July 22, 2026 • 8 mins
Chair of Southland Fish and Game Dave MacGregor talks duck shooting numbers ahead of closing weekend.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome back to the muster on Hakka Nui. Dave McGregor's
chair of South and Fish and Game and joins us
this afternoon as a twenty twenty six duck shirting season
comes to its conclusion this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Dave, Good, afternoon.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
When you look back at the season since the beginning
of May, personally, have you found it?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah? Afternoony, Yeah not quite well. Myself, We've done quite well.
Haven't probably hunted as much as I would like. But
you know, you seem to think three months gives you
a penny time and opportunity, but then the last two
weekends roll around and you think, shit, I haven't really
done as much as I should. But to be honest,
we probably haven't hunted as much grain as we did
(00:46):
the previous year. That last year was exceptional in the
lake grain with the weather, especially around Riversdale, Belfa. But no,
we've been out a good number of times. The rains
over the last couple of weeks have put ducks and
padd which is another different type of hunting. And you know,
then the ice the few frosts. We had a couple
of pins that were frozen, which is an experience again
(01:07):
for both hunter and dog. But you know, we've had
some good success pounds of ponds that haven't been hunted
before that we had some good success on and it's
been good getting out with mates, managed my eleven year old.
I allow eleven year olds to shoot opening, So my
young boy got his first parry on opening with the
fourteen and then managed to get five or six mallards
(01:30):
with the fourteen and the twenty gauge throughout the season
and some paddic hunts, and then he's coming out on
the last day, last day with us on Saturday for
another another goal on a pond. So yeah, it's been enjoyable.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
How has it seemed over the season numbers wise of
what you're hearing, Has it been much of a dent
in numbers?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Not really, Like I said, we have normally with their harvest.
You know, we have the guys that are in good
areas on good ponds with available feed that shoot well,
you know, they might get their limit, some other guys
that have an average hunt, and then some guys that
have you know, let's say it was the worst opening
they've had in forty years, and we kind of have
that every year with South and being so vast and
(02:11):
weather conditions and crops going in and grain coming off,
and food availability. It can be quite scattered sometimes, you know,
rivers dolt bealfa can be hot but yet dipped, and
lums and can be nothing. So it does all depend
where you are. But most people have had an average year,
which that's what the numbers sort of suggested when we
(02:33):
went into the season.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Is the still a case there though, for them to
be declared a pace and just shooting throughout the year.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
I yeah, you're probably shocking at the wrong person who
loves as duck. So I can see where people are
coming from when there's you know, when there's big numbers
on areas and crops and farmers that having issues. But
the permit system that we run things to have alleviated
that so much to some degree this year. But yeah,
(03:01):
I don't think it's I don't well. I think fed
Farmer's tried that when they were sort of going the boycott,
and I don't think their members were te king because
a lot of their members are shooter, so I think
it would be a tough ass to get them to
clear it as a piece.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Do you think it's something we should seriously look at though,
because especially during the late summer season and through March
and that during harvest, and you would have read the
stories about horrific numbers.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Oh yes, they're always like I said, and you know,
we've got permit systems that disturb and the kill permits
that this year have gone really well. So I think
there's tools available to manage that. And yeah, so I
wouldn't like to see them be cleared as a pest.
But I suppose that's always a conversation that people are
going to have.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
What does it cost to get a permit?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
If you want to if you want to scare off
tacks as such as you call it.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
What's the story there, Dave.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
There's no cost to it. It's just a simple simple
get hold of the team down the office and they
run through a few ways of doing it and sort
of you know, ask you how many you've got, where
they are, what they're on. And then like I said,
if we believe it's a disturbed perment, then we can
get a disturbed perment, or if you've if we think
you've got a reasonable problem, we can get a you
can get a cul permit, which is a certain disine
(04:11):
as you can go out and shoot. So that seems too.
