The southland duck shooting season will be a month shorter this year, despite the fees remaining the same. You may bring your own shotgun very easily, but firearms are included in these new zealand duck hunting packages for those so inclined. Discuss everything from firearms, reloading, hunting, through to dogs, fishing and gamebird shooting. Practice your shooting organise a clay bird session with your mates before the season starts. For more complete information, read through the relevant state statutes and administrative rules download pdf. In this video, we go duck hunting on opening day in the waikato area. Permits and licences are needed to hunt new zealand gamebirds. Importantly too, duck hunting season acts as a cull, keeping target. The time when quarry species are protected is known as the close season and during this period it is illegal to shoot game or deer. Maybe you can afford to hunt new zealand mossy oak. Duck shooting 2018 opening morning limit nz youtube. New zealand duck hunting season runs may through july and coincides with prime hunting for many big game species.
Department for environment and water 2020 open hunting. Duck shooting seasons starts with a bang kiwi kids news. However, mallards and paradise shelducks do well on open farmland. Applications of open season duck permits will be available from 16 march 2020. When i contacted ramsey russell at about a trip to new zealand hunting ducks he asked what specifically did i want to hunt.
See each of the species below for season information and bag limits. The weather forecast for the opening of duck shooting season this weekend is good news for the regions game birds. Importantly too, duck hunting season acts as a cull, keeping target species down to. Duck hunting open season has been declared for south australia in 2020. As youre probably aware, new zealands seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. For much of the 1800s and early 1900s, new zealand was a duck hunters paradise. Waterfowl hunting gary herberts new zealand hunting. Our big game hunting starts in february and finishes in august.
Duck hunting 2016 journeys to the south island of new zealand for open weekend in this hunting and fishing wonderland. The sound of gunshots rang out across the country on saturday morning as duck shooting season got underway today. The mallard and grey duck shooting season this year will last until the end of may. The open duck shooting seasons in victoria the largest, south australia and tasmania usually occur in march each year. Mario is a mossy oak prostaff regional manager in the waterfowl category along the pacific flyway. Its that time of year again, the opening weekend of the duck shooting season is upon us. Hunting season dates are not finalized until federal regulations are adopted in late summer. The duck shooting season opens in the first weekend of may and runs for 3 months. Nice weather for ducks, not duckshooting otago daily.
This year people are uncertain about the number and condition of the ducks due to the dry summer most of new zealand has had. Open season for game in fish and game regions 2017gs652. Season dates and bag limits california waterfowl association. My response was that id not yet hunted paradise shelduck and anything else was a bonus. Most gamebird seasons start in may, although season dates vary depending on the.
Paradise shelducks were uncommon and declining during the nineteenth century due to over hunting, but they have increased throughout the country since then. A large lightbrown goose with black neck and head and a conspicuous white chinstrap. Under sections 15 and 16 of the wildlife act 1953, the minister of conservation declares an open season for game in the fish and game regions, subject to the conditions specified in the first and second schedules of this notice. New zealands best hunting fishing and shooting forum. The guidebook is a convenient quickreference for waterfowl hunting regulations. An open season duck hunting permit is required to takehunt duck.
Unlike most other developed countries with a hunting tradition, there are no baglimits or seasons for hunting large game in new zealand. If time and resources allow, new zealand is a great place to hunt during the summer slump here the u. Wildlife act 1953 wildlife regulations 1955 new zealand game bird habitat stamp regulations 1993. Duck shooting suppliers of hunting and outdoor products available to purchase online. New zealand also offers fine waterfowl and upland gamebird hunting. Duck shooting season opens with protestors targeting. Click here to demand an end to duck shooting in australia. Uk shooting season for game pheasant, partridge and all. Fish and wildlife service sets sciencebased frameworks based on waterfowl population and other data, with guidance from councils established in each flyway. Duck shooting season starts off with a bang nz herald.
Pheasant, quail and other game bird species have a longer season, finishing in august. Federal migratory bird hunting stamp duck stamp hip endorsement included automatically with purchase of the waterfowl hunting license. Australasian shoveler duck new zealand shoveler anas rhynchotis. Duck shooting season opens on saturday whatsoninvers. In addition to four duck species mallards, grey ducks, paradise shelducks and australasian shovelers, hunters also target black swans and pukeko. Open season for game in fish and game regions new zealand. Another year another video, same small pond, same crew and heaps of ducks in the manawatu.
The mallard and grey duck shooting season this year will last until the end of may while pheasant, quail and other game bird species have a longer season. Unlike other native duck species in new zealand, the paradise shelduck has benefited from the extensive human modification of natural landscapes throughout the country. Thus it is possible to take different species of waterfowl in the same outing. Under sections 15 and 16 of the wildlife act 1953, the minister of conservation declares an open season for game in the fish and game regions from 6 may 2017 to 4 may 2018 inclusive, subject to the conditions specified in the first and second schedules of this notice. A person4 may hunt or kill game of the family anatidae waterfowl during the. The covid19 lockdown means the roar is off, but there are no plans to cancel duck hunting season. Game duck species permitted to be taken modified seven of the eight species of game duck. The banging of pot lids signalled the start of the duck shooting season in christchurch today.
