Duck season opens - North Canterbury

The echo of gun fire was heard throughout North Canterbury this weekend with the start of duck hunting season. Hunters like strong winds that put birds in the sky and into the firing line, but unfortunately the weather stayed calm for most of Saturday. The morning saw most hunters came in with small bags of one or two birds, the odd hunter getting more. Those who went out later in the day did better as the winds picked up. Sunday’s weather was equally calm although things did pick up in the high country.

Fish & Game ranger Emily Moore said that although most hunters did not shoot large numbers of birds the majority seemed to be having a good day out. “Hunters like the camaraderie of going out with friends and family members and the tradition of shooting opening weekend. Many have spent the last few weeks preparing their maimais, doing reconnaissance trips to find out where the birds are and practising their duck calling,” said Mrs Moore.

Fish & Game had a number of rangers checking compliance with the gamebird regulations at Lake Ellesmere on Saturday. All the hunters checked were in possession of a gamebird licence, were within bag limits and were targeting the right species. “We were very happy with the level of compliance at Lake Ellesmere,” said Mrs Moore, adding that one of the Fish & Game rangers did encountered a number of non complying hunters in the northern part of the region.