Otago - The Game Call - 05 June 2025

Welcome to the fourth edition of The Game Call, your fortnightly Otago Regional Hunting Report.

Pictured above: Opening morning of the duck season at Matukituki Valley. Credit: Reece Cameron.

In this issue:

• Reports Around the Region
• Up, upland and away
• Duck season’s promising start: survey
• Photo Competition
• Recipe Competition
• Managed Wetlands – Inch Clutha
• Weather Outlook

Cooler weather is settling in across the region, with snow forecast to low levels in some areas and fresh winds expected along the coast. These conditions should move birds around, pushing ducks off the main rivers and onto smaller creeks and paddock puddles.

• For those heading out this weekend, finding sheltered spots and smaller water could improve your chances.
• Looking ahead, the colder conditions may help break up larger mobs of ducks as they spread out in search of feed.
• Upland hunters might also benefit, as quail are more likely to covey up when temperatures drop.
• Keep an eye on local forecasts, observe bird behaviour, and make the most of the changing conditions.
  
  

Reports around the region

Taieri:

• With a fresh south-westerly expected near the coast tomorrow, Ryan Dunbar, from Dunedin Hunting & Fishing, says birds will be pushed onto the edges on bigger waters such as Lakes Waihola and Waipori. Find a sheltered spot with the prevailing wind to your back.
• Dan Kunac says he’s seen fewer ducks on the Taieri Plain in the past fortnight. “There are a few around but you’re going to have to be feeding them,” he says. “There hasn’t been a heap of rain. With rain coming, surface water might bring more birds around. There’s not a lot sitting on paddocks just yet. There’s more up Middlemarch way.”

West Otago:

• Adrian McIntyre says there’s been an inch of rain in the past two days in West Otago, and birds are feeding on stubble and paddock puddles.
• The Otago Fish & Game Chairman has been shooting 10-12 birds a night on wet patches in paddocks. “Five standout decoys and a layout blind and away you go. All mallards - a lot of drakes. They are in beautiful condition — yellow, nice fat birds.”
• As the water comes up with the rain, ducks will be pushed out of the rivers and onto small creeks and nearby puddles. Birds that have been holding up in the willows can’t stay in the current.
• Adrian says once the frosts arrive, the ponds will begin to ice up. However, if there are holes in the ice on the pond, it tells you the birds have been there and are leaving early in the morning. “You have night birds. Get there for the evening shoot.”

Lower Clutha:

• Jack Pow and mates hunted a tributary of the lower Clutha/Mata-Au recently and shot about 20-25 mallards. The birds came into the tributary in the morning and were feeding on nearby stubble in the afternoon.
• The next day the lads hunted a small pond in West Otago and harvested another 20 birds.

Maniototo:

• Last weekend Jack’s hunting party harvested a large mixed bag of mallards, paradise shelduck and a pair of shoveler drakes on small ponds on dairy farms near Ranfurly.
• If the weather turns foul over the next few days, ducks will likely head to smaller water with cover. Strong wind is good for decoying birds into the wind.
• Dan agrees the wind helped the shooting last weekend. “Can’t beat a stormy day to shoot ducks.”
• Depending on how wet and cold it gets, small, sheltered water could be the pick. And if you’re going out tomorrow, find a warm maimai!
• Cold weather will soon start to split up the large mobs of ducks, says Gus McSkimming. “We should start to see them in different places as they look for feed elsewhere.”

East Otago:

• Ryan Dunbar recently got a mixed bag of mallard and paradise shelduck on a river in East Otago. “Not a bad afternoon’s walk!” he says.

Next to his house, Ryan has been watching a pond, which can’t be hunted, where about 30 ducks fly in every morning and leave about 4-5pm each evening. He says there’s a lesson there in observing bird behaviour and following them to where they’re feeding.

Central Otago:  

• Tom Dougherty, from Central Otago Hunting & Fishing, is hearing of good numbers of paradise shelduck flocking onto farms feeding out around Chatto Creek. The parries have been coming in pairs – forming into mobs of up to about 40 birds, he says.

Up, upland and away

George Weatherall (aged 13) with a quail harvested in the Maniototo on King’s Birthday Weekend. Credit: Scott Weatherall.

It’s been a quiet start to the Otago upland game season, but conditions should improve in the next couple of weeks, according to various reports.

• “The weather looks horrendous for a few days with snow down to 300m. The cold snap should help after another season’s start with mild temperatures, much like recent seasons,” says Tom Dougherty, from Central Otago Hunting & Fishing. “Generally later in the season, the quail covey up better when the weather is colder. The last few seasons they are normally spread out early on, and when it gets colder they covey up better.”
• On frosty mornings in Central Otago, look for tight guts in areas such as those near Bannockburn, Northburn or behind Alexandra where there is a lot of briar.
• Another licence holder who hunted the first three days of the upland game season said quail numbers weren’t what they had been in the past. He found the dogs were getting onto more possums than quail.
• Please remember, most quail hunting in Otago takes place on private property and permission is required from the landowner.

Duck opening a promising start: survey

This year’s Opening Weekend proved a strong start to the season for Otago waterfowlers, preliminary results from our annual phone survey show.

• Almost 70% of Otago licence holders hunted in-region, spending an average of 10.3 hours in the maimai — only slightly below the long-term average.
• Hunters reported an average bag of 9.8 greylards (mallard, greys and hybrids) and 12.1 waterfowl overall, with greylards making up 80% of the total harvest. (See above chart.)
• These figures mark a welcome recovery from last year’s low numbers and align closely with long-term trends.
• The greylard harvest rate was 0.95 birds per hour — well above the 2024 low and a key indicator of improved hunter satisfaction.
• Nearly half of surveyed hunters bagged more than 10 birds for the weekend, while the proportion taking five or fewer dropped significantly.

