JACOB LUCAS
It’s that special time of year again, a weekend hunters hold dear to their hearts – the start of the game bird season.
On the first Saturday in May, around 40,000 hunters will be up well before dawn, and in quiet excitement, will find their way to their maimai awaiting the magic moment when the clock ticks 6.30am. In reality for most hunters, preparations for this grand day begins a long time beforehand.
Hopefully, they have visited their hunting spot some time over summer, replacing vegetation on the maimai where required, and checking on the bird population. They have likely returned before the first April to officially claim their spot, and perhaps put some feed out. Ideally though, disturbance is kept till a minimum until Opening Day.
The buildup is almost as important as the hunting. Visit’s to your local sports shop to grab your licence and some ammo; checking your hunting gear is in order, and running some drills with the Labrador to blow the cobwebs out. Many regions will hold duck nights before the season, a chance to learn hunting tips from top hunters who are there speaking, take a look at the latest and greatest gear (and trust me there are plenty of innovative gadgets that will have you reaching for your wallet), participate in calling competitions, and socialize with fellow hunters. Phone calls and group chat will be buzzing in the weeks leading into May; talk of logistics, bird numbers and tactics.
All of this adds to the excitement and allure of game bird hunting. Many kiwi’s make their annual pilgrimage to other parts of the country, some leaving duck filled regions to hunt in destinations where smaller bags are the norm, all in the name of reuniting with mates and family, all in the name of tradition. Some hunt just the weekend, others will take a time off work and make a week of it.
The South Island game season is a long one though, and opportunities abound in every corner of Aotearoa from start to season close. Duck behaviour, and the style of your hunting will also change from May through to July; dedicated hunters will hunt throughout the season, adapt to the always changing conditions, and will be dutifully rewarded with plenty of free range roast dinners.
But, without doubt, one of the most special moments for duck hunters are the few minutes before dawn, when decoys are out and everyone is ready, chat in the maimai fades to quiet, a few seconds in the stillness to compose yourself, then look to the skies as the dawn light appears.
