Media release from Northland Fish & Game

Northland rain great news for gamebird hunters

It hasn't only been Northland farmers celebrating the rain this week - the region's gamebird hunters have also been glancing skywards and dancing a jig.

The much-needed moisture is helping to fill drought-deprived ponds and streams before the region's eight-week gamebird season opens on May 4, although Northland Fish & Game regional manager Rudi Hoetjes knows there is still some way to go.

"The rain has been great this week but the watertable is so low, we need a lot more rain in the coming weeks to really make a difference," Hoetjes said. "Looking at the forecasts, we're still hopeful this will happen and the dry conditions will change in time for opening weekend."

What hasn't changed is the season length, at least for Northland hunters. While the Auckland-Waikato and Eastern regions have shortened their season to four weeks, Northern hunters chasing mallards, grey ducks and New Zealand shovelers will follow the traditional dates from May 4 until the end of June. Upland gamebirds - for species including paradise shelduck, black swan and pheasant - have a longer season extending into July and August depending on the species.

"We've had a few calls from concerned hunters worried that we'd changed to a four-week mallard and grey season as well but that's definitely not the case," Hoetjes said.

Hoetjes is reminding hunters to ensure their boating equipment, maimais and guns have been thoroughly checked before the season opening and to hunt responsibly and ethically.

Any banded birds harvested should be reported with band number, location and date recovered, and your personal details, with more information at http://northland.fishandgame.org.nz or by calling Northland Fish and Game at 09 438 4135.

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