Hunters urged to get value from licence

Hunters who want to get the most from their game bird hunting licence – are reminded there are still several weeks left to hunt pheasant and quail.

Upland game birds including these two species can be hunted until August 26, along with pukeko in some regions.

In Northland, pheasant, quail and pukeko can be hunted until then (in the Far North, area ‘A’ closes August 5)

Northland Fish & Game Officer Nathan Burkepile says that pheasant hunting is “going strong” with hunters reporting seeing lots of the birds throughout the region.

“The better pheasant shooting is occurring on private lands that have grazing areas with a bit of gorse and scrub, or with native bush patches.”

There are also large numbers of brown quail in the open pockets of forestry blocks and farmlands. “These little game birds are often overlooked, but provide some good shooting and a tasty meal.

“California quail, with their distinctive call, are also abundant but the coveys are getting smaller as males set up their territories."

Mr Burkepile says that pukeko are abundant and hunters are encouraged to speak to farmers in areas with large numbers. “With the large bag limits the meat can be used to make salami or pepperoni.”

In the Eastern Region, which includes Rotorua, Tauranga and the East Coast, Senior Fish & Game Officer Matt Mc Dougall says upland game birds are a “great opportunity for duck hunters, especially dog owners, to do more hunting as pheasant are best hunted using a good dog to flush them out of scrub or other vegetation.”

For most pheasant hunters, hunting with a well-trained dog is a key part of the experience, he says.

Fish & Game’s Auckland/Waikato Game Bird Manager David Klee says this is the time when farmers and others such as market gardeners who have problems with pukeko, should target the birds.

“Go and target them now where the numbers are building up,” he says, “for example at the bottom of a farm where a flock of 40 or 50 pooks has built up.” He notes that the rules applying are “liberal,” including a bag limit of 10 birds a day.

Hunters who want to try something different should consider targeting pheasants, and Fish & Game can advise on obtaining permits for forests such as Rayonier’s where the birds are found, he says.

Hawkes Bay Fish & Game says theirs is a similar story to the Auckland/Waikato scene, with orchardists and vegetable growers keen to see pukeko hunted, for the sake of their crops.

The birds can be hunted until the last week of September with a daily bag limit of ten.

In the Wellington Fish & Game Region, Manager Phil Teal says that pheasant and quail hunting is a great pursuit on a crisp, clear winter’s day.

Pheasant hunting is still available in some of the Western Manawatu forests (check your guide) such as Waitarere and Tangimoana, along with the Rangitikei River when the water levels are lower after recent rains, he says.

“Hunters need to bear in mind however that unlike areas further north, pukeko can’t be hunted in the Wellington region as the season closed at the end of June. They should also note the daily bag limit for cock pheasant differs as well – it’s only two locally."

In the South Island pheasant and quail can also be hunted in most regions until August 26. Some regions have other species such as Chukar, red-legged partridge and Bobwhite quail listed as upland game which can be hunted.

Hunters are urged to check their bag limits, season lengths and any special conditions for the different upland game bird species in their region – either in their regulation booklet or the Fish & Game website www.fishandgame.org.nz

Anyone interested in taking up this exciting pursuit should ask advice at their local Fish & Game office where they can also pick up a copy of the booklet Getting Started in Gamebird Hunting, which comes complete with a DVD and a CD with access information and maps.

ENDS

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