Gamebirds in sights during special summer hunting seasons in Northland

Paradise shelduck will be in the sights of Northland hunters this weekend during a special shooting summer season.

Northland gamebird hunters have a chance to get some early practice in for the annual shooting season that starts in May, with specials hunts organised for paradise shelduck, black swan and pukeko.

Fish & Game is holding a special summer hunting season for paradise shelduck in Northland over this weekend - February 25 and 26.

Andrew Kirk of Northland Fish & Game said the weekend season would help the region's farmers protect their pastures and crops from damage caused by the birds. The birds gather in their hundreds to moult at this time of year, and he said the numbers congregating on farmland could wreak havoc on chicory crops and hay paddocks.

The weekend hunting should help to disperse the ducks, moving them back to their home territories after this annual moult.

"It reduces the potential for mobs to cause damage to recovering hay paddocks, chicory crops and areas of new grass, before the main gamebird hunting season gets underway in May," Mr Kirk said.

Another special season, for pukeko and black swan, has been declared and will run over nine days from February 25 to March 5.

Mr Kirk said the special seasons were confined to the Northland Fish & Game region and hunters who wanted to take part must hold a current game bird hunting licence.

This can be bought either online or from a local sports store.

The daily bag limits per hunter that apply to the special seasons in February and March are 20 paradise shelduck, 15 black swan and 12 pukeko. Birds can be hunted only between 6am and 8pm daily.

Mr Kirk said the special seasons would apply only to the birds that had been named. All other gamebirds would remain protected. Fish & Game rangers would be out "checking licences and the other rules and regs."

"This is a great opportunity for some enjoyable summer hunting that helps farmers - all we ask is that hunters stick to the rules," Mr Kirk said.

"Please remember that hunters need permission to hunt on private land - don't forget to ask the landowner."

Any queries about the special seasons can be made by phoning 09 4384135, 021-2227920 or emailing akirk@fishandgame.org.nz.