Photo: Supplied / Fish and Game
Hunting enthusiasts are preparing for the upcoming game bird season, which kicks off each year on the first weekend in May.
Strict regulations govern game bird hunting due to considerations related to conservation, environmental protection and resource management.
Breaching regulations can be a serious offense, with violators facing imprisonment, fines or both under the 1853 Wildlife Act.
In February, a photographer captured images of an individual illegally capturing a black swan in a park at Auckland's Western Springs.
A photograph of a man suspected of taking a swan from Western Springs Park. Photo: Supplied / Facebook
Black swans are partially protected species and can only be hunted in season according to regional limits.
Here's a quick primer on everything you need to know about the game bird hunting season:
When does the season begin and end?
The game bird season starts on 6 May and lasts two or three months depending on the animal hunted and the region it is hunted in.
What documentation is needed to hunt?
Hunters must hold several permits and licenses to hunt game birds.
They must obviously hold a firearms license, which is a prerequisite for legally using a gun and purchasing ammunition.
Additionally, hunters need to apply for a game bird hunting license that is valid throughout New Zealand (except in the Chatham Islands).
Hunters can choose between a single-day license or a whole-season license.
For adults, the cost of a whole-season license is $116, including GST.
It is important to note that a hunting license is temporary and must be renewed each hunting season.
On the other hand, a firearms license is a permanent identification document that is like a driver's license.
Hunting licenses can be purchased through Fish & Game New Zealand, either online or in person.
Fish & Game New Zealand does not issue permits to hunt other wild animals such as deer, goats, wild pigs or wallabies.
If hunters intend to operate in public hunting areas under the Department of Conservation, they must apply separately for a DOC public hunting permit.
Hunters must carry their licenses and permits at all times when engaged in any hunting activity, as enforcement officers may conduct random checks.
What is Pegging Day?
After obtaining a license, hunters prepare for Pegging Day (also called Mark-up Day), which typically falls on the first weekend of April.
Hunters use Pegging Day to mark their preferred hunting spots in advance by using a plastic tag.
The tag can be selected when purchasing a hunting license for the season.
The system has been designed to ensure safety and prevent overcrowding at popular hunting sites. It applies to all 12 hunting areas managed by Fish & Game New Zealand.
Pegging Day falls on 6 April this year, and hunters must claim their spots before 10am. After 10am, unclaimed spots become available to other hunters.
Are there any restrictions on using firearms to hunt game birds?
Auckland and Waikato were the first regions to introduce a "three-shot rule", under which a shotgun can hold a maximum of three rounds.
However, the rule has not been universally adopted by all regions.
- Auckland: Three-shot rule (two in the magazine, one in the chamber)
- Waikato: Three-shot rule
- Eastern: Three-shot rule
- Hawke's Bay: Three-shot rule
- Wellington: No magazine extensions permitted
- Nelson-Marlborough: No magazine extensions permitted
- West Coast: Five-shot rule (total of four in the magazine, one in the chamber)
What birds can be hunted?
Under the Wildlife Act, only specific bird species are classified as game birds in New Zealand. The hunting season and bag limits vary by species and region.
The Chatham Islands is a special conservation area in which most species are protected.
Under the 1953 Wildlife Act, game birds include black swans, chukars, Australasian shovelers, grey ducks and mallards (and any cross of those species with any other species, variety or kind of duck), paradise shelducks, grey partridges, red-legged partridges, pheasants (any bird, not being a domestic bird, of the genus Phasianus and any cross of any such bird with any other species, variety or kind of pheasant), pūkeko, bobwhite quail, brown quail and California quail.
Canadian geese are not protected due to their large population number, with hunters are allowed to hunt them under the Department of Conservation's small game hunting regulations.
Can any firearm be used to hunt game birds?
Only specific types of shotguns are allowed to be used for environmental and safety reasons.
During game bird hunting season, only shotguns of 10 gauge (10G) or smaller may be used.
When hunting waterfowl such as black swans or ducks, only non-toxic, lead-free ammunition can be used.
Lead-free ammunition can only be used when hunting waterfowl on public or private land within 200 metres of any waterway and wetland.
Know your limits
The season for hunting game birds typically lasts around three months, but that does not mean unlimited hunting.
Bag limits vary by species, region and period of time.
Fish & Game New Zealand publishes hunting regulations booklets for each region, detailing bag limits, season dates and identification guides with images.
Additionally, Fish & Game New Zealand encourages responsible hunting practices, asking hunters to process their harvest properly and avoid waste.
