Game bird hunters in Fish & Game's Eastern Region are being given a unique opportunity during the new season's opening weekend next month – to target hen pheasants which are not normally huntable.

The new game bird season opens on Saturday, May 2 – with bag limits during the four-week season remaining at six mallards and grey ducks per day.

But Senior Fish & Game Officer Matthew McDougall says that they have an obligation to try and increase the opportunities for game bird hunting.

'For some time now we have considered that a small hen harvest would be sustainable.

'It also gives an opportunity for the young hunter or dog to get a pheasant under their belt.”

Matthew says under the regulations, a hunter can harvest one hen pheasant on each day of opening weekend – from May 2-3) – in addition to five cock pheasants.

'So we urge hunters to take up the opportunity – make the most of it.”

Matthew says Fish & Game is very aware some hunters will want to stick with the traditional approach of targeting cock pheasants only, and leaving the hens alone.

'It's their prerogative.”

It's always a tricky decision to balance long held traditions and the desire to conserve breeding stocks against taking a pragmatic approach in overall management of the game bird population, says Matthew.

Fish & Game became convinced, after evaluating the evidence, that allowing a limited harvest of hen pheasants was practical and realistic.

Matthew says this opportunity is extremely limited with its focus on the opening weekend only.

'And our game bird hunter surveys show that over the last five years, only 500 or so pheasants are harvested on average during opening weekend in the Eastern region, an average of 0.76 birds per active pheasant hunter.

'Looking at these figures, Eastern staff don't think the hen pheasant harvest will be high.”

Matthew says the pheasant hen is the only female of the nine game bird species in the Eastern Region that hunters have not previously been able to harvest.

'They've been the only exception, and apart from opening weekend, they will remain so.

'Hunters are reminded that from May 4 to August 30 the hens are protected again and only cock pheasants can be harvested, with a bag limit of five per day.”

The harvest of hens in the Eastern region will be closely monitored, and if it is judged to be harming the existing population, the regulation will be revoked for future seasons.

Overall, the decision fits with Eastern region's goals and objectives as outlined in its Sports Fish and Game Management Plan.

The two key points in the plan that apply in this case are game populations should be managed for recreational harvest, and those numbers should be maintained and enhanced in order to maximise hunting opportunities.

Game Bird Hunter's Checklist:

Get your ‘must haves'

- A game bird hunting licence, regs booklet, and buy ‘non-toxic' ammo

Get permission

- Confirm access with landowners (say ‘thank you'!)

- Get permit to hunt on F&G and DOC land

Sort out the maimai

- Fix any remaining leaks, rotten boards, seating

- Finish camouflaging maimai with camo net or vegetation

- Find cover tips at: http://hunting.fishandgame.org.nz/maimais-cover

Check your gear

- Clean and rig decoys – get a few new ones if needed

- Ensure shotgun in tip-top condition - get a few practice shots in at clay targets

- Continue your dog's fitness regime, check vaccinations & worming

- Hunting away from home? Check the regs for the region you're going to at www.fishandgame.org.nz