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Hunting >> Hunting in Australia, NZ & the South Pacific
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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Hunting in the NT - waterfowl?
      #14754 - 14/05/04 08:39 AM

Hopefully I may still have a day or two in the bush when the waterfowl season starts. Fingers crossed on that.

Some questions for our resident Territoreans on waterfowl.

Was watching a home video on some hunting on a property in the NT and realised I don't know your duck species and your waterfowling rules.

1. What duck species do you shoot up there? I know magpie geese, and also whistling ducks. I assume whistling ducks are legal(?). I also saw what they called "black ducks" but they didn't look like Southern Black Ducks (Pacific Shelduck) to me.

2. Do you need to use steel shot (or bismuth) on public lands up there? What about private property? Send me a PM if you wish.

3. Shot size and loads recommended for magpie geese?

4. Anyone use decoys?

5. If I bring up a canoe, maybe with some sort of motor, will that be safe in "salty" waters or is an aluminium duck punt a better idea? For fishing as well as waterfowling.

6. Licences required and WIT testing (Waterfowl ID Test), especially as I will be posting photos on here? (I have a WIT certificate with a perfect score I might add from here Don South.)

7. Which ones are the best eating?

8. Anything else?

Thanks.


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Marty
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Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 123
Loc: Darwin. NT, Australia
Re: Hunting in the NT - waterfowl? [Re: NitroX]
      #14765 - 14/05/04 10:20 AM

Answered in turn:

1. You can shoot all of them except the Burdekin Duck. Burdekins are black and white and quite distinctive. Just be careful in the early morning or if silloeted against the sun. So you can "in theory" shoot Freckle Duck. Only I've never seen a freckle duck there. Species found are Blackies (same as blackies down south), Whistlers (aka plumed tree duck) Chesnut teal and Grey teal. Blackies and Wistlers would make up 98% of ducks sighted. Watch out for pygmie geese. They can sometimes look like ducks in the early morning gloom.

2. Steel and Bismuth on public lands. Lead on private. Though there has been talk of banning lead for birds territory wide. This hasn't occured yet AFAIK.

3. No. 2's for Bismuth and lead, No. 1's for steel.

4. Some folks do. Goose decoys mainly. Tony and I went halves in some duck FUD's but we never got round to using them.

5. Anyone who launches a canoe in somewhere like Adelaide, Mary or Aligator systems would need their head examined. I would use a canoe in Darwin Harbour, or Shoal bay (the esturine bits that is) and in the upper reaches of a system where there is a good degree of visibility and you can walk the bank of a billabong and see what size of croc lives there. A duck punt is an infinetly better option. When a 15 foot saltie glides up to you for a look, whatever freeboard you've got, isnt enough!

6. No WIT test. You need a waterfowl licence. Its a sticker you stick on your firearm licence. Costs bugger all. Assume you just stick it to your southern licence. If your guide has a bird licence you can hunt under his licence provided you dont exceed his bag.

7. I think blackies. Goose is a very red meat and tough as guts if you dont cook it right. Comes up allright though if cooked quick or in a stew. I like to hit it with some significant seasoning.

8. I'm not into camoflage clothing when I hunt as a rule, but I will wear it when after birds. And take the effort to hide till the last moment. Also dont forget your mozzie reppelant. The rub on stuff for your skin, and the spray on for your clothes.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39885
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Hunting in the NT - waterfowl? [Re: Marty]
      #14858 - 17/05/04 01:45 AM

Thanks Marty.

I have Bismuth shot in no.4's but I don't expect to be hunting on public lands. I am hunting with Matt Graham and also trying to setup another hunt DIY but not fixed yet. The second hunt I hope may stretch into the waterfowl season. So lead no.2's could be used as well.

I guess from your comments a canoe may become bait for the wrong creature.



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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Bakes
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Reged: 31/01/03
Posts: 589
Loc: QLD
Re: Hunting in the NT - waterfowl? [Re: NitroX]
      #14869 - 17/05/04 02:02 PM

Nitro
Yesterday a work mate of mine canoed down the katherine river about 30k's from town. A 3.5 meter saltie came up and said hello It was a paddle length away.

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