Both Barrels March 2025

Only 37 sleeps till opening morning

We are seeing hunters get ready all around the country, cleaning their gear and getting everything tickety-boo for the most anticipated Saturday morning in the country.

Our population monitoring indicates that our waterfowl have had a very good breeding season with good survival rates.

The retailers that we are talking to are indicating that hunters are shopping early for this season, so if you have something you want to make your decoy set up the most attractive in the area, then get in early! 

Don’t leave it to the last minute to get your game bird hunting licence, get one online here or pop into one of our licence agents and purchase instore. 

 

Hunter satisfaction survey

Last season, we undertook our first-ever nationally coordinated hunter satisfaction survey.

 You can see the preliminary report here, and a paper based on the report has been submitted for publication in an overseas scientific journal.

It offers some fascinating insights into what hunters think and the data was used to assist the Minister's office when they considered regulation changes proposed by Fish & Game Councils.

South Island harvest survey 

Hunters contacted during our annual hunter harvest phone surveys often ask us what we do with the data.

Our South Island regions combined the data from last year's surveys conducted during the season into this harvest report.

This report outlines harvest and activity at both the island and regional levels.

Regulation changes

You can pick up a regulations booklet in-store or from your regional Fish & Game Office.

Your licence also has a QR code that links to this page where you can download your region's regulations.

Several regions have adjusted season lengths or bag limits so be sure to check what changes have occured in your region.

Mark Up Day

A reminder that Mark up day is Sunday, April 6, and if you tagged a public land maimai last season, you can tag that with a 2025 prior to 10 am on the 6th.

If you haven't done that and if after 10 am someone else tags that maimai, they now have the right to hunt there until they fail to tag it in the future.

Get your licence now so you can receive your tag before Mark Up day, because every year we hear stories of hunters who left it too late,  and lost their prime hunting spot.

High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Game bird hunters are an army of eyes and ears around the country who care passionately about our country and the wildlife that lives here.

At the moment we are lucky not to have the highly contagious H5N1 strain of bird flu in the country and you can help by watching out for signs of bird flu, reporting signs of sick or dead birds, and avoiding spreading the virus if it arrives here.

Signs of HPAI

• The most obvious sign of HPAI in wild birds is several sick or dead birds in a group.
• Waterfowl in particular show signs of drowsiness, lack of coordination, and an inability to fly.

Protecting yourself and preventing the spread

• The risk to humans is low but dogs are at risk and its best to avoid sick or dying birds.
• Practice good hygiene when handling wild birds.
• If you see 3 or more sick or dead birds report them to 0800 80 99 66.

See more detailed food safety advice and information for hunters on the MPI website and the Avian influenza information for game bird hunters – factsheet  

Regional updates

Northland

An extremely dry spring and summer period may have limited the mallard breeding success this season, although good numbers of ducks are being seen in areas with permanent water.

Unless significant rainfall arrives in April, those hunters that have spots with permanent water and who feed their spots regularly will have the best success over opening weekend.

The upside of the dry season is that it will create good breeding conditions for the upland birds. The Northland Forests permit gives access to a wealth of upland game hunting opportunities.

There are 23 forest blocks on the permit this year, so if you are thinking about giving upland hunting a try, this is the season to do it. Glenbervie Forest is back on the permit, which is a great resource for Whangarei-based hunters looking for a handy place to walk the dog and gun.

Paradise shelduck numbers are down slightly from the record high of 2022 but are still well above the average over the last ten years.

Parries now make up the majority of game birds harvested in Northland, and this season is expected to follow suit.

Of note, the bag limit for shelduck has been raised from 20 to 25 birds per hunter per day for the 2025 season, and February 2026 special season.

Ballots are still open for Underwood Wetland in Dargaville. The wetland hunted very well last opening weekend with all ballot winners achieving good bags of shelduck and mallard/grey duck. Ballot applications close on 30 March 2025 so contact the office to register your interest.

Auckland Waikato

Auckland/Waikato staff wish hunters all the best for the upcoming season. While there have been no significant changes to the regulations, we advise hunters to remember the basics and familiarise themselves with this year's booklet, found here.  Rangers often encounter the same types of offences, so please remember: no lead shot, no feeding from 1 April to 28 June, and no unplugged guns. You should only be able to fit three rounds in your magazine and chamber combined. Rangers will be out throughout the season and may be accompanied by police, who will be looking for people practising safe firearms use.

If the Waikato stays dry, hunters in wetlands could be in for a tough start to the season as birds congregate in lakes and rivers. In drier years, the pressure will be on to find a place to hunt, so it is especially important to have your favourite maimai or hunting spots secured before mark-up day (10 am on the 6th of April).

Keep an eye out for an SMS from Fish & Game this season. We will be asking again if people shot a banded bird. Last year, 70% of hunters responded, which helped us improve our estimates of the mallard and grey duck population size.

Eastern

The Council have chosen to increase the season length of the mallard, grey and shoveler duck to six weeks to provide more opportunity. Hopefully this will help those that normally have other conflicting time commitments to make the most of the season.