Shot of the season: Otago game bird photo competition

Pip the dog (age 1) and Jackson McAuliffe (7) have success on the lower Taieri on Opening Weekend in Otago. Credit: Tom McAuliffe.

This fortnight’s “Shot of the Season” winner is Tom McAuliffe, with his photo of Jackson (aged 7) and Pip the dog.

Show us your best photo shots from the great outdoors!

Otago's game bird season isn't just about the harvest — it's about the memories made and stories shared. This season, we're celebrating the photographers among our hunting community with the "Shot of the Season" photo competition.

Every fortnight, we'll select one outstanding photo that captures the essence of game bird hunting in Otago. Each featured photographer will go into the running for our grand prize worth $250, sponsored by Dunedin Hunting & Fishing, to be announced at the end of the season.

Whether it's the perfect morning light across the wetlands, your trusty hunting companion on the job, a burst of upland action, or a proud moment with your harvest — we want to see it all!

Submit your entries:

• Email: [email protected]
• Subject line: Photo competition
• A brief caption describing the photo including names (from left) of any people or pawed hunting buddies

Fortnightly winners featured every second Thursday throughout the season.

Game bird recipe competition: Put your wild kai to the test!

Dougal Paterson, from Central Otago, wins a free copy of The Fish + Game Cookbook for his super simple, slow-cooked mallard in our Recipe Competition.

The generous helping of sugar in his recipe breaks down sinews in the meat, Dougal says. “The boys enjoy it. Mum’s not so keen.” The ducks shot on Opening Day were “butter fat” from a family pond at Moa Creek where Dougal has hunted for 30 years.

Dougal’s slow-cooked mallard

Ingredients:

• Whole mallard
• ½-1 cup brown sugar (quantity depends on your level of sweet tooth)
• ½ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• Lump of butter

 Method:

• Put the duck in the crockpot.
• Add all the ingredients.
• Replace the lid and cook on low power for 8 hours.
• Then enjoy! It’s sticky and yummy.

Got a special way in the kitchen with mallards? A tantalising technique for parries? Show off your culinary skills in our Game Bird Recipe Competition!

Every two weeks during hunting season, you’ll have the opportunity to win a copy of The Fish + Game Cookbook, by Angelo Georgalli, for the most impressive game bird recipe. Whether it's a family recipe passed down for generations or your own creative invention, we want to see how you transform your wild kai from outdoors to table.

Simply submit:

• your name
• your recipe
• a photo of your prepared dish,
• a brief story about your hunt.

Email to: [email protected]
Subject line: Recipe competition
Entries must be received by midnight every second Sunday.

Winners announced fortnightly! Good hunting and better cooking!

Fish & Game wetlands – Inch Clutha Wildlife Management Reserve

Inch Clutha Wildlife Management Reserve has two marked hunting positions.

Inch Clutha Wildlife Management Reserve, near Balclutha, is one of our most productive Fish & Game-managed wetlands for waterfowl hunters in the region.

• The 5ha wetland has two marked hunting positions among willows but there are no maimais. Temporary hunting position signs have been erected.
•  Getting there from SH1, take the Kaitangata Highway to Stirling, cross the bridge over the Clutha River, turn right onto Hislop Rd, and then right onto Chicory Rd. The reserve is at the end of Chicory Rd on the left-hand-side, about 7km from Balclutha.
• Hunting stands and permits are allocated via ballot for the first nine days of the season with preference given to junior and novice hunters. The parties need to work together for best results.
• Other hunters may obtain permits to access the wetland during the rest of the season. Pegging of hunting stands at Inch Clutha is not permitted.
• To apply for a casual permit, please select here.
• For more details on game bird hunting in Otago, including Fish & Game managed wetlands, select here.  

Dunedin Weather Outlook

Wind forecast: 8am Saturday June 7, 2025 (Credit: www.windy.com)

Dunedin: Temperatures are expected to stay in single digits for the next few days. Tomorrow will bring southwesterlies, turning to fresh southeasterlies before dawn. On Saturday showers and southeasterlies will continue. Sunday is looking mostly cloudy with a few showers developing and light wind.

Clutha Rural: Heavy showers and snow down to 500 metres is forecast on Friday before longer fine breaks in the afternoon. Southwesterlies will turn to fresh southeasterlies before dawn. Showers on Saturday are expected to ease with snow down to 300 metres and southeasterlies. On Sunday cloud is predicted to increase with isolated showers and light wind.

Central Otago: Heavy snow warning tomorrow from 9am to midnight. Expect 15-25cm of snow to settle above 500 metres, with lesser amounts down to 300 metres. Expect showers and fresh southerlies for a time in the afternoon. Saturday is looking mainly fine, chance of a shower, and southerlies. Sunday should be partly cloudy with light wind.

Please note: This weather update is current at the time of publishing. We recommend checking the latest forecasts and road conditions before heading out. Click here for updates from MetService or Windy.com.

Local regulations

Planning to hunt in another region? Be sure you know the local regulations.

• Each region has its own set of regulations working in conjunction with the national regulations.
• These include bag limits and season lengths.
• Download regulation booklets for each individual region from the Fish & Game website by selecting here.

Got any Otago Game Bird Hunting News?

Send your hunting news and photos (with hunters’ names) to [email protected] for consideration in the Regional Hunting Report.