There's been an odd time that's been a disturb and
they've come back and then it's been a cul and
you know, well we know ducks are pretty flighty, so
if you chase them off and off, they do tend
to move on. But it doesn't cost anything. It's just
a phone call and then it can be done on
ten minutes time over the phone.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Well, head up to the view of them basin for
a couple of races.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
The first one is a concerning one, the issue of
geze on the force on the lake front.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
There has there been much cut through there, have you heard?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
I haven't heard too much problems, but yes, there's like
I said, there is always geese up there, and they
do seem to be on the beach and on the
on the lake side and causing issues with you know,
the mess they leave behind. But as as we know,
fish and game don't look after geese anymore, so that's
kind of of out of air wherehouse. But we have
(05:02):
consulted on the past up in Tiana with the numbers
and the issues, and we're always keen to, you know,
give our knowledge and expertise. But yeah, I haven't heard
this too many up there, but I haven't been up
there for a long time either, so I'm unaware.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Well, I suppose the issue around water quality is are
being told all the time, and inde coli comes into
the equation geese, the ducks and the likes, then the
issue is there that these need to be these animals
need to be stamped out more often than not.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Yeah, And that's like I said, that's that's thee call
with the with the e coli and all that, and
ducks who do seem to and geese do need to
contribute to that. But like said, at the moment, as
with the geese, they're not on air on air lift,
so we're we're sort of just an interested by stander
at the moment with the geese.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Just finally mate.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Regarding Fjord and Wappaty being made or heard of special
interest in Fjordland, this is a great news story.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
I personally think it is. Yeah, like I said, you know,
the wappity up there are a special herd, They're a
valued herd, and the work that goes on up there
is very good. You know, there's a lot of volunteer
airs that do a lot of work in there, a
lot of trapping, all that stuff that cost the tax
player absolutely nothing. It's you know, so this is a
(06:20):
good example of self funded really, you know, the people
going in there to hunt them for getting the trophy,
the organization up there that are taking out excess numbers
to make sure they don't explode numbers wise, and it's
a healthy herd, and it's a good herd, and it's
looking after the bush, so I said, as the wind wind,
(06:41):
whichever way you look at it, because it's you know,
people are still getting to enjoy to go in there.
It's improving the habitat and the bush and the wildlife,
and it's taken out the pest at the same time,
all you know, not costing anyone any money. So I
think it's a great initiative, well done over the line.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
So you're heading out to them, am I for the
last two days of the season.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yes, No, we're going to outset that were it twicked
in between because Saturday is meant to be absolute rubbish.
So we've we've kind of got a possibility of going
into a mamo, which is not the world's best momo
to shootout, shootout.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Of, but come on, it's about the occasion. Embrace it mate.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Ah, well, yeah, I'm getting hold so you don't.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Like getting wet, join the club.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And then we've also got the option of sitting outside
in the A frame, which would be better shooting, but
again we might get wet, so considering I'm taking the kids,
we might just air on the caution. It might be
in the momi just for a nice warm cup of
tea or a soup around ten o'clock, just to warm
ourselves up. But it looks fantastic at the moment, but
(07:43):
it doesn't look great in the forecast.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Thanks very much for your time, Dave, boys appreciated good
as gold. Thank you, Dave McGregor of Southam Fishing Game.
The end of the duck hunting season twenty twenty six
is this weekend you're listening to the Master. Up next,
let's go down to the River era of the South
and catch up with Jordie Yid
Welcome back to the muster on Hakka Nui. Dave McGregor's
chair of South and Fish and Game and joins us
this afternoon as a twenty twenty six duck shirting season
comes to its conclusion this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Dave, Good, afternoon.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
When you look back at the season since the beginning
of May, personally, have you found it?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah? Afternoony, Yeah not quite well. Myself, We've done quite well.
Haven't probably hunted as much as I would like. But
you know, you seem to think three months gives you
a penny time and opportunity, but then the last two
weekends roll around and you think, shit, I haven't really
done as much as I should. But to be honest,
we probably haven't hunted as much grain as we did
(00:46):
the previous year. That last year was exceptional in the
lake grain with the weather, especially around Riversdale, Belfa. But no,
we've been out a good number of times. The rains
over the last couple of weeks have put ducks and
padd which is another different type of hunting. And you know,
then the ice the few frosts. We had a couple
of pins that were frozen, which is an experience again
(01:07):
for both hunter and dog. But you know, we've had
some good success pounds of ponds that haven't been hunted
before that we had some good success on and it's
been good getting out with mates, managed my eleven year old.
I allow eleven year olds to shoot opening, So my
young boy got his first parry on opening with the
fourteen and then managed to get five or six mallards
(01:30):
with the fourteen and the twenty gauge throughout the season
and some paddic hunts, and then he's coming out on
the last day, last day with us on Saturday for
another another goal on a pond. So yeah, it's been enjoyable.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
How has it seemed over the season numbers wise of
what you're hearing, Has it been much of a dent
in numbers?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Not really, Like I said, we have normally with their harvest.
