Wellington/Taranaki - Weekly Hunting Bulletin 27 June 2024

Wellington Taranaki
27/06/2024

Long Weekend to See Out the Season

The last weekend of the waterfowl season is upon us and we've got a bonus day off to celebrate.

Matariki is tomorrow and it's the perfect occasion to get out on the water with friends and family, harvest some wild kai and enjoy a meal together at the end of the day hunting.

Pictured: Ollie Mitchell with some fat Wairarapa mallards shot from a small farm stream (Credit: Derek Mitchell)

The weather is going to be pretty calm but keep an eye out for a last blast on Sunday afternoon as a nor-wester fills in across the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions.

Despite the early settled conditions, we're expecting lots of hunters to be out and about over the long weekend for one last shot at it.

This combined with a reasonable southerly this morning, and lots of rain during the week, sees a number of elements coming together which should have ducks moving around, at least early morning and evening.

Reports from the big water suggest the hunting has gone a little quiet but hunters are reporting mallards holed up on farm dams and streams that haven't been shot.

So, there's still good waterfowl hunting left for those keen to explore and put the time in this long weekend.

Please take the opportunity to try your hand at upland game and hitting a few pooks after Sunday too.

You're allowed to hunt these through to August 25, 2024. Make the most of your investment in a licence and help out a farmer at the same time by knocking back a few pesky pukeko.

This is our last report for the season. Thanks for your support and all your messages and amazing photos. We hope to see you back in 2025!

Here's the outlook...

Weekend Weather Outlook

The brighter the colour the stronger the wind (Credit: Windy.com)

The low that has caused carnage on the East Cape and Hawke's Bay moves off to the east as we head through the weekend.

Another approaching low in the southern Tasman starts moving across the country on Sunday, and this is the system that drags rising nor-west winds over the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions.

At time of writing the weather is set to arrive after midday Sunday and build from then.

If the forecast holds it should provide a productive last-gasp duck hunt in the evening.

Make sure you check the latest and updated forecasts to plan you hunt.

Click here for the latest weather updates from MetService, or visit the Windy website to track conditions coming our way.

Hunting & Fishing Photo Competition - Win $300 To Spend in Store

Justin Malloy captured a quiet moment on a morning hunt (Credit: Justin Malloy).

Send in your favourite photos from this game bird hunting season and you could be in to win a $300 voucher to spend in store at Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing.

We won't blow your secret spot, just include the name of the hunter(s), photographer's details, and general location in the Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game region.

Click here to submit your entry.

You can send us as many hunting photos as you like.

By submitting images to enter the competition you acknowledge that Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game, and Wairarapa Hunting and Fishing, can publish and use the photos for publicity material.

Entries must be in by 8:30pm, August 25, 2024. The winner will be notified via email.

Plenty of Places To Target Upland Game

Permits are available for hunting upland game on three forest blocks in the Taranaki region. Permits for hunting in Harakeke and Tauwhare forests near Whanganui are available in a weekly draw.

To participate in the draw, hunters must obtain a free permit from Taranaki Fish & Game (either 021 270 0239 or email us), then prior to noon each Thursday, contact Taranaki Fish & Game to go into the draw for a permit for the coming weekend.

For the Nukumaru hunting area there is no weekly draw, but hunters need a permit from Taranaki Fish & Game and they must contact the respective grazing lessee listed on their permit prior to hunting.

A special condition for Nukumaru blocks 4 and 5 is that in accordance with conditions in the lease agreement with Whanganui District Council, permission must be granted by the lease holder before access to those blocks is permitted.

The Wellington Fish & Game region also has arranged managed hunter access to several forestry blocks in Manawatu and Wairarapa.

If you're interested in learning more about the hunting opportunities here, see page 48 of this season's North Island regs booklet.

To obtain permits, please email us.

Have You Spotted Any Royal Spoonbills Recently?

The protected Royal Spoonbill (Credit: eBird)

Birds New Zealand is undertaking it's survey of the Royal Spoonbill population on Saturday, July 6 and 7.

To assist with their counts, the organisation wants to hear from hunters who have seen these protected birds recently, particularly around Lake Wairarapa.

If you have come across any while you've been out over recent weeks, please get in touch with Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game and we'll pass the information on.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Want to Keep Ducks on Your Pond Longer?

Want advice on how to keep ducks on your Wairarapa pond longer, or need help creating or improving your existing one?

Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game are happy to help - we have the staff expertise and experience.

Get in touch and we'll call to discuss your plans.

Get those Band Details In

If you manage to harvest any ducks wearing 'precious metal' this season, please get the details back to us.

Hunters are welcome to hold on to the band, we just want some basic information that goes with that precious metal - the banding programme is an important part of our mallard management.

Band info can be registered by, ringing the free phone number 0800 BIRD BAND (0800-247322).

Alternatively there's a ready-made form to fill out on the Fish & Game website here.

Safety First This Season!

The team at Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game would like to remind hunters about the importance of firearms safety and encourage you and your hunting buddies to refresh yourself with the seven rules of firearms safety.

Treat every firearm as loaded.
Always point firearms in a safe direction.
Chamber a cartridge only when ready to fire.
Identify your target beyond all doubt.
Check your firing zone.
Store and transport firearms and ammunition safely.
Avoid alcohol or drugs when handling firearms.

We hope you have a great season - please keep in touch and let us know how you're going.

*This report was accurate at time of writing. For your safety, please ensure you check the latest weather information before you head out hunting. And always be safe and responsible with firearms .