Banding together

Remember – Fish & Game doesn’t need the band itself, just the number on it and details of where and when you shot the bird.

How to return your duck band details

1. Ring the free phone number 0800 BIRD BAND (0800-247322) or
2. Fill in the details by selecting here.

Please read the Banding Together TERMS & CONDITIONS here.

Five winners will be drawn randomly from the list of hunters who send in their band details. Hunters may send in multiple entries, but only one entry is permitted per duck band.

The prizes

Hunting & Fishing NZ in association with Banded Avery is generously providing five prizes consisting of two boxes of Banded XD (extra detail) decoys.

This includes one box of mallards and one box of NZ shoveler decoys. 

Hunting & Fishing New Zealand is again delighted to continue its support for the banding programme as one of Fish & Game’s most long-running and important data-gathering initiatives.

Rob Williams of Hunting & Fishing's Tauranga store shows off the decoys.

The Avery lifelike XD decoys are manufactured from a pliable high-grade plastic that holds its paint for years of hunting, these are regarded as the most realistic and durable decoys out there this season. The winners will be over the moon.

What happens with the information?

You will receive (usually via email) details of:

• where and when the birds were banded
• Species
• Sex
• Estimated age
• Distance from banding site vs where it was shot

An estimated 6000 birds were banded last summer and it’s the 25th year that banding has been carried out.

It's a key programme that allows Fish & Game to monitor population trends, and help staff manage game bird resources with the tools of season lengths and bag limits."

The information gathered is vital for waterfowl hunting in New Zealand, and benefits each and every game bird hunter.

It's simple to take part and be in with a chance of winning the great prizes.

Let’s 'band together' on duck bands. The banding information helps them better manage the birds – and benefits you, the hunter.