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The duck hunting season will start in two weeks, but there are still big questions about whether it will be possible.
The Covid-19 website initially said no to hunting at level three, but then changed to say they are looking at this again and will provide an update soon.
The New Zealand Fish and Game Council held an online meeting on Friday to discuss an options document on the ways forward, a spokesman said.
“We appreciate that everyone wants some certainty about what we know to be a national tradition.
“Hunters must be sure that we are doing our best under the circumstances to ensure that we have a safe season for game birds and will advise you as soon as possible.”
When contacted on Saturday, a spokesman said they would meet again after the government’s announcement of alert levels on Monday.
Hunting and fishing are not allowed below alert level 4.
ROBYN EDIE / THINGS
The 2020 duck shooting season is still in the air as people wait to see what level of alert New Zealand will be at. (File photo).
However, the Fish & Game website notes that while the Health Law Order means that a person cannot leave their residence for the purpose of exercising if it is hunting or water activities, it did not prohibit people fish or hunt if they don’t have to leave their residence to do so.
“The intent of the block is to prevent people from engaging in activities that expose the participant to danger or may require search and rescue services if the person is experiencing difficulties.”
“Participants must also be careful to ensure that they do not congregate with others while doing the activity,” their website said.
For most shooters, the opening weekend was more about the social side and tradition rather than the shot itself, Matt East said.
His duck hunting plans were canceled when travel restrictions came in, as he lives in Auckland but shoots in Southland.
Much of his family was involved in the opening weekend, and East, 43, said he went shooting with his father, who had already shot with his father before that.
“I have an uncle who lives in Gore and has been shooting with the same boys for 45 years.”
While no decisions had yet been made, East hoped it would be postponed.
“For some people, the opening weekend is the only time they are going to shoot.”
If they held a season, but limited it so that you could only do it on your own property, he said he would count many people.
The Conservation Department was reviewing what Tier 3 would look like for activities such as duck hunting, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said.
“The focus right now is for people to stay home to save lives.”
Fish & Game New Zealand CEO Martin Taylor and Game Animal Council CEO Tim Gale said they were working to ensure the government understood that hunting was a generally safe activity.
“It is now up to the government to determine if the hunt can be carried out under Covid-19 security restrictions.”
ACT MP David Seymour said in a statement that it was “illogical” to ban hunting but to allow statistically riskier activities such as swimming.
“Hunting is a safe activity. Any risk can be minimized if hunters go with people in their bubble, do not take students, take trips for a limited time, leave notices of intent and take emergency contact forms with them,” he said. . .
Ardern and his cabinet will decide Monday whether New Zealand will abandon the shutdown at midnight on Wednesday April 22, or whether to extend the more restrictive measure.
