2025 Paradise Shelduck ‘Summer Season’

The early season gives game bird hunters a chance to sharpen their skills before the opening of the regular season on May 3, 2025.

Hunters require a current 2024 game bird whole season licence or can buy a daily licence from the Fish & Game website.

“Summer-season” hunting for paradise shelduck generally takes place over decoys in paddocks.

Hunting is not permitted within 200 metres of open water during the nine-day season, which covers all areas in the Otago Fish & Game Region. The daily bag limit is five. All other game bird species are protected at this time.

The summer season for paradise shelduck is open to licensed hunters of all ages.

Otago Fish & Game Region has had this short season since 2002. The original aim was to encourage junior hunters to hone their skills before the regular season, as paradise shelducks can be easier to hunt than other game birds.

Late summer weather means less gear is required than the regular hunting season and can make for an enjoyable family day out.

The nine-day season also helps to disperse large flocks of post-moult paradise shelducks, aiding farmers by protecting pastures and crops.

Paradise shelduck are a sustainable source of wild kai, and when prepared and cooked properly provide a tasty and healthy source of protein.

Shooting game birds on private land requires permission, but this often can be obtained as simply as a knock on the door and a polite request.

Otago Fish & Game has been conducting annual moult-site counts of this native species since 1990, showing the long-term population trend has been stable.

In January 2025, Otago Fish & Game staff counted about 26,400 moulting paradise shelduck on 95 wetlands, ponds and lakes around the region.

This year’s summer season comes after an avian botulism outbreak at the Waikouaiti wastewater treatment plant, which has had a significant impact on paradise shelduck at that moult site. The outbreak has been contained and Fish & Game is continuing to monitor the area.

We would therefore encourage hunters to be sensitive to this impact in the immediate area. Regulations for the "summer season" are gazetted under the Game Notice, approved by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing about 12 months prior, and cannot be changed at short notice.

Although the Waikouaiti moult site population has suffered a hit, this year’s region-wide trend count is the highest recorded in 34 years.

Paradise shelduck gather in large mobs on lakes, rivers and reservoirs to moult in late summer. Traditionally they have tended to congregate at the same sites, but in recent years their moult sites have changed with an increase in irrigation dams and dairy conversions.

A 2025 moult count report will be tabled at the next Otago Fish & Game Council meeting.

To read last year’s moult count report, click here.