Local Hunting Locations & Access

WATERFOWL
The Taranaki Region has many rivers, streams, creeks and ponds that provide good habitat for waterfowl. This translates into consistently good shooting and Taranaki hunters are among the most successful in the North Island.

Mallard duck is the predominant game species, accounting for some 56% of all waterfowl harvested. Mallard and Grey numbers are looking good for the 2011 game season, thanks to a wet August and September, which kept wetlands well topped up and provided good conditions for brood rearing. In addition to the traditional pond and lake shooting from maimai, jump shooting along streams, rivers, drains and farm oxidation ponds will be productive. Good evening shooting can also be had on farm dams, stubble fields and in paddocks where supplements are being fed to stock.

Paradise shelduck are widespread throughout the region and they make up about 38% of the waterfowl harvest. Numbers of Paradise shelduck counted during the January 2011 moult were lower than usual, but still sufficient to provide good hunting on stubble fields, areas of new grass, recovering hay paddocks and ponds and lakes used as loafing areas. A 10-bird daily bag limit for the whole of an 8-week season (7 May - 3 July) has been set for all parts of the Taranaki Region in 2011.

A total of 886 Canada geese were counted on the Taranaki ringplain in early January 2011, with the vast majority of birds continuing to reside in the coastal strip between Waitara and Manutahi, south of Hawera. Substantial mobs of geese remain centred on the lakes and reserve areas near New Plymouth and also in the Okato - Opunake and Hawera areas. There are also good Canada goose hunting opportunities in the Waimarino district (Area A), where 281 geese were counted during the January moult and also on several coastal dune lakes north and south of Wanganui. Hunting regulations for Canada goose have been standardised throughout the Taranaki Region this year, with the main season running from 7 May to 25 September in all areas, with a daily bag limit of 20 geese. Hunting hours for geese have been extended to allow hunting on moonlit evenings from 4 July - 25 September. A summer season for Canada goose is also held in Areas B and C, with the season running from 25 February – 25 March 2012 in Area B (Wanganui) and 4 February – 25 March 2012 in Area C (Taranaki province), both with a daily bag limit of 20. Participants in the summer season are required to hold a permit from Fish & Game NZ.

Pukeko are widespread throughout the region and farmers will welcome a harvest of Pukeko from wetlands adjacent to maize growing or other cropping areas, where they can cause damage at planting time. The season length for Pukeko has been extended by two weeks through to 28th August 2011, to give hunters time to undertake Pukeko drives after the end of the duck season. The daily bag limit for Pukeko remains at 5.

Black swan can be harvested throughout the Taranaki region from opening day, with a daily bag limit of 1 swan per hunter. The season length for California quail and cock Pheasant has been extended by two weeks through to 28th August 2011 to come into line with other North Island regions.

While there are few public hunting areas in the Taranaki region, there are plenty of places to hunt waterfowl on private land - it’s simply a matter of asking landholders for access. Once a hunter establishes a record of responsible behaviour, there is usually no problem obtaining permission to hunt in subsequent seasons.

WAIMARINO /RUAPEHU (AREA A)
This great gamebird area has a large number of farm ponds, which, in conjunction with grassland and cropping areas, provide good shooting for Paradise shelduck and Mallard duck. There is also a population of Canada geese residing in the Raetihi - Karioi area. While numbers of Paradise shelduck have decreased in the Waimarino in the last decade, pastoral farmers and vegetable growers will welcome a harvest of Paradise from areas of new grass and crops.

WANGANUI (AREA B)
Wanganui has a number of coastal dune lakes that provide good hunting for Mallard duck, Paradise shelduck, Black swan and Canada goose. There are also a significant number of hill country farm ponds that provide good hunting areas. Walking the streams or drifting down the larger rivers in a dinghy can also be productive.

A special season for Paradise shelduck and Canada goose is usually held in the Wanganui area in late February to disperse birds after the moult. Please contact the Wanganui office in early February for details. To participate in the 2012 special season, hunters must hold a 2011 game licence and obtain a permit. A $5 administration fee applies to all hunters, except those occupiers who hunt on the land they occupy.

TARANAKI PROVINCE (AREA C)
This area contains more than 1,500 lakes, ponds and wetlands – the majority on private land. Fewer landowners are hunting these days and licence holders who are prepared to contact farmers to ask for access should have no difficulty in obtaining a place to hunt.

Mallard and Grey duck populations are in good heart as a result of a productive breeding season and after the traditional opening weekend pond shooting, ducks will seek refuge on the region’s many streams, rivers and farm oxidation ponds where jump shooting, or morning or evening shoots will be productive. Paradise shelduck are also at good levels on the ringplain surrounding Mt. Taranaki and mobs will congregate in paddocks where supplements such as maize silage are being fed to stock and on areas of new grass and recovering pasture.

A Canada goose population is centred on the lakes and wetlands near New Plymouth and while several reserves frequented by the birds are closed to hunting, geese can be targeted when they feed on adjacent farmland. Good numbers of Canada geese are also residing in the coastal area between New Plymouth and Hawera. Season conditions are liberal for Canada geese, with a 20-bird daily bag limit and a 21-week main season through to 25 September 2011. Canada geese will be flushed off New Plymouth reserve areas on up to three Sunday mornings in July and August 2011, but it is up to hunters to organise their own hunting access.

A special season for Paradise shelduck and Canada geese has been held in the Taranaki provincial area in recent years. Please contact the Wanganui or New Plymouth offices of Fish & Game NZ in mid-January for details of the Canada goose season and in mid-February for Paradise shelduck. To participate in the 2012 special season hunters must hold a 2011 game licence and obtain a permit. A $5 administration fee applies to all hunters, except those occupiers who hunt on the land they occupy.

UPLAND GAME
Scattered populations of Pheasant and California quail are present in coastal sand country, in pine plantations and in areas of bush and scrub, such as those adjacent to streams and rivers and in sheep and beef country. Most of these areas are on private farmland and the appropriate permission should be sought. Favourable breeding conditions in recent years have meant that areas of good habitat are currently holding reasonable numbers of pheasant.

Permits are available at a cost of $5 from Taranaki Region offices for upland game hunting in a number of Wanganui coastal forests, including Lismore, Harakeke, the Justice Block and Nukumaru Recreation Reserve.

NOTE: Update to Harakeke Forest hunting arrangements: Since the production of 2012 Upland Game Bird Hunting Permits, Fish & Game has been informed of a significant change to hunting arrangements in Harakeke Forest, Wanganui.Please read the full alert here, where you will also find an updated map containing the revised hunting area boundaries.