Otago Fish & Game discuss captive mallard release for hunters

A mallard duck in flight. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

The Otago Fish & Game Council could release captive reared mallard ducks for hunting, following the growth of the practice in the North Island.

Councillors discussed the matter at a Fish & Game council meeting in Cromwell last week. Otago chief executive Niall Watson said wild mallards were already available for hunting in Otago and it was the first time the council had discussed releasing captive-reared mallards into the wild.

"It's a decision the council has really got to grapple with."

A report prepared for the council by Fish & Game policy and planning manager Robert Sowman and Eastern Fish & Game regional manager Andy Garrick said 6500 mallards a year were being released into the Eastern, Hawke's Bay, Auckland-Waikato and Wellington Fish & Game regions.

The report said the release of captive birds could help augment or reestablish wild populations or provide more opportunities for hunters.

But the release could also have negative biological, genetic, behavioural or ecological effects on the mallards.

The Otago council was asked to consider whether it would support the releasing of captive reared mallards and would provide a recommendation to the New Zealand council.

Fish & Game Otago already releases reared pheasants into the wild.

tom.kitchin@odt.co.nz