IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27/8/2014

Last weekend to bag some game birds

IMPORTANT NOTE EDS AND REPORTERS: This release is not for use by media outside the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua lakes and East Coast areas. It applies only to the Eastern Fish & Game region which runs from Wairoa in the south around to Waihi in the north, with an inland point at Taupo. Please visit www.fishandgame.org.nz to see the Eastern region’s boundaries.

Fish & Game is urging hunters in the central North Island to seize their last opportunity to bag some upland game birds – pheasants and quail – and black swan and pukeko.

The upland game bird season in the Eastern Fish & Game Region ends on August 31, 2014.

Eastern Region Senior Fish & Game Officer Matthew Mc Dougall says that all these birds provide a good end-of-season opportunity to put some wild game on table and “get more value from your hunting licence.

“We do acknowledge that the short mallard season, which ended on June 2, has made it a tough season for keen game bird hunters, but the measure was needed in view of the bird numbers.”

Black swan, largest of the game birds, can be targeted in areas such as the Rotorua lakes, and parts of Tauranga Harbour and there is no limit.

Mr Mc Dougall urges hunters who have access to pukeko flocks to take advantage of this, adding that the birds are continuing to thrive, and cause problems for farmers and home owners where their properties are close to wetlands.

He says that Fish & Game gets more complaints about pukeko damaging farmers’ crops than other bird species. They get into kiwifruit and citrus crops and feed on newly planted maize.

“There is a generous limit of ten birds for pukeko, and no limit on quail, but hunters can’t take more than five cock pheasants.”

Mr Mc Dougall urges hunters who are planning a final shoot this weekend to make sure they check the regulations that apply to the area they plan to visit.

ENDS

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