Northland Fish & Game Hopes for Good Game Bird Hunting

Northland Fish & Game is tipping good prospects for hunters as the game bird
hunting season gets underway on Saturday, May 7.

"The prospects are better than last year as a result of a wonderful breeding
season with rain coming at the right time during the summer months to
maintain growth on crops and pasture," says Regional Manager Rudi Hoetjes.

"If the feed's here, the birds are here," he says.

The waterfowl are well distributed throughout the region, and that's been
observed by keen hunters themselves who are excited about prospects for the
seasons, Rudi says.

Hunters can expect an abundance of ducks on some farm properties where maize
silage has just been harvested, "as ducks swoop in for their fill of maize
left on the ground."

Paradise shelduck populations in Northland have increased slightly since
last season, prompting Fish & Game's Northland Region to raise the bag from
last season - from 20 to 25 birds per day during May, June and July.

"Canada geese and black swan numbers have remained about the same as
previous years, but the bags have been adjusted so there's a common daily
bag throughout the upper North Island."

Upland game populations appear to have had an excellent breeding season
following the previous summer's drought - resulting in a higher survival
rate of birds through the winter months. This has helped produce more
pheasant and quail adult breeding birds, and a higher number of chicks have
come through into the 2011 game season, Rudi says.

He's appealing to hunters to contact them if they shoot a banded pheasant.

Hunters will have access to more Northland forests this season but their
dogs must have completed the Department of Conservation-run kiwi aversion
course.

"Alcohol and firearms don't mix," says Rudi Hoetjes, warning that joint
patrols by police and honorary rangers will be carried out to check on
compliance. "Leave alcohol at home and wait til you finish shooting. Clean
your birds and then have a beer."

And hunting without a licence is simply not worth the risk given substantial
fines and the loss of your firearm, he adds.

"The opportunities for hunters on opening morning always depend on what the
weather brings, but those who've prepared themselves over the past month -
by making their hides and maimais blend into the environment - will
ultimately be successful no matter what the weather brings."

For information on licences and regulations: www.fishandgame.org.nz