The New Zealand duck shooting season opens 6 May 2006.

With duck shooting season fast approaching, Mike Spary, firearms programme manager for New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, asks that shooters remember the firearm safety rules in the Arms Code.

Mr Spray says that incidents where a shooter hits another with shotgun pellets are generally caused by the shooter concentrating on fast moving game and not on the other shooters around them, or the shooter does not confirm where other shooters are and fails to keep visual contact with them.

"Although shooters standing shoulder to shoulder in a maimai are at less risk of being shot, when you are following moving game the firing zone changes rapidly."

"As the muzzle is swung in an arc, shooters must be alert to others getting caught in their firing zone. At signifcant risk are shooters in other maimais, those retrieving game, and others moving around who enter the firing zone."

Mr Spray recommends a number of ways that shooters can avoid making the mistake of injuring another shooter: </font>
  • <font size="-1" face="Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,Geneva">Establish your firing zone, ensuring no people, property or buildings are within that zone.</font></li>
  • <font size="-1" face="Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,Geneva">After determining the zone you must shoot only within that zone. Remember, zones of fire can change as you move, your target moves, or as other shooters move.</font></li>
  • <font size="-1" face="Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,Geneva">If you're sharing a shooting sport you can drive poles into the ground to prevent over-swing outside of your zone.</font></li>
  • <font size="-1" face="Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,Geneva">Always maintain a high level of communication with other shooters and let them know if you are going to move. Invite others close by to do the same.</font></li>
  • <font size="-1" face="Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,Geneva">Remember, in thickly vegetated areas the entire firing zone may not always be visible.</font></li>
  • <font size="-1" face="Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,Geneva">Be aware of richochets off water and twigs.</font></li>
<font size="-1" face="Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,Geneva">