Hunters given assurances on coming game bird season

Keen game bird hunters in Northland have been assured that there’s been no cut back to the length of the game bird season for mallard ducks which opens on Saturday May 3, 2014.

Northland Fish & Game manager Rudi Hoetjes says a media report has unfortunately created some confusion for a number of hunters in the Far North.

The report run by local media in fact referred to the Eastern Fish & Game region where there’s to be a very short season – not Northland – which wasn’t clear enough to readers, he says.

“Our mallard and grey season is exactly the same as last year, running for eight weeks from May 3 to June 29.

“We can put hunters minds at rest – they’re getting the same opportunities to hunt over this period, with the same bag limits in place of 15 mallards or greys, and three shoveler duck.”

Mr Hoetjes urges hunters as always to buy their game bird licence and make themselves familiar with the regulations in the game bird hunting booklet.

He says there has been one minor change to season length for one upland game bird species – the quail. The season will close earlier in area A, to align with the cut- off date for pheasants.

The Northland Fish & Game Council has not changed any of the other season lengths or daily game bags for waterfowl or other upland game birds, he adds.

“We welcome calls to our office from anyone who still has any concerns about season lengths or any other regulations. Fish & Game officers are happy to advise hunters on where they can shoot, how to apply for any permits, and put them straight on any other issues they might have.”

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