Fine start to duck hunting season expected

Clear, calm conditions are expected for the opening day of the duck hunting season which could put the odds in favour of the ducks but that won’t deter nearly 4000 excited Otago hunters from taking part in the biggest hunting event of the year.

Fish & Game Otago Operations Manager Ian Hadland said that weather plays an important part in opening weekend success with hunters traditionally doing better in showery or breezy conditions. “Rough conditions tends to keep birds lower and in circulation for longer periods rather than settling on large open water or out at sea” Mr Hadland said.

Mr Hadland said that under forecast fine and calm conditions good calling and plenty of movement in the decoy spread will be essential to get birds into gun range.

“Luckily duck hunters are ‘gear nuts’ so hunters are well prepared. Most ponds we visit have a plethora of robotic decoys which flap, dive or swim about so I suspect they won’t be bothered too much by the conditions and should still do well.”

Curiously, the forecast fog can help some hunters. “Ducks that know where they are going will commit to their ponds early and by the time the eagle–eyed mallards notice the decoys are plastic, they are within range of the gun” Mr Hadland said.

Mr Hadland said observations and monitoring surveys by Fish & Game Otago staff have them predicting a better than average year in terms of duck numbers. “Up until the recent change in the weather, coastal and south Otago and the Maniototo were holding good numbers of Mallards and Parries but these have since distributed across the region”.

Mr Hadland said that nearly every aspect of hunter behavior had improved over the years and Fish & Game was pleased and proud of that. “We are getting less offending against the regulations and it’s rare to see hunters misbehaving, even though it is the biggest social occasion of the year. But after the guns are put away and the BBQ comes out, for sure, we have seen the odd celebration well underway. It’s a great social and hunting weekend with a festival atmosphere that even non hunters enjoy”

Licence sales have been tremendous over the last few days and will probably peak today (Friday) and it looks as if numbers of Otgao hunters will be similar to last season. “The online licencing system for the public and an online service at agents is helping to alleviate the issue we typically have with licence book shortages so there should be no excuse to be without a licence.”

Fish & Game Otago will have compliance teams operating throughout the region so carrying a gamebird licence at all times when hunting is essential. “Hunters should check their regulations guide too to make sure they are aware of the bag limits and any restrictions” Mr Hadland concluded

ENDS

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