The paradise shelduck is a colourful, conspicuous and noisy waterfowl that could be mistaken for a small goose. Duck hunting guides provide private hunts for new zealand waterfowl, including the beautiful paradise duck, endemic to new zealand, plus new zealand grey, mallard and spoonbill ducks. Waterfowl, including paradise shelduck, mallard, grey and shoveler duck and black. As soon as practicable after the notice for each season is approved by the minister of conservation, the nz council is required to publish the notice in the new zealand gazette. In new zealand, there is no seasonal restriction to hunting rabbits or hares meaning generally they can be hunted throughout the year. Many wetlands, where ducks lived, were drained so the land could be used for farming. The uk shooting season is carefully regulated to allow populations to flourish, breed and move to different areas to feed and overwinter.
New zealand game bird habitat stamp regulations 1993. For many there is a close season when it is illegal to shoot. Duck shooting season dates and bag limits for mallards and paradise shelduck in each region throughout the south island and north island of new zealand. Following an assessment of climate data and forecasts, landscape and wetland condition, waterfowl abundance, and also considering whether hunting activities could impact on the conservation and sustainability of. Quail hunting is not permitted in south australia for 2020. Hunting in new zealand shooting in new zealand free. Hunting is a popular recreational pursuit and a tourist activity in new zealand with numerous books and magazines published on the topic. The thousands of law abiding kiwis who purchase a duck shooting licence. They are mallard, paradise, grey and shoveler duck, black swan and greater canadian goose. History of duck hunting te ara encyclopedia of new zealand.
All new york waterfowl hunters are required to register annually for the harvest information program hip. He checks out some guns in hunting and fishing as he gears up for the latest season of duck shooting. Thomas evans, 18, has been hunting with his family since he was 4 yrs old. Strict laws govern the number of birds which are allowed to be. The victorianbased coalition against duck shooting organises a team that you can sign up to. This is subject to the season length and bag limit for each game bird. The season happens each year around the same time dont be alarmed. Fish and game rangers were out in force, and they found not everyone lived up to. Waterfowl hunting regulations are set at two levels. Kiwi vs aussie banter was all i needed to feel right at home. Duck shooting hunting and outdoor supplies all prices are in new zealand dollars with 15% gst included. Metservice forecaster cameron coutts said there was unlikely to be any low cloud around otago on saturday or sunday, which shooters liked because it.
There are 6 species of huntable waterfowl in new zealand. Sunlive duck shooting season begins the bays news first. It has undergone a remarkable increase in population and distribution since about 1990, including the colonisation of sports fields and other open grassed areas within urban environments. Heres what you need to know for the new duck shooting season in nz. For the rest of the season, hunting times will start half an hour before sunrise and end half an hour after sunset. Waterfowl hunting also called wildfowling or waterfowl shooting in the uk is the practice of hunting ducks, geese, or other waterfowl for food and sport many types of ducks and geese share the same habitat, have overlapping or identical hunting seasons, and are hunted using the same methods. Duck shooting season starts tomorrow morning and shooters are urged to be safe and vigilant. Modern hunting in south australia a guide for responsible and sustainable hunting.
For the duck hunting trip of a lifetime, make riverview lodge your first choice destination in new zealand. All hunting is over decoys on private lakes, ponds and grain fields. For tips from nz duck calling champ hunter morrow, click here. Southland fish and game field officer cohen stewart outlines the prospects for the upcoming opening weekend of the duck shooting season. There are however, instances where restrictions apply for specific reasons and periods when hunting is favoured. The distinctive and wellknown canada goose is a north american native that has been extensively introduced to uk, scandinavia, and north sea nations from denmark to france, russia and ukraine, as well as new zealand. Hunters in pursuit of ducks, mergansers, geese, and brant can view dates and bag limits for waterfowl seasons and a special youth waterfowl hunt. Government cancels duck hunting season act new zealand.
Practice your calling make sure you know what you are doing with your duck call. Come saturday morning thousands of keen shooters will be up at the crack of dawn for the biggest day of the duck shooting season. Pattern your shotgun get to know the ammunition and chokes you are using. The new zealand duck shooting season started on saturday with thousands of hunters out looking for that perfect duck. Duck shooting season opens with protestors targeting hunters in canterbury. The current utah waterfowl guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern waterfowl hunting in utah. As unlike most countries, new zealand has no government imposed hunting seasons for big game hunting. General hunting season dates for the current hunting season. The combination of new zealands liberal bag limits and our experienced guides will ensure you of a quality waterfowl hunt. The duck hunting season starts each year on opening day, the first saturday in may. Government cancels duck hunting season scoop news scoop nz. Hunting closes half an hour after sunset on both days. Get information on seasons, regulations and hunting tips. Find key dates and checklists along with some helpful info links for you.
General information gary herberts new zealand hunting. Visitors should hire a professional guide, as new zealands forests and mountains are physically demanding, the high country weather unpredictable, and local knowledge is essential for a successful hunt. When he speaks of the off season, he means not hunting waterfowl. Wild fowl hunting is a cherished social tradition in new zealand with. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. Today, some organisations including duck hunters are working to restore wetlands.
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