What’s On Invers has learnt that this year’s Duck hunting season is to be cancelled.
The season for the hugely popular activity traditionally starts on the first weekend of May.
While some details remain uncertain whatsoninvers.nz understands that the reason for the sudden order to cancel comes from high up in government MP’s from a minor party who are anti hunting of game animals.
Government officials who wish not to be be named have told us that the duck hunting season for Southland and the complete country will be cancelled for this year.
Most of the hunting activity is centred on that weekend and attracts thousands of local hunters and many others from outside the province.
Local MP’s who have spoken to us have said they were at best surprised by the news and all maintain that they only knew of it after being approached by whatsoninvers.nz and said they had no idea where this came from.
One MP said if true the news is an affront to ordinary Southlanders and an attack on our way of life. Another described it as “definitely coming from out of the blue”.
Local body officials were also in the dark about the news when approached in the last couple of days by WOI.
Farming sources say if this is correct then they are horrified. They say no one in their circles saw this coming.
They went on to say that if Duck hunting is banned for whatever reason, in just a few short years Duck numbers will explode which will decimate crops and pastures for years to come.
Further to news of the cancellation, the word from Wellington is that fees already paid for hunting licenses will be channeled into Government coffers so no refunds will be available.
Collection of license fees alone involves many thousands of dollars.
Many seasoned duck hunters that we have spoken to were at best aghast to learn of the cancellation and the fact that their license fees were heading straight for the Government’s consolidated fund.
One long time hunter who did not want to be named said “he has never been so angry”.
He said for him this news is the final straw, after Easter he will “put his house on the market and move his family to Australia”.
The hunter said “that’s it, I’m buggered, I’m off to Oz, no question.”
While still struggling to contain his rage he said “at least people get treated as worthwhile citizens over there.”
Another hunter whose family has been engaged in the activity over many generations told us that to have this news plonked on us in the middle of the Easter break is just beyond the pale and a step too far!
The cone of silence came down over the Beehive over the last few days as calls to cabinet ministers drew a blank but whatsoninvers understands that an announcement will be made by the Prime Minister at noon today.