Wellington Weekly Hunting Report – June 22 2017

Rain arrives as sun sets on season

Image right: Starting off the next generation (Credit: Hamish Carnachan). 

Heavy rain, wind, showers and sun - there's a bit of everything coming our way over the next few days but tomorrow and Saturday are looking most conducive to duck hunting.

The forecast wet weather and variable winds over Friday and Saturday should provide some good shooting before clearing and calming Sunday... a great opportunity to hit the maimai at the start of the weekend and then do some leg-work chasing upland game on Sunday.

Remember that this is the second-to-last weekend of the waterfowl season, so it might be time to take leave on the days that are going to shoot best so you can get your fill. 

Next week is looking wet too so maybe consider hitting the boss up for time off! 

Here are the prospects for this weekend:

Wellington/Wairarapa

Friday		Rain with strong southerlies about coastal areas.
Saturday		Rain clearing later and the fresh southerly dies away.
Sunday		A few showers with a fresh southerly popping up for a time.

Manawatu

Friday		Rain and southeasterlies.
Saturday		Rain clears later and the southeasterly dies away.
Sunday		Increasing fine with southerly breeze.

Rangitikei

Friday		Northeasterlies and occasional rain.
Saturday		Heavy rain falls, ease later. Southwesterlies.
Sunday		Patchy rain. Southwesterly dies away.

---

Three day rain forecast

For the latest rain forecast click here

Friday, June 23	Saturday, June 24	Sunday, June 25

Upland game opportunities

There is some great upland game hunting on public land in the Wellington Fish & Game region (Credit: Dave Little)

Wellington Fish & Game has established a booking system for hunting upland game in private forestry blocks in western Manawatu.

We've also been working to diversify game bird hunting opportunities on public land.

Wellington Fish & Game has liaised with the local game preserves to relocate hundreds of robust cock pheasant, which are rounded up at the end of the game season to be released on land accessible by the public.

This project helps supplement the local population without causing any issues of ‘dilution’ of the gene pool, but provides an additional opportunity for hunters that put the effort in.

If you’re hunting pheasant in the Waitarere or Santoft forests, or along the riverbeds of the lower Rangitikei River, or some Wairarapa rivers, keep an eye out for birds carrying metal bands. If we get plenty of returns of information to infer success, it will justify spending time and effort continuing with this exercise.

To find out more about upland game hunting, check out the website or contact the officer - 063590409

Give it a shot!       

Safety Comes First

Opening Weekend is behind us but there's plenty of duck hunting ahead over the season - firearms safety still comes foremost

1. TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS LOADED

- Check every firearm yourself.
- Pass or accept only an open or unloaded firearm.

2. ALWAYS POINT FIREARMS IN A SAFE DIRECTION

- Loaded or unloaded, always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

3. LOAD A FIREARM ONLY WHEN READY TO FIRE

- Load the magazine only after you reach your hunting area.
- Load the chamber only when ready to shoot.
- Completely unload before leaving the hunting area.

4. IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET BEYOND ALL DOUBT

- Movement, colour, sound and shape can all deceive you.
- Assume colour, shape, sound, and shape to be human until proven otherwise.

5. CHECK YOUR FIRING ZONE

- THINK! What may happen if you miss your target? What might you hit between you and the target or beyond?
- Do not fire if you know others are in your firing zone.

6. STORE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION SAFELY

- When not in use, lock away the bolt, firearm and ammunition separately.
- Never leave firearms in a vehicle that is unattended.

7. AVOID ALCOHOL AND DRUGS WHEN HANDLING FIREARMS

- Good judgement is the key to safe use of firearms.