Thames and Coromandel hunters are being reminded Auckland Waikato Fish and Game region's mallard, grey and shoveler duck season ends 6.30pm this Monday on Queen's Birthday.

Northern Game bird Manager John Dyer says last year several hunters risked $5000 fines by shooting at mallard after the season had ended.

The grey, mallard and shoveler duck season in Auckland Waikato Fish and Game region ends 6.30pm this Monday. Photo: Jeanette Nee.

'[They were] blissfully unaware until rangers turned up to investigate complaints by other hunters.”

'Hunters doing this also risk the confiscation of their equipment, so they need to take the closing dates seriously.”

Fish and Game's Auckland Waikato region daily bags limits for grey and mallard ducks is 10 of each specie – and the season ends June 2.

The daily bag limit for paradise shelduck south of Auckland Harbour Bridge is 20 with the season ending June 29. Hunters can bag 10 pukeko daily until August 24.

John says anyone who is planning to hunt in other regions should check the regulations in either the booklet that came with their game bird licence, or online if they've misplaced it.

'Some local hunters have been slow to take on board all of the publicity about feeding ducks being banned on shot-over ponds, and also the three-shot rule.”

If a ranger can fit more than two rounds into a hunter's magazine, then no matter what the excuse, they risk fines and confiscation, says John.

'Unfortunately, that's exactly what has happened in some areas where our rangers made surprise appearances on many remote private properties this year – from as far north as Wellsford to as far south as Taumarunui. ”

Auckland Waikato Fish and Game region's mallard population has had a rough time with repeated one-in-50 year droughts in the last few years. Shorter hunting seasons are to help maintain a breeding nucleus to aid their recovery when wetter conditions return.

And while the mallard harvest has been slow due to fine weather, poor tides and other factors – depending on the location – John says there are still plenty of opportunities for those who persist.

'Paradise shelduck can be hunted until June 29. And the drought conditions have benefitted pheasant numbers, with good conditioned birds now waiting to play ‘hide and seek' games with well-trained pointing dogs.”

John says hunters can also do themselves a favour by thinning out pukeko wherever the birds are in large numbers. Hunters have four months (to August 24) to hunt pukekos, pheasants and quail in the Auckland/Waikato Region.

'It surprises many people, even many hunters, that these native icons have long been associated with killing ducklings and eating duck eggs, quite apart from seriously damaging crops such as maize and grass.

'One woman feeding ducklings in her backyard told us of chasing pukekos, while still in her dressing gown.”

John says the pukekos had grabbed her ducklings in their sharp beaks and ran off – refusing to let them go until they were quite dead. 'Those pukekos are certainly now on her hunting list.”

John says the original paleo diet humans have been eating for millennia is all about lean game meats.

'They don't come much leaner than pheasants and hunters who set about hunting these birds are not just bagging ‘fast food' of a much healthier kind, but they'll be much fitter for all that exercise.

'Our heart-healthy prescription is to get off the couch and go chasing these roosters up and down the hills.”