Game bird hunters were out in force on Saturday for opening day of the new duck-shooting season.
But the hunters want more young shooters in maimais to keep the age-old tradition alive.
It starts with the calling of the ducks then the culling; it's music to the ears of passionate duck shooters all over the country.
It was a beautiful day on Lake Ellesmere, but not for duck shooting. They like windy overcast weather to bring the ducks to the edge of the lake.
"For us it's not about how many we get; it's about the experience of being here with our friends. It's about connecting with people that we've known from years gone by," shooter Craig Maylam says.
But numbers of both ducks and duck shooters are falling. While still a popular sport, the average age of shooters is getting older every year, and Fish and Game is keen to try and encourage more young people into the sport.
"When I went to school, which was a moderately long time ago, everybody or every second guy shot, and now there are only two or three that do in my son's year," Mr Maylam says.
Mr Maylam's 15-year-old son, James, was with him on Saturday and loves to shoot too. But he knows he's in the minority.
"I've got one mate that's into it. He's coming out with us tomorrow but that's pretty much about it," James Maylam says.
But for some older shooters, it's the highlight of their annual calendar.
James Harkerss flew all the way from his home in New York for opening day. He says there's no other shooting in the world like in New Zealand.
"Here in New Zealand we've got a very open policy on what we can and cannot do, and as long as you've got a great group of people and you play by the rules it's a great experience," he says.
Now they just want a few more young people finding that out.
Newshub.