For those hunting upland game in Timberlands forests (e.g. Kaingaroa and Rotoehu Forests) you can now apply for your permits https://www.tll.co.nz/recreational_access_permits. Just make sure you check the maps and keep an eye out for poisoning operations that they have running from May in some blocks.

Rangers will be out again collecting data and checking licences so please remember to have them with you. The Police and Firearms Safety Staff may be accompanying our rangers this year, but I know you guys will have your firearms licences with you as well.

For those that have had their boats in the Waikato River please check the golden claim containment zones on the MPI website and remember to get your boat cleaned at the boat wash stations before taking them to other catchments.

Opening weekend is a great bonding time to spend with friends and family but be careful out there, firearms are not very forgiving.  

Hawkes Bay

Napier

We understand some hunters may be concerned about potential implications for the upcoming duck-hunting season following reports of a botulism outbreak in Napier.

At this stage, we believe this is a localised outbreak centred around Ford Road and Georges Drive in Napier. There should be no impact on the season.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates if needed. Recent rain should help resolve conditions in the drains flowing through Marewa suburb and surrounding areas.

Regional populations of game birds are healthy with good recruitment, and we are looking forward to a good opening weekend and successful season.

What we know so far

The outbreak was identified after dead ducks were discovered in the Georges Drive drain on Sunday, 9 March. Testing by Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) has excluded HPAI (bird flu) as a cause. BNZ believes it is likely to be botulism, a naturally occurring disease. Botulism outbreaks are not uncommon and are frequently observed, particularly in the North Island.

What we are doing

Hawke’s Bay Fish & Game is working closely with Napier City Council and Hawke's Bay Regional Council to collect any distressed or dead birds. We are also awaiting the results of water quality testing. Recent rainfall should help reduce the conditions that allow botulism to spread.
Help to prevent the spread

• Avoid sick or dying birds.
• Practice good hygiene if handling wild birds.
• Report any discovery of three or more sick or dead birds firstly to the exotic pest and disease hotline at 0800 80 99 66 and let us know by calling (06)8442460 or email hawkesbay@fishandgame.org.nz

Taranaki

Things are looking very promising for the upcoming game bird season here in Taranaki, with a bumper waterfowl breeding season resulting in healthy populations of Mallard and Paradise Shelduck throughout the Waimarino and Taranaki (particularly around the ringplain).

Notably, our January 2025 count for Paradise Shelduck reached a record high in Area C (Taranaki province including all of Stratford District), and as a result our opening weekend daily bag limit for Shelduck has been lifted from 10 to 15 birds (in Area C only, from the 3^rd to 4^th May).

Due to the lack of recent rain, birds are currently concentrated on areas of permanent water - now we can only hope for some rain to help spread these populations for opening, alongside some wind to keep them from settling at sea.

Wishing everyone a rewarding and action-packed game season this year from the team here at Taranaki F&G!

Wellington

After a wetter than usual August and September, wetlands were well topped up with water heading into summer which made for a bumper waterfowl breeding season. This resulted in strong broods of mallard duck and paradise shelduck, alongside stable populations of black swan.

However, as we progressed through summer, prolonged drought conditions eventuated across much of the lower North Island. It’s been slightly drier than normal for Manawatu too but there’s been just enough sporadic rain to keep ponds topped up; and although Lake Wairarapa was very low for extended periods, frequent southerlies late in summer resulted in farm dams along the Tararua foothills and eastern hill country remain at relatively good levels for holding ducks.

Thanks to the solid spring breeding season, good numbers of ducks remain throughout the Wellington Fish & Game region. However, the birds’ distribution patterns have altered owing to the prevailing drought conditions – they are less widely dispersed, instead congregating in numbers on rivers, streams, lakes and ponds that have retained permanent water.

This could bode well for hunters in the right places, with the potential for an action-packed Opening Day if dry conditions continue and ducks remain concentrated in the areas they’ve been hanging out over summer. That said, hunters would do well to keep an eye on the water level at the spot they intend to shoot, be flexible and make alternative plans if their shooting spot is not holding enough water and the ducks are elsewhere come Opening Day.

The birds are certainly around – it’s a just a matter of locating them and scouting around to find the best hunting locations during the season ahead.

Nelson Marlborough

Paradise duck numbers in Tasman/Golden Bay have been strong, so we expect decent hunting in this sub-region. While we haven’t completed our annual mallard counts at 60 regional sites, this will be done next week and will give us an idea of regional mallard numbers as we head into the season.

While the early part of summer was wet and more suitable for mallard breeding, the second half of summer was dry and provided good breeding conditions for quail, with plenty of birds around.

There appears to be an increase in maize and grain cropping around the region which is great news for the ducks. Recent observations of high numbers of ducks feeding on stubble are positive, and hunters who have access to recently harvested crop paddocks this season should do well.

