Get outdoors for final days of mallard season

Welcome back to The Game Call, your fortnightly Otago Regional Hunting Report.

Time is running out, duck hunters! With just two weeks remaining in the mallard season, these final days are your last chance to head out with mates and whanau, and stock your freezer with premium wild kai.

Pictured above: End of the day – a successful outing in the Maniototo. Credit: Ian Hadland.

The birds are still out there – recent successes prove that with the right approach, rewarding hunts are absolutely possible. Mallards are splitting into smaller groups, and feeding patterns are changing. After forecast rain or showers late tomorrow, the weekend should be fine and calm, so you’ll need to use every trick. The more hunters who get out there, the better. Read on for advice.

In this issue:

• Movers and Shakers
• Chocolate for Ducks
• Go with the Flow
• Jump to it
• Mallards Splitting Up
• Looking after Game Meat
• Photo Competition
• Recipe Competition
• Fish & Game Wetlands – Otokia Wetland
• Weather Outlook

 

Movers and shakers

Chris and Spencer Bell used motion decoys to turn a still morning into success.

Despite a successful father-and-son hunt on the Taieri last weekend, conditions for calling in ducks were trying, says Chris Bell, of Otago Waterfowler.

“There was supposed to be strong wind, but we had none of it. The water was still. No wind for direction.”

Creating movement on still water is the key, Chris says.

“Jerk rigs, duck butts and flappers. We had everything going on – heaps of movement to make it look like the ducks were happy.”

Watch a video on how to make a simple jerk rig on the Otago Fish & Game Council Facebook page.

  

Chocolate for ducks

Chris will try to get out as much as he can in the two weeks remaining of the Otago duck season.

He has found that the birds have moved quickly about the local area this season.

“There’s been heaps of scouting, trying to find where farmers are feeding out wholecrop,” he says.

“You can’t scout them on a Monday and then expect to shoot them on Saturday. They clean it out and move on."

“Wholecrop is chocolate for ducks.”

Chris believes a change in winter farming practices has affected bird distribution. A growing number of feeding sheds in the district, rather than spreading whole crop on paddocks, means food sources for ducks are more isolated, he says.

 

Go with the flow

Next time, I get the comfy seat in the canoe. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

Drift hunting from a canoe, raft or small rowboat opens new possibilities for waterfowlers willing to go with the flow.

This tactic proved successful in the Maniototo area recently.

• A drifting canoe lets you quietly sneak up on birds along river margins and backwaters.
• Reach secluded spots that are otherwise tough or impossible to access on foot, especially in swampy or heavily vegetated areas.
• Hug the river edges for cover. Mallards will usually flee if they see you coming, however, the wily ones wait until you’ve passed.
• Take turns with a shooter upfront and a hunting partner at the back paddling and spotting.
• A retriever dog is invaluable. Put the pooch behind the paddler to keep the boat steady.
• Check river flows before you go.

The utmost care must be taken when navigating the river and discharging firearms. Be aware of your obligations under the Arms Act 1983 and the Wildlife Act. It is an offence to hunt from a boat under motorised power. Respect private property. 

Jump to it!

Ducks can be there one day, and gone the next, says Otago Fish & Game Council Chairperson Adrian McIntyre.

“They’ll come back in big mobs, or twos. They’ll land in a paddock and look at you.”

The West Otago farmer and duck hunter says take advantage of the next couple of weekends, even if it’s jump-shooting ponds.

Adrian had five mallards hanging in his shed ready for processing whole for the freezer.

“They are good birds in good condition.”

He also likes smoked duck from his brother-in-law.

“When they come back, they are really nice!”

 

Mallards splitting up

Jack Pow has been doing a bit of duck hunting on ponds in West Otago, harvesting about half a dozen every time over the past couple of weeks. He and a couple of mates also had a successful hunt near Mandeville on the final weekend of the Southland season.

Jack is encouraging people to get out, especially on the last weekend.

“The more people out there the better. It’s good to get out and make use of your licence, and all your gear that you paid thousands of dollars to buy!”

Mallards are very split up, Jack says.

“They are pairing up, hanging around in mobs of a dozen or 20-odd.”

There are not big such numbers on the rivers, but around West Otago the ducks were definitely out feeding on the paddocks.

 

Looking after your game meat

Vacuum packing your game meat reduces freezer burn and extends freezer life.

Game bird meat is a prized reward of the hunt — here’s how to care for your wild kai properly so you can enjoy nutritious, tasty meals all year round.

