Autumn leaves, chestnuts, persimmons, feijoas, roast wild pork, braised duck....yes, it's a new season of nature's bounty.

The first weekend of May heralded the opening season for pig and duck hunters. We take a closer look at the duck hunters in the region and share a bit about their world with you.


Rory O'Brien, the artist at work.

Taken seriously
A group of us rolled up to the Coroglen Tavern last season, albeit, a bit tongue and cheek, to check out the keen participants in the Annual Duck Calling Competition. As the antics of the evening unfolded, it became apparent that many of the participants were taking their maimai stage, camo- gear and duck callers very seriously.

The winner, Greyson Reynolds, won some seriously good gear, and a place in the NZ Duck Calling Championship. The winner of that is flown to the States to compete!

Intrigued, and aware of my ignorance into my community's various and colourful life-styles, I have set out to find out more about this season's progress.

Coroglen support
This year, things panned out a bit differently, as an independent Brewery sponsored the event, knocking out eligibility of several tavern and pub winners being able to go to Nationals.

Jed and Michelle Harper of Coroglen Tavern; along with the support of Cody and Kelly, Hooked on Fishing and Hunting, put up the prizes themselves.

I was fortunate to catch up with this year's winner, Rory O'Brien a day before he and his family left to relocate to Garston, near Queenstown where he will be working on a dry stock station.

He learnt to duck call by watching videos, then practice with mates, who gave each other grief until they honed their skills. Hours are spent by serious callers annoying wives and girlfriends refining calling techniques around the house.

Rory has three callers, but he says some hunters have as many as eight. His winning caller is a beautifully hand crafted piece, made by Alan Hammond.

In the field
Rory feels electronic callers are for people who don't have the patience to master the Art, and there is no place for them in the field. Poor callers deter ducks and spoil it for others.

The general feeling I got from others I spoke to was it had been a poor season, especially on the Plains, due to dry conditions.

Rory saw other factors. A genuine hunter is a conservationist, who prepares for the season well, trapping cats and other predators, and is well versed in the eco-system surrounding their maimai.

He is saddened by the 'cowboys” who give hunters a bad reputation.

Some of these guys go out on, or before the first day, often don't have a licence, lots of drinking and indiscriminately shoot at bottles, and protected species, including bittern and hawk, with no concern for quota or the consequences of their actions.

As a community, if you are aware of such persons, the 2014 Game Bird Hunting Guide lists the Waikato Region Wildlife Managers.

Rory wishes to thank Jed, Michelle, Cody and Kelly, and the crew at Coroglen Tavern for their generosity.

He says the experience has given him a lot of confidence, and he'll be back, hopefully to defend his title.

Weigh in your mallard
Michelle is planning a family event for next year. Put it on your autumn calendar for 2015.

In the meantime, the Tavern's Heaviest Mallard Competition is still running. Last weigh-in is 5pm, June 2, Queens Birthday. Winner announced at 6pm, and once again these guys have put their hands in their pockets for a great prize.