Taranaki > Hunting

FISH & GAME NZ WILD GAME BIRD FOOD FESTIVAL 2008

The Taranaki Region has many rivers, streams, creeks and ponds that provide good habitat for waterfowl. This translates into consistently good shooting and Taranaki hunters are among the most successful in the North Island.

Mallard duck is the predominant game species, accounting for around 60% of all waterfowl harvested. Mallard numbers declined in the 1998-2001 period in response to the dry La Nina weather pattern, but a return to El Nino conditions and a good spring breeding season in 2002 will mean more Mallards for the gun in 2003. Last year's reduced "rest of season" bag limit has therefore been dispensed with and a daily limit of 10 Mallard and Grey duck combined applies throughout the Taranaki region for the whole of the 2003 game season.

Paradise shelduck are widespread throughout the region and they make up about 30% of the waterfowl harvest. Paradise bag limits and season lengths in the Waimarino district near Mt Ruapehu have been reduced to come into line with the rest of the region and all areas now have a 10-bird daily bag limit and an 8-week season for Paradise shelduck.

Pukeko are also widespread through the region and farmers will generally welcome a harvest of Pukeko from wetlands adjacent to maize growing or other cropping areas. Two populations of Canada geese provide additional hunting opportunities in the North Taranaki and Waimarino areas. Black swan can be harvested from the second weekend of the season, though a restrictive bag limit applies (1 swan per hunter per day).

While there are few public hunting areas in the Taranaki region, there are plenty of places to hunt waterfowl on private land - it’s simply a matter of asking landholders for access. Once a hunter establishes a record of responsible behaviour, there is usually no problem obtaining permission to hunt in subsequent seasons.