The duck hunting season has got off to a shaky start, with three people hospitalised and four offence notices issued against people hunting without a firearm licence.
A man in his 30s was shot in the wrist near Ashburton around 7:45am this morning. Another was shot in the eye in Akitio, Tararua district and flown to hospital, and a 10-year-old boy sustained injuries to his foot after the accidental firing of a shotgun.
But Fish & Game field officer Dirk Barr says the season has had a slow start in terms of catching game, with most people only managing to shoot one or two birds near Lake Ellesmere.
Duck shooters near Lake Ellesmere were camping out until dusk to try their luck. Canterbury duck shooter Matt Williams has only bagged one duck so far, but says it's more about getting home safely than shooting down the birds.
"We want to take our mates home with us -- if no birds, at least take our mates home.
"In the heat of the moment when you're retrieving a bird or excited about an incoming bird, you don't want to make a mistake," he says.
Duck shooters need to have a firearms license and a game bird license from Fish & Game.
Mr Barr has interacted with around 120 license holders in an area stretching from the Waiau River to the Rakia Rover. Fish & Game has issued four offence notices to people hunting without a license.
"Unfortunately for those people they've had firearms confiscated and probably the ultimate result of that will probably be that they will appear in court," he says.
"I guess some people think in a country environment they might be able to get away without purchasing a firearms license, but it's got to be fair for everyone."
Newshub.
