Jacob Lucas
For many kiwis, and particularly those in rural areas, the opening of the game bird season is a much-heralded event and a great catalyst to catch up with close acquaintances and harvest a feed of flying protein.
During our opening day compliance efforts, we frequently see how the first Saturday of May brings people together and the comradery that goes with it. With most Fish and Game staff being keen hunters, the hardest part for us is actually missing out on the action ourselves.
Many rural landowners also see it as a good opportunity to reduce populations of gamebirds that may be affecting farming operations, most notably in this region caused by paradise ducks and pukeko.
Nelson Marlborough Fish and Game are all too happy to assist with any gamebird issues most times of the year: we can provide a permit to control birds outside of the regular season, using hunters supplied by yourself or proven and reliable hunters known to us, or a gas gun loan where this is a more suitable dispersal option. To state the obvious, the earlier problems are dealt with, the better, especially when birds are feeding on valuable emerging crops, so get in touch if you need to at any time of year.
As far as game regulations for this coming season, bag limits and season lengths remain the same for the Nelson Marlborough region. Prior to our annual monitoring, we had anticipated increasing the paradise duck limit for Tasman and Golden Bay sub-regions, however summer aerial trend counts have shown a welcome drop in bird numbers in this area, and the limit remains the same at 15 birds per day. Murchison and Marlborough areas are unchanged from previous seasons and have a limit of 10 parries per day.
For many landowners, harvesting a feed of ducks is free to do so on their own land under the land occupier exemption. For this, the occupier of any land, and the spouse or partner plus any one son or daughter of the occupier, can hunt on that land without a licence (though subject to normal game regulations, including use of steel shot where required). This privilege can also be transferred to farm manager or sharemilkers by a written statement indicating such to Fish and Game if the owner does not personally reside on the land.
So, for those who will be dusting off the duck call and donning camouflage attire, we wish you a safe and successful opening day and season ahead. And for the many landowners who offer hunting access to others on their land, this privilege is greatly appreciated by hunters, so thank you.
