Recent headlines in the media have highlighted the issues associated with controlling numbers of Canada geese around Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere and other water bodies. From June 9^th 2011 Canada geese were moved from Schedule 1 to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act. This means the species is no longer managed by fish and game councils and is now “not protected”, meaning different rules apply to hunting or killing these geese.

Emily Moore from Fish & Game NZ has provided the information below to help clarify the situation.

Canada goose hunting on Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora): Previously Canada geese were listed as a ‘game bird’ in the Wildlife Act and as a result hunters needed a hunting licence from Fish & Game to hunt them. This put certain restrictions on when and how they could be hunted. Fish & Game also carried out culls to keep numbers at a level agreed to between the organisation, Federated Farmers and the Department of Conservation (DOC). Recently Canada geese have been removed from the game bird list and therefore a licence is no longer required to hunt them. Federated Farmers recently carried out culls on the lake.

Any firearm can now be used to kill geese; however it is strongly recommended that rifles are not used where the public have access as the ricochet effect is dangerous. Other methods can also be used to kill geese (e.g. egg pricking) as long as they comply with the animal welfare act. In NZ there is no poison approved for the use on waterfowl.

Can I use lead shot to shoot geese? The rule that specified hunters could not use lead steel shot over water was in the Game Notice for hunting game birds. Now Canada geese are no longer classified as a game bird this rule no longer applies. However, to hunt on DOC land (which covers a large amount of the Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere lake edge) a hunting permit is required. This permit specifies no lead shot. It is recommended lead shot not be used over water as the pellets can be ingested by waterfowl which has been shown to have a toxic effect on birds.

What will happen if a hunter is caught in possession of lead shot hunting over water and claims they are not hunting ducks but only Canada geese? If they are using gear capable of shooting game birds at a time and in a location when game birds might reasonably be expected to be present, then it would be for the alleged offender to prove they were not intending to shoot game birds as a defence to a possible charge.

Fish & Game Officer

North Canterbury Fish & Game

3 Horatio Street

phone: 03 366 9191