Duck Shooting Season In New Zealand

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 16: John Cameron watches for flying ducks as the sun starts to rise during a morning duck shooting at Mercer on June 16, 2006 in Auckland, New Zealand. The first weekend in May signals to over 200,000 Kiwis that it is time to head to ponds, rivers, lakes, harbours, highlands and swamps for the opening weekend of the duck shooting season. Duck shooting in New Zealand is recorded as far back as 1769 and is a tradition for many families. The duck shooting craft is passed through the family from grandads to grandsons and even great grandsons. Duck shooting is a seasonal past time, with hunters positioning themselves in their maimais (a camouflaged hut hidden amongst their habitat) before sunrise. Shooters have a daily limit of 10 ducks, either the grey duck or mallard, as the brown teal is now a protected species. The ducks are not to be sold, but many shooter feast on them or give them away to family and friends. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)