Fish & Game hails iwi access to forest hunting

Fish & Game Eastern has applauded local iwi for their decision to provide continued access to local forests for game bird hunting - lands which are part recent Treaty of Waitangi settlements.

Access to Rotoehu and Kaingaroa Forests for game bird hunting opened on the first weekend in May, as the new game bird hunting season began.

Eastern Fish & Game Manager Rob Pitkethley says Ngati Awa, Ngati Makino and Ngati Pikiao have permitted game bird hunting access to their land in the Rotoehu Forest this season, which is one of New Zealand’s premier forests for pheasant hunting.

“We are very grateful to the iwi concerned for allowing access to this important area for game bird hunters who’d otherwise be forced to look elsewhere,” he said. Rotoehu Forest has long been recognised as a very productive pheasant hunting area and has provided decades of upland game hunting.

“Iwi have taken over the land's ownership but are still allowing upland game hunters to use the forest – we’re very grateful and recognise their efforts to provide this continued hunting opportunity.”

Other Central North Island iwi have also continued to permit game bird hunting in Kaingaroa Forest over winter weekends – which also adds to the number of easily-accessed areas open to upland game bird hunting.

But hunters are reminded that they need to obtain permits from ISCL in Rotorua to access both Rotoehu and Kaingaroa forest areas.

Mr Pitkethley says Fish & Game also wants licence holders to know it’s important that they report any suspicious activities they observe in any of the forests. “Our game bird hunters need to be responsible forest users and we strongly urge them to help keep the forests safer places for everyone.”

The upland game bird season, which includes quail and pheasant, runs for a total of nearly four months to August 25, 2013. Other species like pukeko, paradise shelduck and black swan have an extended season which further adds to game bird opportunities. “Target those species and you’ll be getting good value from your game bird licence,” Mr Pitkethley says.

Eastern Fish & Game’s short season for grey and mallard ducks has now closed (June 3) but with upland game and some other species still huntable, hunters are urged to check their regulation booklets to make the most of opportunities over the full hunting season.

ENDS

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