'Both Barrels' Newsletter

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Why not check out some recent editions of our 'Both Barrels' newsletter here?

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Both Barrels July 2023

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We had predicted a good start to the game bird season following a great mallard breeding season but had kept the season short as the number of hens were still low.

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Both Barrels June 2023

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The biggest threat to hunting and fishing is legislative changes. And there are some very serious threats on the horizon.

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Both Barrels May 2023

Marshall JACK by Steve JACK 2023

Many hunters are reporting an excellent start to the opening weekend.

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Both Barrels April 2023

Reporoa ducks

It is time to start preparing for the up-and-coming duck season. I have been hunting on more than one occasion where a mate has forgotten his bolt to his rifle...

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Both Barrels March 2023

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Welcome to our first Both Barrels of the 2023 hunting season.

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Both Barrels July 2022

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We got skunked over the weekend, but it wasn’t for lack of birds.

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Both Barrels June 2022

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Errol Johnson had one of his best seasons ever.

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Both Barrels May 2022

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Opening weekend proved to be quite good in the Bay of Plenty but hard work in many other places in the Eastern Region.

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Both Barrels April 2022

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The game bird season kicks off on the 7th of May. Our prediction is that the opening weekend will be similar to the last three years.

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Both Barrels March 2022

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Both Barrels will start in earnest in April, giving all hunters access to some of the best minds in game bird hunting in New Zealand.

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Both Barrels July 2021

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It’s not over until the fat lady sings and I ain't heard her sing yet.

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Both Barrels June 2021

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Band recoveries always produce some interesting surprises.

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Both Barrels May 2021

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Another fine opening over most of the Eastern Region made hunting difficult.

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Both Barrels April 2021

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Speaking to quite a few duck hunters and pheasant hunters throughout the region over the past week or so, they all are eagerly awaiting opening weekend – and as most...

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Both Barrels March 2021

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With less than six weeks to go until the game bird season, we welcome our readers of Both Barrels for 2021, the place where we keep you up to date...

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Both Barrels July 2020

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Thinking about getting a dog? Now is good! A dog makes a huge difference to your hunting success and enjoyment.

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Both Barrels June 2020

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As predicted the opening of the game bird season in the Eastern Region was a bit hit and miss.

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Both Barrels May 2020

Good habitat greatly improves fledge success

Cabin fever got the better of you? Ready for some time in the outdoors?

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Special Lockdown Edition Both Barrels April 2020

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Over the first two weeks of the lockdown, Fish & Game have been scenario planning around what form the game bird season might take.

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Eastern Both Barrels August 2019

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The game bird season finishes at the end of August (25th) but remember there is a special swan season in management area A1 (see Figure 1) and for pukeko for...

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Eastern Both Barrels July 2019

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Hunters are no exception, we all die, but here’s the thing, when hunters die, they leave a hunting buddy behind and family/friends is often what duck hunting is all about.

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Eastern Both Barrels May 2019

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The opening of the game bird season in the Eastern Region got off to a better start than predicted.

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Both Barrels Special Edition March 2019

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Welcome to the first edition of Both Barrels for the 2019 game bird hunting season.

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North Island Roundup - Both Barrels 2018

Claire Heyns, NorthTec Practicum student, helping with shoveler counts.

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Both Barrels August 2018

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stuff here....

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Eastern Both Barrels June 2018

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The season appears to have got off to a good start compared to recent years, but we'll have a better idea of how it went once hunter harvest surveys have...

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Eastern Both Barrels May 2018

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Sorry, but there is no report for the Eastern region this month.

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Eastern Both Barrels April 2018

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With only days to go before the new game bird season kicks off, we’re feeling pretty optimistic for our Eastern Region’s 3,500-plus game bird hunters.

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Both Barrels Special Edition March 2018

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Welcome to this special issue of Both Barrels.

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Both Barrels August 2017

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The game bird season has ended... or has it?

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Both Barrels South Island Roundup

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The waterfowl 2017 season has been and gone. We hope you managed to get out on a few hunting adventures this year and filled the freezer with enough duck to...

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Both Barrels North Island Roundup

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Heath Worsfold’s truck with a nice pheasant and a happy pup named Sneak.

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Eastern Both Barrels July 2017

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Hunters, make sure you get full value from your game bird licence – get out and target some pheasants and other upland game birds in the final days before the...

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Eastern Both Barrels June 2017

How’s your mallard hunting gone this season?

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Eastern Both Barrels May 2017

Eastern Compliance

Black with ducks is how some hunters described their opening day, "Got their limit by 7.30am".

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Eastern Both Barrels Apr 2017

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Game bird hunters in Fish & Game’s large Eastern Region can expect a better hunting season this time around.

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Both Barrels Mar 2017

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Get set to hunt some game birds

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Southland Both Barrels May 2016

Opening day is probably the only day of the year when I wake up and I’m upset by a lack of wind!

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Auckland Waikato Both Barrels May 2016

The mallard, grey and shoveler seasons are now but a memory, and even parries and black swan are off limits with their seasons over.

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Otago Both BarrelsMay 2016

For what must be the 10th year in a row, Otago hunters woke to clear calm conditions for the Opening Day.

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Central South Island Both Barrels May 2016

Opening Weekend heralded fine and pleasant weather.

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North Canterbury Both Barrels May 2016

With the game bird season well underway and the hype of opening day now past, it's time to reflect on hunting successes firstly, then focus on the great game bird...

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West Coast Both Barrels May 2016

Large numbers of hunters turned out in the West Coast Region for Opening Weekend this year, both local hunters and many from other regions.

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Nelson Marlborough Both Barrels May 2016

Fish & Game had three ranging teams out in the field on Opening Day this year, concentrating on private land around Blenheim and Murchison.

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Wellington Both Barrels May 2016

The weather was largely to blame for what can only be described as a patchy Opening Weekend, with very calm conditions in the Wairarapa and resultingly few birds moving around.

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Taranaki Both Barrels May 2016

While the hunter phone survey results are yet to be analysed, initial indications are that hunters were happy with their opening weekend bags – in many areas more mallards were...

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New Blog Post

Opening Weekend game bird hunting produced a “great variety” of results for hunters around the Northland Peninsula.

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Hawke's Bay Both Barrrels May 2016

Fish & Game rangers along with police officers checked 57 waterfowl hunters over Opening Weekend.

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Eastern Both Barrels May 2016

Hunters can now take advantage of being able to hunt the 20-odd Crown-owned wetlands around the region administered by Fish & Game.

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