Otago - The Game Call - 28 August 2025

Winter gets the last say

Welcome to final 2025 edition of The Game Call, your fortnightly regional hunting report.

This weekend marks the last opportunity to chase upland game, such as California quail or chukor, or waterfowl, such as paradise shelducks and black swans, in the 2025 Otago game season. Saturday looks fine for a walk in the hills for upland game in Central, or plan a morning parry or swan hunt before showers and strong westerlies. (Swans Area B only.) Sunday looks good for hunting around Dunedin but pack your wet gear and hold onto your hat in exposed areas further south. The season ends on Sunday, August 31 inclusive.

Pictured above: We have a winner … Shot of the Season photo of Jackson (7) and 1-year-old dog Pip on the lower Taieri on Opening Weekend. Credit: Tom McAuliffe.

In this issue:

• Shot of the Season
• Paradise shelduck special season
• Game bird dispersal
• Staying active off-season
• Hunting honkers
• Weather Outlook

Shot of the Season: Otago Game Bird Photo Competition

Dunedin Hunting & Fishing NZ’s Blair (left) and Finn presented the $250 duck hunter’s prize pack to Tina McAuliffe, her son Jackson (7) and Pip the dog on Monday. The photo was taken by Jackson’s dad Tom McAuliffe.

Congratulations to Tom McAuliffe, the grand prize winner of the “Shot of the Season” photo competition.

Tom sent in a photo of son Jackson (7) and 1-year-old dog Pip on the lower Taieri after Opening Weekend. He wins the $250 duck hunter’s prize pack generously sponsored by Dunedin Hunting & Fishing. Kids and canines were a common theme in many of the competition entries.

“It’s been one of the most rewarding seasons having a 7-year-old son and a new dog,” says Tom. “We are out most weekends. Jackson is loving it.

“I have always hunted. Now it’s about them, and it’s been great.”

Tom says he spent a bit of time training young Pip, a wirehair-Labrador-German shorthaired pointer cross, before the season.

“Once she got a few birds under her belt she was away.”

Thanks to Dunedin Hunting & Fishing for supporting the competition, and to everyone who entered. Keep taking photos and capturing those moments.

Paradise shelduck ‘special’ season

Otago hunters have another chance to harvest parries in the March “special” season.

Did you know your whole-season Game Bird Licence 2025 includes “summer” or “special” seasons in several Fish & Game regions early next year?

Otago’s “special” season for paradise shelduck is on March 7-15, 2026.

By summer’s end, it’s a good chance to dust off the hunting gear, teach younger or novice hunters before the next Opening Weekend, and help farmers hunt parries that might be causing a nuisance to crops. Here’s what else you need to know about the nine-day season:

• You will need your 2025 game bird whole season licence or a valid day licence.
• Hunting is not permitted within 200 metres of open water.
• Daily bag limit — five paradise shelducks.
• Lead permitted.
• Other game birds and protected species must not be hunted.
• Check the 2025-26 Game Bird Season Regulations.  

Nuisance dispersal

Staying active off-season

Upland game hunting in Central Otago in magical weekend weather.  Photo: Bruce Quirey

After the season has wrapped up, there are plenty of ways to keep your hunting passion alive and set yourself up for an even better year ahead. Here are some ideas to stay active in the off-season:

• Build relationships – take time to thank the farmers who gave you access this year and start conversations with new landowners for future opportunities.
• Explore new ground – scout out fresh hunting spots now so you’re ready when opening weekend rolls around.
• Care for wetlands – get involved in planting, weed control, or riparian projects to improve habitat for ducks and other wildlife.
• Tidy up your mai-mai – repair, rebuild, or add a few comforts so your hide is ready to go.
• Keep your gear sharp – clean, maintain, and store your decoys, calls, and firearms so they’re in top condition.

Hunting honkers

Why not contact farmers and organise a Canada goose hunt?

During the off-season, hunters should consider taking up the challenge - and helping farmers - by targeting wary Canada geese.

Once managed as a prized game species, Canada geese are unprotected — in the same bracket as sparrows and pigeons.

Gifted to New Zealand by US President Theodore Roosevelt, Canada geese were introduced in the early 20^th Century. However, they have not been managed by Fish & Game since 2011 having been removed from the game bird schedule of the Wildlife Act 1953 by the then Conservation Minister.

Since then, responsibility for their control has shifted to affected landowners. The species population has continued to grow and distribute further afield.

Why not approach farmers about access and organise a goose hunt with your mates? You’ll be helping to protect rural livelihoods and, you never know, it may even open doors to other hunting opportunities next game bird season.

Weather Outlook

Wind forecast: 9am Saturday August 30, 2025 (Credit: www.windy.com)

Wind forecast: 9am Sunday, August 31, 2025 (Credit: www.windy.com)

Dunedin: Saturday fine, then a few showers developing in the evening. Westerlies, turning northerly. Sunday cloud clearing and becoming fine. Southerlies, turning westerly.

Clutha Rural: Saturday fine, then occasional rain from evening. North-westerlies, turning south-westerly. Sunday a few showers, becoming widespread. Westerlies.

Central Otago: Saturday looks fine for upland hunting, then a few showers developing in the evening. North-westerlies, becoming strong. Sunday showers, easing. Light winds.

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.