We are continuing to get lots of complaints from gardeners, horticulturists, and farmers about pukeko, and encourage hunters to make the most of the longer season and 10 bird limit for this species.
Our long term monitoring of population trends, with duck banding and other surveys, suggests the mallard population is cyclic, and "over the last few years reached rock bottom," he said.
But the banding of more than 1000 birds in the region over summer indicated a good breeding season which bodes well for hunters.
Mr McDougall said juvenile ducks made up a large part of the hunter's bag and "if there are plenty around hunters tend to do well."
However, the overall mallard population remains low, and as a result of the drought some birds may not be in the best of condition.
In view of the research findings, the Eastern Fish and Game Council has again taken a conservative approach to setting this year's harvest regulations.
"We are sticking with a short, four week season ending on Queen's Birthday, June 1, with a bag limit of only six mallard and grey duck in an attempt to hasten the recovery of the population.
"We can understand that hunters would wish for more but ask for their patience and assistance during this recovery period."
Fish & Game is offering hunters the opportunity to hunt hen pheasants on opening weekend this year, with a bag limit of one bird per day.
This will apply to all areas other than registered upland game properties where other special conditions apply. After opening weekend, the hens are protected again and only cock pheasants will be able to be harvested for the remainder of the season to August 30.
Mr McDougall said when mallard numbers are low other species tend to be targeted, particularly pukeko.
When duck populations are doing it harder because of summer droughts, pheasant and quail populations generally flourish, and there appears to have been a healthy start to the upland game breeding season.
"We are continuing to get lots of complaints from gardeners, horticulturists, and farmers about pukeko, and encourage hunters to make the most of the longer season and 10 bird limit for this species."
Hunters are also urged to target swan on the Rotorua Lakes and Tauranga Harbour where they remain plentiful.
An initial analysis suggests the Bay of Plenty's paradise shelduck population is low, but elsewhere numbers are comparable to earlier years, and appear to have increased on the East Coast, particularly in northern areas. Parries can be hunted from opening until June 28 in most areas.
Mr McDougall said to get maximum value from their game bird licence, hunters are urged to take advantage of the longer upland game bird season, which runs until the end of August 2015.
"When duck populations are doing it harder because of summer droughts, pheasant and quail populations generally flourish, and there appears to have been a healthy start to the upland game breeding season."
Mr McDougall said that as always, game bird hunting is about much more than bagging wild game and putting healthy food on the table, it's about camaraderie and enjoyment of the outdoors and wild places.
And of course, our annual reminder to hunters - please do your sociable drinking after the firearms have been safely put away.
"Clean your birds and then have a drink - it's far safer for you, your friends and family."
Hunters are again being asked to report duck band details from the birds they harvest, and this will give them a chance to win a hunting jacket. Hunting & Fishing New Zealand is putting up five camo jackets (look for details in Both Barrels and on our Fish & Game website Hunting page: http://hunting.fishandgame.org.nz)
