Game bird seasons are set for each Fish & Game region in the Gazette. Dates, daily bags and shooting hours for the Southland region below, last checked 2026-10-12.
Nothing in the table below is open in the Southland region today.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black swan | Southland | 2 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 5 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| California quail | Southland | 30 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 5 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Chukar | Southland | Closed for 2026/27 | 0 | Last season (2027) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Cock pheasant | Southland | 30 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 5 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | 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. | Southland | 2 May – 3 May 2026 | 20 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | 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. | Southland | 4 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 10 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| NZ shoveler duck | Southland | 2 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 2 drakes | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck | Southland | 2 May – 3 May 2026 | 10 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck | Southland | 4 May – 26 Jul 2026 | 6 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Pūkeko | Southland | Closed for 2026/27 | 0 | Last season (2027) Next season not announced yet | 7.00am to 6.30pm. | 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, Otago, Taranaki, Wellington, West Coast.