North Canterbury

Fish & Game officers Harry Graham-Samson and Jackson Meecham secure the roof to one of the new maimais at Boggy Creek.

For over 30 years, Boggy Creek has been a prime hunting location managed by North Canterbury Fish & Game, nestled on the edge of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. While the Department of Conservation now owns the land, North Canterbury Fish & Game continues to manage the area, maximising hunting opportunities around the lake.

In response to the growing demand for improved facilities, North Canterbury Fish & Game have spent the summer upgrading the hunting stands (maimais)there. After careful consideration of sites to provide optimal hunting opportunity there are now six top-notch maimais on site. The reduction is sites from 10 to six aims to enhance both safety and hunting success and offer a more enjoyable experience for all.

The new maimais have been designed using the Otago Fish & Game maimai blueprints, ensuring they are safe in the lake, environmentally friendly and more efficient for hunters. Each stand is optimally sized for two hunters, though a third could fit for those willing to sit closer together.

The Boggy Creek area is easily accessible via Colletts Road, which offers a small, designated car park for hunters. Alternatively, access by boat is also an option.

These newly upgraded maimais will be available through a ballot system during opening weekend. Successful ballot winners will have the unique opportunity to hunt in one of these brand-new stands during the 2025 opening weekend.

If you'd like to enter the ballot for a chance to hunt these stands, please complete the form linked here and return it to North Canterbury Fish & Game by April 3, 2025.

West Coast

West Coast hunters are in for an exciting season, with game bird populations in great shape. A wet spring led to excellent duckling survival rates, and we're now seeing high numbers of ducks across the region. Recent feedback from landowners confirms this, with many reporting an abundance of birds. Hunters utilising the summer season have enjoyed great paradise shelduck hunting, while plenty of young Greys and Mallards have been spotted dropping into decoy spreads—though they’ll remain safe until opening weekend.

Despite the dry summer, bird numbers remain strong, with waterfowl concentrating around reliable water sources. Preseason scouting is crucial, focusing on farm ponds, spring-fed creeks, wetlands, and estuaries to identify where birds are feeding and roosting.

Now’s the time to prepare—set up your maimais, scout your spots, and ensure your gear is in top shape. Adapting to changing conditions will be key to success this season. For hunters looking to refine their skills, our organised hunts offer access to prime locations, targeting a variety of species while helping landowners manage high bird concentrations.

With strong numbers and great prospects, the 2025 season looks promising. Start your preparations today, and don’t forget to check our Facebook page for details on the local clay target clubs' Duck Shooter Shoot to help get your eye in for opening!

Central South Island

The season’s prospects are looking good for those that hunt in the CSI region! Our moult counts for paradise shelduck show stable numbers within management expectations, and our black swan counts also indicate a healthy population. Plus, our dabbling duck surveys done alongside North Canterbury Fish & Game show that mallard, grey duck, grey teal, and shoveler numbers are looking very healthy across the Canterbury Plains. Although the game bird numbers are promising, it’s up to you as hunters to ensure a successful season ahead. Whether that be by scouting out birds, tweaking your decoy layout, or working on your duck calls, any of these small adjustments could make all the difference.

We’d love to hear your hunting stories this season, so be sure to share them with us at: bharper@fishandgame.org.nz. And just a heads up, our balloted wetlands are booked out for opening weekend but after that it’s first in, first served. Therefore, if you need a place to hunt after the opening weekend head on to our Fish & Game website here to apply for a permit. Goodluck out there.

Otago

Junior hunter George Weatherall is gearing up for the 2025 season in Otago. 

Otago ballot

Are you a junior or first-time hunter? Get in quick to apply in the ballot for junior and novice waterfowl hunters to access maimais and permits at Otago Fish & Game managed wetlands for 2025. Applications close this Wednesday, March 26.

To apply in the ballot, please select here.

For more details on game bird hunting in Otago, including Fish & Game managed wetlands, select here.

Season prospects

Thanks to Otago’s abundant waterfowl habitat, the 2025 game-bird hunting season is looking promising.

Prolonged wet conditions during the duck breeding season have been good for ducklings, and anecdotal reports suggest strong brood numbers around the region.

We will be in the hands of the weather for Opening Weekend, and many ponds and wetlands are needing rain.

Plan for your season now!

Southland

Down in Southland, all signs are pointing towards a fantastic season ahead. With a wet spring last year, there was an abundance of surface water for ducklings to forage on, proving perfect conditions for ducklings to thrive. Higher duckling survival was certainly evident in our mallard brood counts; we saw more mallard broods than usual, and those broods were larger than average. In response to a productive breeding season, the mallard bag limit has been increased to 25 mallards per day (all season). This will provide hunters with plenty of opportunity to harvest some nice, fat Southland mallards. 

It’s also worth noting that local populations of our other gamebirds, the likes of the paradise shelduck and black swan, are also looking heathy. This season, consider targeting these waterfowl to add some variety to your bag.

A mallard hen and her brood making the most of spring surface water.

Warm Barrels

The team at Fish & Game NZ