By JO-MARIE BROWN
For 22 years, visitors to Galatea in the central North Island have enjoyed camping beside Lake Aniwhenua and watching hundreds of ducks drift peacefully across the water.
But this year, Fish and Game has lifted the long-time ban on duck shooting at the hydro lake's northern end and locals are worried that someone could accidentally be shot.
With a public campsite running along the foreshore, a boat ramp and a designated waterski lane, Lake Aniwhenua's narrow northern tip attracts holidaymakers all year round.
"But now we've got a situation where Mum and Dad could take their children down to the lake to feed the ducks and then someone turns up and shoots the darn things," resident Robin Hutchinson said.
"Anyone travelling up the lake in a boat or waterskiing will fall within the range of shooters' guns and that, I feel, is an element of risk."
Lake Aniwhenua fishing guide Graeme Ryder said the northern end of the lake, which is near Murupara, had always been known as "the duck sanctuary" and locals were astonished to see hunters firing guns in the area when the duck shooting season opened last weekend.
"In this area here it's a safety issue for people because there's a campsite right beside it," he said.
"It's an accident waiting to happen really."
But Fish and Game's Eastern Region manager, Steve Smith, said the issue of firearm safety was a hunter's responsibility.
Closed-game designations had been lifted off 29 areas in the region this year as there was no environmental or biological reason duck shooting should be banned. "It shouldn't affect anyone. We're trying to maximise opportunities for people to go hunting," Mr Smith said.
"If there are areas where the public are likely to be then you have to be doubly cautious in the areas you hunt."
However, Mr Ryder believed opening the entire lake not only posed a danger to the public but would also harm duck shooters' prospects in seasons to come.
"Birds in this sanctuary have kept our breeding going.
"If they want to improve shooting for hunters then they've got to have a back-up plan to give the birds a safe spot to breed."
Herald Feature: Conservation and Environment
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