Shirley Whyte
02 April 2020, 3:49 AM
While hunters continue to look forward to the 2020 duck hunting season next month, many of the usual pre-season rituals are being curtailed by the Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown.
Southland Fish and Game Council manager Zane Moss said there had been plenty of speculation and lots of talk about whether this year’s duck shooting would be able to go ahead as usual and at this stage, with the Alert Level 4 set at four weeks, everything was proceeding as planned for a May 2 open day “until we hear otherwise”.
“We are getting really excited about the prospects of a bumper season and we are doing everything in our power at Fish and Game to facilitate a great hunting period.”
If the present four-week lockdown has been successful the Prime Minister is expected to ease the restrictions placed on the movements of people. If the number of new cases starts to shrink by then but community transmission is continuing, the lockdown may be extended.
Pegging Day is this Sunday (April 5) but the Level 4 Alert means hunters cannot travel to peg their ponds or check on their maimais.
“However, all pegs from the 2019 game bird season will be valid for the 2020 season if the hunter has a valid 2020 game season licence,” Mr Moss said.
“We understand hunting is currently permitted at Alert Level three and below if the rules are followed,” he said.
Hunters who shared a maimai would still have to keep two metres apart. However, hunters who shared the same isolation bubble would be able to hunt in the normal way.
If the lockdown is extended, each Fish and Game region would consider the options of a deferred start or a longer hunting season. If the hunting season is cancelled, game bird licences purchased would be refunded. Hunters are encouraged to purchase their licences online before the end of the lockdown to save the congestion at licensing facilities.
“We would suggest that hunters take this lockdown period to check their gear like decoys, waders, camouflage equipment and paint, as well as duck calls are all in good working order,” Mr Moss said.