Thread: Game birds in NZ - South Island

Mallards , Grey Duck (your Black duck), Spoonbill Duck, Paradise Shell Duck , Pukeko (swamp hen) California Quail , Chuckor ,Bobwhite Quail and Partridge , Black Swan and Pheasant are all game that you need a licence to shoot or hunt . The Game bird season starts on the first Saturday of May and runs until the Friday before the first sat of may the next year . The species ,sex, number and season length varies with location and bird numbers through out NZ , as do various local rules about decoy numbers , magazine capacity and feeding .
Turkeys , Canada Geese , Guinea fowl, pigeons etc are not Game in the legal sense and as such have no season or limit .
The Turkeys are feral domestic birds and are completely different from the wild birds in the USA - they have become fool birds as a result of being domesticated for at least 3500 years .
There are limited oportunities to shoot Pheasants in the South Island , the further north you go the better chance you have , the seasons generally run May to August - September .
There are out of season shoots for Paradise ducks in various parts of NZ but all require a current licence and usually a permit .
Click on this for all the information you will need . Hunting Regulations in NZ | Hunting