With fine conditions set for tomorrow's opening morning in the Western Bay – heralding every duck hunter's nightmare of ducks flying high– Fish and Game say very early or late hunts will bag birds.

Eastern Region Fish and Game officer John Meikle says the weather's not ideal but it's traditional to start early on game bird season opening morning – and this time along with late evenings will be maimai, pond or estuary hunters' best shot.

Fine skies will mean ducks will fly high during tomorrow's season opening morning, but hunters still have chances early morning or late evening – or using boats in the harbour during the day.

'From my understanding, looking at the Metserivce, it will be reasonably smooth sea and fine – which is the worst-case scenario you can have for duck hunters that effectively once the birds get a bit of pressure, they're going to head out to sea.

'So the crucial [hunting] times are morning and evening – because they can't stay at sea all day.

'The first season morning [tomorrow] they're unaware – so hey, you get a bit more chance – but they're going to get a fright then head out to sea, but they'll come back in the evening to feed.”

John says those shooting along the estuary, harbour or small ponds, have their best chance when ducks return at last light.

'It's going to be a heck of a lot harder,” says John, but he doesn't suggest sleeping in tomorrow – and says next week brings better shooting conditions to target wetlands.

'As soon as the weather roughs up – forecast from Monday to kind of Thursday next week – those birds will be staying inland for a bit more shelter.

'If you take from Katikati down to Whakatane – it's all the same principle.”

Fish and Game Easter Region senior officer Matthew McDougall says the start of the season could again be tough but perseverance should pay off.

'Smart and adaptable hunters will get the payoff.”

Hunters should be prepared with a ‘Plan B' if their favourite spots are short on ducks at opening morning; for example, checking out ‘big water' spots such as lakes and large rivers, says Matthew.

'Go and find the big water areas where the birds are congregating,” says Matthew, who reckons pheasant hunting in paddocks or targeting Tauranga harbour's black swan is ideal too.

'Trend count results suggest the black swan, and Canada geese, populations are as high – if not higher than they've been for many years in the Bay of Plenty, particularly on Tauranga Harbour and Lake Rotorua.”

John says all hunters should have their firearm licence and game bird season permits on them, as Fish and Game officers will be out conducting checks tomorrow.

Duck hunters should also be aware of a shortened season and lower-daily limits.

Eastern Region, which includes the Bay of Plenty, is this year a four-week season – from May 3-June 2 – with a daily bag limit of six birds formallard and grey ducks; 'because our populations are just not as good”.

'We're encouraging people to shot green heads – all hunters I'm speaking to are just shooting the drakes or they're targeting mallards,” says John.

'In the Eastern Region, we're also trying to encourage people to shoot swans – as there's a lot of good meat on them.”

John, a hunter himself, says hunter should recognise it's not just about mallards.

'There's parries [paradise ducks], swans, pukekos – and there's a good Canada geese population – so if you get a chance to shoot a couple, they taste delicious smoked.

'People underestimate swan and Canada geese meat – they're absolutely superb – and so is pukeko.”

John says hunters also have to be conscious in the Eastern and Western bays of urban and lifestyle sprawl.

'People have to be a lot more firearm safety conscious. We've dealt with the firearms officer on Tauranga Harbour – people shooting within the rules we understand that – but you just have to be smart about it.”

One way is for game bird hunters to contact land or home owners before opening morning, to give them a heads-up.

'When I go out there I'm very conscious – I ring people nearby a couple of days beforehand and tell them I'm coming – and I've never and any problems.

'It's being a considerate hunter.”

John says the flipside of tomorrow's fine weather is people will be out fishing on Tauranga harbour – and hunters need to take this in their stride.

'Certainly, smart shooters will be using boats to get around a little bit, rather than sitting in a maimai all day – so it's about being safety conscious when hunting in boats too.”

And despite population figures, John says a flight yesterday up Tauranga Harbour shows the birds are widespread.

'We realise the mallard population is down a bit, but they're reasonably spread out across the harbour – so everyone should have a reasonable chance.”

North Island Regions & Rules for mallard and grey duck

Fish and Game Region Season Length Daily Bag Limit

Northland May 3-June 29 15

Auckland/Waikato May 3-June 2 10

Eastern May 3-June 2 6

Hawke's Bay May 3-June 29 10

Taranaki May 3-June 29 10

Wellington May 3 – June 15 6

Basic Rules for Safe Firearm Handling

Check every firearm yourself and pass or accept only an open or unloaded firearm.

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

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

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

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

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

Good judgement is the key to safe use

For more information about firearms and outdoor safety, visit: www.mountainsafety.org.nz

For urther Information on licences, bag limits, and other regulations, visit: www.fishandgame.org.nz