Make the most of the remainder of the mallard season   18 Jul 2014

Make the most of the remainder of the mallard season

Fish & Game are encouraging game bird hunters to make the most of the last two weekends of the 2014 Game Bird season for harvesting mallards, which closes on July 27 2014.

Mild conditions during the first few weeks of the season, coupled with large pockets of surface water over the South Island from several weather events since, have meant the season has been only a “little above average” according to Andrew Currie, Fish & Game’s South Island communications advisor.

“Bird numbers are good, but they were distributed much more widely than usual making hunting tough. The lack of southerly winds and all the water ponding in paddocks over the last 6 weeks swung the odds in the birds’ favour. ” suggests Mr Currie.

Fish & Game believes that despite the less than ideal weather conditions, those observant hunters putting in the effort have harvested good numbers of birds and reports of mid-season limit bags in some regions are still coming in.

With less than two weeks left in the season, there is only limited time to get maximum value out of the resource. And, with large areas being left alone since the season started, birds should be settled, creating plenty of good opportunity to pursue mallards and other game bird species.

Mr Currie also reminds hunters to check the game bird hunting regulations, as most regions in the South Island will still have some species available for hunting over the coming weeks.

ENDS

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