Central South Island Both Barrels July 2019
- Central South Island
- 23/07/2019
The traditional game bird hunting season is drawing to a close in the Central South Island Region.
The mallard, grey, NZ shoveler duck, pukeko and swan seasons all close on the last Sunday in July. For 2019, closing day is Sunday July 28.
Above Right: Time to call-it a season for mallard, greys, shoveler, swan and pukeko'.
The paradise shelduck and upland game seasons continue
A gun dog and its prize
Don’t put your shot gun away just yet.
West of State Highway One, within the Central South Island Fish & Game Region the paradise shelduck seasons run through to Sunday the 29th of September 2019.
These birds, especially younger ones decoy well when you set up in their home turf.
Developed High-country pastures can be hot spots for these birds in late winter and the scenic surroundings add to the enjoyment of the hunt.
The quail and chukar season close on Sunday the 25th of August 2019.
Quail are scattered throughout the region and are most active on warm sunny days. Scrubby river bed areas are a good place to start looking for quail.
The Harvest
The team with their harvest from a CSI riverbed hunt
Our fortnightly telephone harvest surveys reveal that up until the end of June hunters have harvested about 45,000 mallards and 7,500 paradise shelduck.
Per trip, surveyed hunters harvested between 0 and 39 mallards, with an average of 6.
Hunters targeting parries harvested between 2 and 18 birds per outing.
Need a spot for opening weekend 2020?
Depending on water levels the Central South Island Fish & Game Council has up to 16 stands available for hunting the opening weekend on wetlands it owns or manages.
These stands are balloted annually and invitations to apply are advertised in local papers and the Fish & Game Website in February.
A late season hunt at All Day Bay Lagoon
There is one stand for a group of four hunters at Ealing Springs on the Rangitata River, up to nine stands at Wainono Reserve adjacent to Lake Wainono by Waimate, and three stands each at All Day Bay Lagoon and Devils Bridge wetland near Oamaru.
Other than at Ealing Springs the stands are occupied by up to two hunters, the ballot winner and a companion.
The stands offer modest hunting opportunities and are a great way to secure a spot for opening in attractive hunting grounds.
The stands must be hunted both days of opening weekend and a dairy of hunting efforts and harvest returned to Fish & Game.
hot barrels
Rhys Adams, Central South Island Fish & Game Officer