Balloted Wetlands Gate Restrictions - 2017 Game Bird Season
- Eastern
- 3/05/2017
Hunters entering the wetlands listed below and other Fish & Game-managed wetlands require both a game bird hunting licence and a hunting permit issued by Fish & Game.
Ballot holders have exclusive use of their stand for Opening Weekend, and the following two weeks ending Sunday May 21.
After that any permitted hunter may access the wetland to hunt.
Access is via vehicle (where authorised), quad / mule, or by walking. All game bird hunting in balloted wetlands ceases PM Sunday 18th June 2017.
Awaiti: main gate unlocked AM Friday 5th May – main gate relocked PM Monday 8th May. Quad / mule gate will be open for mallard season – closed Monday 19th June. The two gates beside Looney’s driveway will be locked at all times.
Awakaponga: gate locked all season, walking access only.
Kaituna: main gate and western access gate will be unlocked AM Friday 6th May – main gate and western access gate will be relocked PM Monday 8th May. Signage will show ‘no vehicle access tracks’ and ‘designated parking areas’ – use these only!
Quad / mule gates will be open for mallard season – closed PM Sunday 18th June. The main gate and western access gates will be unlocked for the last weekend of the mallard season for the recovery of gear – open PM Friday 16th June and closed PM Sunday 18th June.
Lake Tamurenui: main access track will be unlocked for the season. The mountain bike track will be closed to bikers from 25th April and reopened 19th June.
Ohaaki: main gate unlocked AM Friday 5th May – main gate relocked PM Monday 8th May.
Orotu: main road gate is to be locked at all times. Vehicle access keys may be obtained by contacting the landowner as shown in the reserve access details.
Thornton: main access gate will be unlocked AM Friday 5th May – main access gate will be relocked PM Sunday 18th June.
All other managed wetland reserves have vehicle access for the duration of the mallard hunting season (6th May – 18th June).
Please note that some require landowner consultation as per reserve access details.
Where possible it is preferable that vehicles are parked outside the reserve and access is by walking to reduce disturbance.