All the signs are for a great duck hunting season

They are rarely a shooter's favoured target, but pukeko are on the list for the shooting season.

The duck shooting season opens on Saturday, and Fish & Game is expecting better than average bags, assuming the weather plays ball.

Northland Fish and Game Council manager Rudi Hoetjes said increased flights of game birds had been apparent around the region lately, especially on large water bodies including the lakes and harbours of the Far North.

Northland's game bird hunters were overdue for a great opening weekend, he said, and although predicting the weather from a long-range forecast wasn't easy, he was hoping for wet and windy conditions for licence holders' benefit.

Mallards and grey ducks were expected to be about in excellent numbers throughout the region, with greater concentrations in middle to lower Northland, particularly in the vicinity of the harvesting of crops such as maize and kumara.

Paradise shelduck numbers were up on last year, and would congregate to forage around chicory and maize crops. Black swan numbers appeared to be similar to previous years, with the northern harbours a favourite haunt.

Pukeko numbers had increased dramatically, and the council encouraged hunters to make use of this "under-used resource." Taking pukeko would also help reduce the significant damage they could do to horticultural crops, and their predation of other wildlife species.

Upland game bird hunting would remain a favourite hunting activity for mid- to late - season hunters. Good numbers of both pheasants and quail had been seen throughout the region, with high survival rate of chicks due to warm dry summer conditions.

"Fish & Game wishes all hunters a successful and safe season," Mr Hoetjes added.
"Make sure you take your game bird licence, and be courteous to our volunteer rangers.

Please observe gun safety and ensure there is a safe firing zone. Also respect other hunters, and always get permission from land owners to hunt on their land, and then we can all enjoy a great sporting autumn in the North."