You know, we have the guys that are in good
areas on good ponds with available feed that shoot well,
you know, they might get their limit, some other guys
that have an average hunt, and then some guys that
have you know, let's say it was the worst opening
they've had in forty years, and we kind of have
that every year with South and being so vast and
(02:11):
weather conditions and crops going in and grain coming off,
and food availability. It can be quite scattered sometimes, you know,
rivers dolt bealfa can be hot but yet dipped, and
lums and can be nothing. So it does all depend
where you are. But most people have had an average year,
which that's what the numbers sort of suggested when we
(02:33):
went into the season.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Is the still a case there though, for them to
be declared a pace and just shooting throughout the year.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
I yeah, you're probably shocking at the wrong person who
loves as duck. So I can see where people are
coming from when there's you know, when there's big numbers
on areas and crops and farmers that having issues. But
the permit system that we run things to have alleviated
that so much to some degree this year. But yeah,
(03:01):
I don't think it's I don't well. I think fed
Farmer's tried that when they were sort of going the boycott,
and I don't think their members were te king because
a lot of their members are shooter, so I think
it would be a tough ass to get them to
clear it as a piece.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Do you think it's something we should seriously look at though,
because especially during the late summer season and through March
and that during harvest, and you would have read the
stories about horrific numbers.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Oh yes, they're always like I said, and you know,
we've got permit systems that disturb and the kill permits
that this year have gone really well. So I think
there's tools available to manage that. And yeah, so I
wouldn't like to see them be cleared as a pest.
But I suppose that's always a conversation that people are
going to have.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
What does it cost to get a permit?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
If you want to if you want to scare off
tacks as such as you call it.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
What's the story there, Dave.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
There's no cost to it. It's just a simple simple
get hold of the team down the office and they
run through a few ways of doing it and sort
of you know, ask you how many you've got, where
they are, what they're on. And then like I said,
if we believe it's a disturbed perment, then we can
get a disturbed perment, or if you've if we think
you've got a reasonable problem, we can get a you
can get a cul permit, which is a certain disine
(04:11):
as you can go out and shoot. So that seems too.
There's been an odd time that's been a disturb and
they've come back and then it's been a cul and
you know, well we know ducks are pretty flighty, so
if you chase them off and off, they do tend
to move on. But it doesn't cost anything. It's just
a phone call and then it can be done on
ten minutes time over the phone.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Well, head up to the view of them basin for
a couple of races.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
The first one is a concerning one, the issue of
geze on the force on the lake front.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
There has there been much cut through there, have you heard?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
I haven't heard too much problems, but yes, there's like
I said, there is always geese up there, and they
do seem to be on the beach and on the
on the lake side and causing issues with you know,
the mess they leave behind. But as as we know,
fish and game don't look after geese anymore, so that's
kind of of out of air wherehouse. But we have
(05:02):
consulted on the past up in Tiana with the numbers
and the issues, and we're always keen to, you know,
give our knowledge and expertise. But yeah, I haven't heard
this too many up there, but I haven't been up
there for a long time either, so I'm unaware.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Well, I suppose the issue around water quality is are
being told all the time, and inde coli comes into
the equation geese, the ducks and the likes, then the
issue is there that these need to be these animals
need to be stamped out more often than not.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Yeah, And that's like I said, that's that's thee call
with the with the e coli and all that, and
ducks who do seem to and geese do need to
contribute to that. But like said, at the moment, as
with the geese, they're not on air on air lift,
so we're we're sort of just an interested by stander
at the moment with the geese.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Just finally mate.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Regarding Fjord and Wappaty being made or heard of special
interest in Fjordland, this is a great news story.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
I personally think it is. Yeah, like I said, you know,
the wappity up there are a special herd, They're a
valued herd, and the work that goes on up there
is very good. You know, there's a lot of volunteer
airs that do a lot of work in there, a
lot of trapping, all that stuff that cost the tax
player absolutely nothing. It's you know, so this is a
(06:20):
good example of self funded really, you know, the people
going in there to hunt them for getting the trophy,
the organization up there that are taking out excess numbers
to make sure they don't explode numbers wise, and it's
a healthy herd, and it's a good herd, and it's
looking after the bush, so I said, as the wind wind,
(06:41):
whichever way you look at it, because it's you know,
people are still getting to enjoy to go in there.
It's improving the habitat and the bush and the wildlife,
and it's taken out the pest at the same time,
all you know, not costing anyone any money. So I
think it's a great initiative, well done over the line.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
So you're heading out to them, am I for the
last two days of the season.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yes, No, we're going to outset that were it twicked
in between because Saturday is meant to be absolute rubbish.
So we've we've kind of got a possibility of going
into a mamo, which is not the world's best momo
to shootout, shootout.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Of, but come on, it's about the occasion. Embrace it mate.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Ah, well, yeah, I'm getting hold so you don't.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Like getting wet, join the club.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And then we've also got the option of sitting outside
in the A frame, which would be better shooting, but
again we might get wet, so considering I'm taking the kids,
we might just air on the caution. It might be
in the momi just for a nice warm cup of
tea or a soup around ten o'clock, just to warm
ourselves up. But it looks fantastic at the moment, but
(07:43):
it doesn't look great in the forecast.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Thanks very much for your time, Dave, boys appreciated good
as gold. Thank you, Dave McGregor of Southam Fishing Game.
The end of the duck hunting season twenty twenty six
is this weekend you're listening to the Master. Up next,
let's go down to the River era of the South
and catch up with Jordie Yid
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