Thread: The first weekend in May.............

Originally Posted by bigbear

Another warm day here in the hills of gisborne, light frost this morning. Glad opening wasn't this morning here.
So how many years has duck shooting been the first weekend of May?

Didnt really pay attention to the dates for the first 10 or so years, my excitement was generated by my fathers preparations. But its been the first weekend in May ever since I can recall. The regs have changed a lot over the years though. 25 bird limit down to 20 then 10. 2 shots then up to 5 now down to 3. Paradise ducks were not on the license back then. Decoys were made by cutting out baseboards, glueing cork on the top then sticking heads that you could buy at Tisdales on them. Oar power to get out on the harbour, the rich guys had mainly seagull outboards or early evinrudes/mercury's and if they were in the hunting group they would tow 2-3 boats out if you were lucky. No camo clothing, just wool pants ( green) and a Swandri on top. No ally dinghies, it was clinkerbuilt timber ones that weighed a ton, SXS shotguns were the norm, a few O/U's and Browning semi autos.