• Keep shot birds cool and clean during transport. Avoid leaving them in a pile or a hot vehicle.
• It’s easiest to pluck birds while they’re still warm. Process them within 1–2 days for best results.
• Let meat rest in the fridge for a day before freezing to improve tenderness and flavour.
• Vacuum packing reduces freezer burn and extends freezer life. Label with date and species.
• If vacuum sealing isn’t an option, wrap the game tightly in cling film and foil or use zip-lock freezer bags with as much air removed as possible.
• Store older packs near the top or front so you use them first. Rotate stock each season.
• For food safety, thaw game meat in the fridge, not on the bench.
• Game bird meat is lean and flavourful. Try sausages, salami, confit legs, or a slow-cooked wild duck ragu.

 

Shot of the Season: Otago game bird photo competition

Spencer Bell (7) and Harry Love (5) finished the school holidays with a hunting expedition with their dads. Credit: Chris Bell.

This fortnight’s “Shot of the Season” winner is Chris Bell, who took the above photo of young lads Spencer Bell and Harry Love at the weekend.

The boys joined their dads Chris and Nick in a maimai on the Taieri to get them out of the house on a final day of the school holidays.

“They hadn’t seen many ducks this season, so we strung them along at 6 in the morning,” Chris says. “Spencer had on his waders setting up decoys.”

The fathers and sons had a successful hunt with 40 mallards and 12 paradise shelduck.

Show us your best photo shots from the great outdoors!

Otago's game bird season isn't just about the harvest — it's about the memories made and stories shared. This season, we're celebrating the photographers among our hunting community with the "Shot of the Season" photo competition.

Every fortnight, we'll select one outstanding photo that captures the essence of game bird hunting in Otago. Each featured photographer will go into the running for our grand prize worth $250, sponsored by Dunedin Hunting & Fishing, to be announced at the end of the season.

Submit your entries:

• Email: otago@fishandgame.org.nz
• Subject line: Photo competition
• A brief caption describing the photo including names (from left) of any people or pawed hunting buddies.

Fortnightly winners featured every second Thursday throughout the season.

 

Game Bird Recipe Competition: put your wild kai to the test!

Got a special way in the kitchen with mallards? A tantalising technique for parries? Show off your culinary skills in our Game Bird Recipe Competition!

Every two weeks during hunting season, you’ll have the opportunity to win a copy of The Fish + Game Cookbook, by Angelo Georgalli, for the most impressive game bird recipe. Whether it's a family recipe passed down for generations or your own creative invention, we want to see how you transform your wild kai from outdoors to table.

• Simply submit:
  • your name
  •  your recipe
  • a photo of your prepared dish,
  • a brief story about your hunt.
• Email to: otago@fishandgame.org.nz
• Subject line: Recipe competition
• Entries must be received by midnight every second Sunday.
• Winners announced fortnightly!

Good hunting and better cooking!

 

Fish & Game wetlands – Otokia Wetlands Reserve

This Fish & Game-managed 11ha wetland is just north of the State Highway 1 bridge over the Taieri River at Otokia.

It is a 20-minute drive south of the Dunedin CBD. The wetland has two ponds each with a permanent maimai and another two ponds without maimais.

Please respect the neighbouring landowner’s property and be aware of your surrounds as the wetland is near State Highway 1.

To apply for a casual permit, [click here].

 

 

Weather outlook

Wind forecast: 8am Saturday July 19, 2025. Credit: www.windy.com.

Wind forecast: 8am Sunday, July 20, 2025. Credit: www.windy.com.

Dunedin

Fine tomorrow, then occasional rain from evening with a low of 4 deg C. Northerlies, turning westerly at night. The weekend looks fine with westerlies on Saturday and light winds on Sunday.

Clutha Rural

Fine tomorrow, then a few showers developing in the evening with north-westerlies. Saturday and Sunday are fine with westerlies, then light winds.

Central Otago

Mainly fine tomorrow, then the chance of a shower from evening. Northerlies developing for a time in the afternoon and evening. Saturday and Sunday fine with light winds. A low of -2 deg C and high of 8. 

Please note: This weather update is current at the time of publishing. We recommend checking the latest forecasts and road conditions before heading out. Click here for updates from MetService or Windy.com.

 

Take a mate hunting

Grab your hunting licence online and let the adventures begin.

 

Got any Otago game bird hunting news?

Send your hunting news and photos (with hunters’ names) to otago@fishandgame.org.nz for consideration in the Regional Hunting Report.