Two major incidents marred the start of the duck-shooting season on Saturday.
A 53-year-old man was shot and killed while shooting with a group about 6pm on Saturday near Waiuku, west of Auckland, police said.
In Gore, a 24-year-old shooter emptied a bar after he allegedly pointed a shotgun at another man on Saturday night.
The man had been duck-shooting and drinking alcohol before he arrived at Traffers Bar with friends about 11pm, Senior Sergeant Maggie Windle, of Invercargill, said.
The man allegedly had an argument with another man in the bar during which he pointed a double-barrelled shotgun at him, causing patrons to flee the bar, Snr Sgt Windle said.
No shots were fired. The man was later arrested at a Gore address by the Invercargill armed offenders squad.
A number of firearms, including a loaded double-barrelled shotgun, were seized at the address, she said.
The man was remanded in custody to appear in the Invercargill District Court today. Despite the two incidents, authorities were generally pleased with shooters' behaviour.
"Not a single offence was encountered on the lakes and not a gunshot was heard on either lake until well after the legal start time of 7am, which was a great result," Otago Fish and Game Council spokesman Ian Hadland said.
Rangers interviewed about 120 shooters and checked 40 private ponds in the Milton, Tokomairiro, Clydevale and Heriot areas, while a pre-dawn blitz targeted hunters on the Lake Waihola and Waipori boat ramps.
Two unattended shotguns were seized at a Milton maimai, where "a considerable volume" of banned lead shot cartridges was found.
"But apart from that, everyone else was licensed, doing everything just right and having a good time going about it," Mr Hadland said.
Many birds were seen, but bags were patchy, he said. The "larger water" did not shoot so well, probably because of the amount of other water elsewhere and the lack of wind.
Heavy rain on Saturday night changed the conditions in favour of the ducks, with flooding throughout much of the region leaving large areas of surface water in open paddocks.
"Ironically, the wind, which is helpful to keep birds low, started up and the adaptive hunters who were prepared to brave the southerlies and rain managed to get a few extra birds for the weekend," Mr Hadland said.
