Game bird seasons are set for each Fish & Game region in the Gazette. Dates, daily bags and shooting hours for the North Canterbury region below, last checked 2026-10-12.
Nothing in the table below is open in the North Canterbury region today. Opening soon: Grey/mallard duck, Paradise shelduck.
Status is worked out from the agency dates each day. Always confirm on the official agency page before you hunt.
| Species | Region | Dates | Bag | Status | Hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey/mallard duck Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks, and more than 200 m from any water body. 6–7 and 13–14 February 2027. Area A: east of State Highway 1 from the Rakaia River to Woodend Beach Road. Area B: the rest of the region. | North Canterbury (Area B, grain and green feed only) | Listed days only | 10 | Opens soon | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks, and more than 200 m from any water body. Area A: east of State Highway 1 from the Rakaia River to Woodend Beach Road. Area B: the rest of the region. | North Canterbury (Area A, grain and green feed only) | 6 Feb – 14 Mar 2027 | 15 | Opens soon | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks, and more than 200 m from any water body. Area A: east of State Highway 1 from the Rakaia River to Woodend Beach Road. Area B: the rest of the region. | North Canterbury (Area B, grain and green feed only) | 6 Feb – 14 Mar 2027 | 20 | Opens soon | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Black swan | North Canterbury | 2 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 2 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| California quail | North Canterbury | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 10 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Chukar | North Canterbury | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 2 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Cock pheasant Three weekends only, including King's Birthday: 30 May – 1 June, 4–5 July and 1–2 August 2026. | North Canterbury | Listed days only | 1 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Grey/mallard duck Grey, mallard and any hybrid. | North Canterbury | 2 May – 3 May 2026 | 20 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Grey/mallard duck Grey, mallard and any hybrid. | North Canterbury | 4 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 15 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| NZ shoveler duck | North Canterbury | 2 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 2 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck | North Canterbury | 2 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 15 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Pūkeko | North Canterbury | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 5 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July); 5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March). | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
Public conservation land
Always confirm dates and rules with Department of Conservation before you hunt.
See hunting areas, public land boundaries and season dates for New Zealand on an offline map in the HuntScout app.
Back to New Zealand hunting seasons. Other regions: Auckland / Waikato, Central South Island, Eastern, Hawke's Bay, Nelson / Marlborough, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Wellington, West Coast.