Promising game season begins Saturday May 7

Mallard numbers are looking good this season, as well distributed spring rainfall produced an extended breeding season with good duckling survival and a strong overall population.

Dry conditions, interspersed with some heavy Waitangi weekend rains, have concentrated mallards onto areas of permanent water and flocks of up to several hundred birds have been observed flying out to feed in stubble fields in the evenings in recent days.

Unless we get some serious rain between now at opening weekend, the lakes and ponds that have retained water throughout summer and autumn will be the places to be on opening day. Duck camps on river and stream pools that provide cover and places for ducks to rest in the sun will also be good places to hunt, along with the usual farm oxidation ponds.

Paradise shelduck will also provide plenty of good hunting on the Taranaki ringplain, where substantial mobs have resulted in ongoing demand for Fish & Game gas guns to disperse paradise (and mallards) from chicory crops and areas of new grass.

Pheasant are widespread in the region and they will continue to provide opportunities for keen hunters in the Stratford backcountry in scrubby areas with lots of weeds and rough pasture or ungrazed riverbanks. Permits are also available from Taranaki Fish & Game to hunt several coastal forests near Whanganui.

Pukeko are relatively abundant in the northern and central Taranaki areas and with an extended season through to 28th August, why not undertake a pukeko drive with a few mates and their dogs?

Most north island Fish & Game regions, including Taranaki, have annual mallard/grey duck banding programmes which see small metal bands put on ducks’ legs to help gather crucial data, such as the birds’ movements, productivity, population size and survival rates. If you harvest a duck with a band on its leg, please let us know the band number, the date and approximate location where it was shot. To return band data please go to the F&G website (https:// fishandgame.org.nz/game-bird-hunting-in-newzealand/banding-form/). Once the data has been logged, you will receive notification of where and when the bird was banded and how far it’s travelled.

Finally, our Rangers will be out and about checking on compliance so please make sure you have your gamebird licence on hand and are familiar with the regulations contained in the Fish & Game guide that comes free with your licence.