Both Barrels June 2022

Share our duck hunting tradition this Matariki Holiday

We are encouraging you to take a newbie out duck hunting this season to show them why we love duck hunting and to share in the harvest of free-range game bird meat.

The Matariki holiday weekend, Friday, June 24^th to Sunday 26^th provides a great opportunity to do just that.

If this is a youngster you’re taking out, pick a good forecast with mild conditions if possible as it can get uncomfortably cold through June and July – evening hunts are usually much warmer than morning hunts.

Game bird hunting Day licences are $23 for an adult and $8 for a junior.

You can grab a game bird licence on our website here.

Above Right: Kara Adams (4) on her first-ever duck hunt with her dad and brother-Photo: Rhys Adams

Outlook for July

Hamish Thijsen and his trophy shoveler drake from a coastal pond - photo Brent Growcott

The world is your oyster for game bird hunting in the CSI Region in July.

The last day if the main season just happens to be the last day of July this year.

Most of us tend to focus on targeting mallards but why not mix it up this July and try for a pair of shoveler or a bag limit of black swan. Coastal areas like Wainono Lagoon are a great spot to target these game bird species.

Beyond July, upland game hunting continues until the last Sunday in August. West of State Highway 1, the paradise shelduck extended season runs until the last Sunday in September.

Be sure to read up on the 2022 regulations guide here before heading out.

Looking for a place to hunt?

Dawn at Wainono Wetland Reserve -Photo Jaxson McKenzie

CSI Fish & Game administer hunting at four wetlands and in just a few easy steps, you can hunt these wetlands.

These wetlands are balloted for Opening Weekend but after Opening Weekend these wetlands can be hunted by all licence holders, provided you obtain a permit and if required, contact the landowner prior to hunting.

Click here to Jump on our website to check out the wetland maps and info.

While there, save a permit application form, fill it in and email it to us, or alternatively get in direct contact with the office.

CSI Fish & Game contacts: email csi@fishandgame.org.nz or phone 03 6158400.

Check out this YouTube video of what is on offer at our Fish & Game Wainono Wetland Reserve.

Plan ahead to 2023

Cole Beeman had a great Opening Day hunt on a Mid-Canterbury irrigation Pond - maybe you could too next Opening-Photo: Rhys Adams

This is a great time of year to get active and find your Opening Weekend pond for 2023.

A great place to start would be the numerous irrigation ponds scattered throughout the Canterbury Plains between the Rakaia and Orari rivers.

Many of these ponds are unoccupied on Opening Weekend and it would likely improve hunting success in the area if there were more hunters on ponds to move the birds around.

Ponds can be discovered on google earth and other aerial imagery websites or by driving the rural roads. Door knocking at the farmers' house to politely request access permission just may see you set up with some great hunting for years to come.

Please be respectful if your access request is turned down and move on to the next pond.

Hot Barrels

Rhys Adams, Fish & Game Officer