Hovercraft put geese in a flap

Karoline Tuckey | 3rd February 2010

The first of two organised goose hunts in the weekend saw hunters employ an unusual tactic to surprise their prey.

Two hovercraft were used at the Canada goose hunt on Lake Wairarapa, which was organised by Fish and Game to control the goose population.

Fish & Game Regional Manager Phil Teal said "the two hovercraft could access shallow areas on the lake where geese had mobbed up and boats couldn't access.

This lifted the geese off the water and they were then decoyed by hunters".

Mr Teal said the hovercraft and good weather allowed hunters to bag a higher kill than expected, taking almost 500 birds.

He said as well as the hovercraft there were boats positioned in the middle of the lake, and other hunters camouflaged around the lake.

Despite the rain, hunting conditions had been very good on Sunday Mr Teal said, with strong winds and cloudy weather.

"It was more akin to winter hunting conditions with temperatures plummeting from 30 plus degrees on Saturday to just over 14 degrees and strong winds on Sunday".

"It was a good start to the season."

A recent survey of the pest geese numbers around Lake Wairarapa found there were about 3000 at the lake, which Mr Teal said showed the annual hunts are doing well toward effectively controlling the population.

"The hunts provide hunters with opportunities, build relationships between farmers, hunters and Fish and Game, and as skills and relationships build, the hunts will result progressively in effective goose management into the future."