Well before dawn this Saturday morning, alarms will go off in homes around the Eastern Bay as hunters kick off another game bird season.

Fish & Game New Zealand chief operating officer Richie Cosgrove said the season was shaping up to be a good one.

“We know hunters across the country have been closely watching conditions, and the picture heading into opening weekend is encouraging for the season ahead,” he said.

While the weather has been difficult for many New Zealanders, the conditions have meant plenty of water across the landscape, which benefits ducks.

“The increased rainfall has replenished wetlands, ponds and waterways across many regions, giving waterfowl more habitat to feed and roost.

“Every year, we see hunters come from all walks of life heading out for opening weekend and the excitement in communities up and down the country is definitely building.”

“There is nothing quite like getting out into the wild with people you care about and coming home with wild kai for the table.”

He encourages hunters to factor in the wider distribution of birds when planning their opening weekend.

“With more standing water around, ducks have more options for where they settle. We’d encourage hunters to do their scouting well beforehand and have a few back-up spots in mind if birds aren’t coming into their chosen location on opening morning.”

We encourage hunters to get out often throughout winter and make the most of their game bird licence.”

Fish & Game is grateful to the landowners who open their properties to hunters each season, recognising the vital role they play in keeping the tradition alive and accessible.

“We want to thank those farmers who generously open their farms to hunters, many of whom are hunters themselves. Their support helps ensure that the tradition of game bird hunting continues for generations to come.”

Opening weekend is expected to draw approximately 60,000 hunters nationwide, with Fish & Game Rangers active across all regions checking compliance, supported by Police and the Firearms Safety Authority.

“Make sure you’ve got your game bird licence, that you’re familiar with the regulations and bag limits for your region, and always follow the firearms safety rules.”

Game bird licences are available from the Fish & Game website at www.fishandgame.org.nz or from outdoor supplies stores.

Eastern Region outlook

According to Fish & Game, it looks as if it may be a good start to the mallard season.

“Each year we trap about 1000-1500 mallard and grey duck. During the duck trapping process, we get a rough idea as to what the breeding season has been like,” said spokesperson Arash Alaeinia.

“We have been doing this for 30 years and during that time the average number of juveniles to adult mallards in the trap sample is 1.96.

“This year, the ratio was 2.8, the second-highest ratio in the last 12 years. We are the first to acknowledge that the juvenile-to-adult trap ratio has some inherent issues as an index of the breeding season, however, we do know that summer rainfall is a good indicator of population growth.

“Hunters tend to do well over opening weekend when there are plenty of juveniles around, so provided the weather does its bit, we are expecting hunters to do well this weekend.”