Game bird seasons are set for each Fish & Game region in the Gazette. Dates, daily bags and shooting hours for the Otago region below, last checked 2026-10-12.
Nothing in the table below is open in the Otago region today. Opening soon: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise shelduck Special season; see clause 5(4) of the region's conditions. | Otago | 6 Mar – 14 Mar 2027 | 15 | Opens soon | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Black swan Area A: the Clutha River catchment upstream of the Clyde Dam. Area B: the Clutha catchment downstream of the Clyde Dam, the Taieri catchment, and coastal catchments from Shag Point to The Brothers Point. | Otago (Area A) | Closed for 2026/27 | 0 | Last season (2027) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Black swan Area A: the Clutha River catchment upstream of the Clyde Dam. Area B: the Clutha catchment downstream of the Clyde Dam, the Taieri catchment, and coastal catchments from Shag Point to The Brothers Point. | Otago (Area B) | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 10 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| California quail | Otago | 30 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 10 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Chukar | Otago | 30 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 2 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Cock pheasant | Otago | 30 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 5 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Grey/mallard duck Includes hybrids. | Otago | 2 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 25 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| NZ shoveler duck | Otago | 2 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 1 drake | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck | Otago | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 15 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in March. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Pūkeko | Otago | Closed for 2026/27 | 0 | Last season (2027) Next season not announced yet | Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm, May to August. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm. All areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm in 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, North Canterbury, Northland, Southland, Taranaki, Wellington, West Coast.