary

Opening weekend saw clear skies and blustery SE winds. The near full moon lit up the early morning and evening sky. The rain and recent floods provided the birds with plenty of appealing places to hide and stay hidden unless disturbed. The mallards used this to their advantage limiting numbers seen during permitted hunting hours. Shelduck numbers were good throughout the region with success being had near recently harvest maize. Bird condition seems to be relatively good.

Image above: A successful hunt in the mangroves. Hokianga Harbour

Things to look forward to:

There will be plenty of ducks getting around once a fresh dose of floodwater comes through. Lots of wetland areas have willow weed that is seeding currently and floodwater will float the seeds to the surface in rafts. This is a magnet for ducks. They will be seeking new opportunities after the next heavy rain and observant hunters will be able to capitalise on this. There is plenty of reasonably fresh maize stubble around and also maize that was never cut due to a wet harvesting season. This should ensure some good paddock hunting later in the season. The harbours hunt fairly consistently throughout the season in the right conditions. The key is to work out what the right conditions are , and to get out and find bird concentrations. Set up right where they are living for successful hunting.

Compliance matters

Ranging teams were focusing on the Far North this year with visits to hunters on the Rangaunu and Hokianga Harbours. It was good to see the high level of compliance with no offences detected on the waterways. However a group of four hunters around the Whangaroa area made  an error in judgement by not purchasing game licences and using toxic shot over water. Breaching the Wildlife Act can lead to charges being laid and firearms licences being reviewed by the firearms authority. Our ranging teams are out all season checking everyone is following the rules to make it fair for every hunter.

Upland Game Hunting and Forestry Permits

Upland game is Northlands speciality, and we have access to many thousands of hectares of pine forests in which to hunt. Permits can be obtained by following the link below.

The forestry companies provide maps that show age classes of the trees so areas can be selected where suitable habitat and food is available.

Please select here to request a forestry permit

Northland Fish and Game Wetlands

Casual wetland permits are available after opening weekend. These permits give the hunter the opportunity to sample some hunting on the properties owned and managed by Northland Fish and Game. These include:

• Bisset Wetland (Carruth Road)
• Greenheart (Bob Taylor Road)
• Underwood Wetland (Hoanga Road)
• Kawakawa Wetland (Station Road)
• Borrow Cut (Jordan Valley Road)
• Flaxmill Wetland (Waihue Road)

Casual wetland permits are available by contacting the office by Email: [email protected], Phone: 09 4384135, or following the link below.

Please select here to request for a wetland permit

Duck Bands 

We have initiated a mallard banding program so expect to see more bands in the coming years. If you have a band and want to report it select the link below. This information will be put into the database and a report letter(this will come from the Auckland/Waikato office) will be emailed to you with information regarding how old, sex and the distance it had flown from banding site.

Select here to send in your band details.

Regulation Changes and Compliance

No changes to regulations this season.

Please make yourself familiar with the 2026 regulation guide.

2026 Northland Hunting Regulation Guide

• Grey/mallard 12 birds per day
• NZ shoveler 3 birds per day
• Paradise shelducks 25 birds per day
• Swan 20 birds per day
• Pukeko 12 birds per day
• California quail 10 birds per day
• Brown quail 10 birds per day
• Cock pheasant 5 birds per day

Season Lengths: 

Our season runs from opening weekend to 28 June 2026 for grey, mallard and shoveler ducks.

Paradise shelduck and swan can be hunted up until 26 July 2026

California quail, brown quail, cock pheasant and pukeko can be hunted out to 30 August 2026.

The paradise shelduck special season runs for nine days from 20 February 2026 until 28 February 2027. Swan and pukeko can also be hunted during this time. The same bag limits apply during this special season.

Hunter Surveys

During the season we conduct gamebird hunter surveys. The results form these surveys help us determine harvest rates and subsequent population changes. It is vital information for sustainable management of gamebird populations. If you purchase a game licence then you should expect a call from the team at some stage during the season. Even if you have not been out hunting it provides us with valuable data regarding resource use. This adds to our knowledge of gamebird distribution changes in the region. The surveys only take a few minutes to complete. We appreciate your continued cooperation with the surveys.

Happy hunting!