Ponds, rivers and lagoons across South Canterbury were a hive of activity as the 2026 duck-shooting season officially opened at the weekend.
Opening day weather on Saturday proved ideal, as low cloud cleared early to a sunny day and mild temperatures.
It was well-suited for what is for many duck-shooters, a social occasion with friends and family.
Central South Island Fish & Game had teams of rangers operating across Temuka, Fairlie and the Wainono Lagoon.
On the Ōpihi River Nathan Meager and Kaiawa Reuben, 8, setup at the family mai mai and bagged five mallard ducks by the time that rangers checked on them at 9am.
Family members were lined up to come and go from the mai mai all weekend to join in, while fitting in other activities elsewhere like field sports and big game hunting.
Near Fairlie, Luke Haugh and his three children enjoyed some family time duck-shooting at a farm pond.
According to the children their highlights were getting up early in the morning, watching dad harvest the ducks, and retrieving ducks from the pond.
At Wainono Lagoon, the Carlaw family and friends continued their tradition of duck-shooting at the lagoon on opening.
Rather than shooting in pairs, this year the social aspect of the weekend was enhanced as they joined up to shoot out of a new and improved family-sized mai mai.
The group had harvested 30 birds together by 9am.
Across the weekend, rangers checked on 78 duck-shooters, a mix of both locals and visitors.
In a statement, a Central South Island Fish & Game spokesperson said rangers were pleased to find the majority of duck-shooters were fully compliant with regulations.
However, four individuals were found offending — shooting without a game bird licence and/or in possession of lead ammunition within 200m of open water.
Preliminary data from the game bird harvest survey indicated that duck-shooters across the region harvested about eight mallards and two paradise shelduck each, on average, for the weekend.
The occasional black swan, pūkeko and NZ shoveler duck were also harvested.
For the Central South Island Fish & Game Region, the main game duck-shooting season is open until July 26, while open seasons for upland game extend through to August 30, and for paradise shelduck continues to September 27 in specific areas. — Allied Media
