Both Barrels May 2023

With the rush of Opening Weekend out of the way, June is often a more productive time for hunters. 

The best way to get more value out of your hunting licence is to hunt more! There’s still a bit of the season left for hunters to hunt in. 

Check out the regional links above to get the latest info for your hunting spot, plus remember to check out other Fish & Game regions. 

The season runs for three months in most parts of the South Island, and many North Island hunters are now making an annual pilgrimage south after their season ends to maximise their game bird hunting.

Fish & Game Calls For Support to Farm Recovery Effort 

Fish & Game is calling on anglers and hunters to reach out to farmers still cleaning up from the devastation of cyclone events earlier in the year. 

Chief executive Corina Jordan says many landowners are still struggling to get their lives and livelihoods back on track. 

"We’ve just had the Opening of the game bird season when traditionally thousands of Kiwis were welcomed onto farms to hunt. 

"Many of our anglers also rely on the generosity of landowners letting them access fishing spots across private property. 

Jordan says she has been contacted by anglers and hunters, as well as Fish & Game staff, enquiring about how they could volunteer to lend a hand. 

"We’ve been in contact with Federated Farmers and other primary industry groups and what’s clear is that donations are still very much needed, as well as voluntary labour to assist with fixing farm infrastructure. 

"Anglers and hunters who want to lend a hand to the ongoing recovery effort should reach out to the Rural Support Trust or register as a volunteer with the Farmy Army which is being coordinated by Federated Farmers." 

Jacob Lucas, Nelson Marlborough Fish & Game officer, says angling and hunting volunteers have put in hundreds of hours helping with farm clean ups across the region in the last two years. 

"Everyone enjoys the day out, even though the task of removing debris from fences is hard work. 

"But the mental weight that is lifted off landowners when they see tasks completed like their fences cleared is huge. It means they can focus on other jobs around the property or getting the farm operation back up and running." 

Federated Farmers executive member and Wellington Fish & Game councillor Richard McIntyre says the support from the organisation is greatly appreciated. 

"Anglers and hunters have a fair bit in common with farmers - a shared love of the outdoors, the land and the environment. 

"There is still much more work that needs to be done to get these farms back on track. Mobilising some of the angling and hunting community to lend a hand would be greatly appreciated by farmers in affected areas."

More information on how to get involved in the cyclone recovery effort can be found on the Rural Support Trust website ( https://www.rural-support.org.nz/Adverse-Events/Flood) and Federated Farmers homepage (fedfarm.org.nz).  

The Firearms Registry is coming 

The team at Te Tari Pūreke, the Firearms Safety  Authority, have sent through the update below for us to pass onto Firearms licence holders. 

New Zealand will soon have a new firearms registry. If you're a firearms licence holder, you’re required to register information about your arms items from 24 June 2023. There’s no charge for registering your firearms. 

You have until 24 June 2028 to register your firearms. However, there are activating circumstances where you must provide information to the Registry within a shorter time frame. When one of these circumstances happen, you’ll be contacted about what you need to do. 

Examples of activating circumstances

• Applying for a licence or endorsement
• Notifying us of a change of circumstance
• Selling, hiring, purchasing or receiving
• Importing, exporting or manufacturing
• Theft, loss or destruction
• You are subject to any compliance or enforcement action under the Arms Act.

What needs to be registered

• Non-prohibited firearms, including Specially Dangerous Airguns (PCPs)
• Prohibited firearms 
• Pistols  
• Restricted weapons

Details needed to register your arms items

• Type (rifle, shotgun, etc)
• Make 
• Model 
• Action 
• Calibre/gauge 
• Identifying marking (serial number) 

Register online from 24 June 2023 

It will be quick and easy to register your firearms at www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz from 24 June. Just click on MyFirearms, the private and secure portal that houses the Registry. Otherwise, the Registry and Services team will be available by phone to help during business hours. 

Cookbook 

What better way to honour the harvest of your game birds than by using some of the Fish & Game Cookbook recipes?  

Packed with 200 pages, there’s more than just recipes in this award-winning book; there are articles on how to process your game, plus the history of our game birds in New Zealand. 

Click on the link above to get your copy. 

Warm Barrels 

The Team at Fish & Game