The two organisations will be out in force on opening day on Saturday to ensure the thousands of shooters expected to take part are licensed, using their firearms correctly and not drink-driving.
Southern district operations manager Inspector Alastair Dickie said extra staff would be rostered to work in rural Otago and Southland at the weekend.
The staff would be targeting drink-driving and breaches of the Arms Act as, in recent years, police had noticed an increase in the use of alcohol around firearms, he said.
There had been several cases of duck shooters being apprehended for excess breath alcohol while driving to duck-shooting areas with firearms in the vehicle.
"It is essential to keep firearms and alcohol completely separate."
By mixing the two, they risked having their firearms licence revoked, he said.
Fish and Game operations manager Ian Hadland said the organisation's experience was that, with tougher drink-driving laws and increased awareness of the risks, there had been a noticeable decrease in the mixing of alcohol with duck-shooting.
"Duck hunters are not a bunch of drunken yobbos waving firearms about as some might like to portray."
However, it was a "highly social sport" and it was not unusual for hunters to enjoy a barbecue and drinks after the guns were put away, he said.
"Duck hunting is still an inherently safe sport. Despite the numbers, accidents are rare."
Fish and Game officers and rangers, who would be out at both private and public ponds, had been instructed to seize firearms and write offence notices for every offence, he said. Hunters could face fines of about $1000 plus forfeiture of their firearms if they were unlicensed or using toxic shot.
"Warnings are not given."
The Otago Regional Council had also warned duck shooters to clean their gear if they planned to move between waterways, to avoid the spread of pests.
"Unwanted freshwater pests such as didymo and lagarosiphon pose a threat to our rivers, streams and lakes," council director of regional services Jeff Donaldson said.
Didymo could be spread by a single drop of water, so hunters needed to keep the "check, clean, dry" message in mind.
Everything needed to be cleaned for at least a minute with a 5% solution of biodegradable dishwashing solution, or one tablespoon of detergent per 250ml. Absorbent materials, such as boots, needed a longer soak.
Central South Island Fish and Game Council officer Graeme Hughes said, despite shrinking habitat after a dry April followed an unusually wet summer, hunters were reporting duck numbers as being about the same as last year.
That is supported by surveys over the past six years, which have shown an increase in dabble duck (mallard, grey, shoveller and grey teal) numbers over the long term.
The wet summer had kept water levels at optimum levels for the duck population, although levels had declined during the dry autumn, Mr Hughes said.
The wet and cloudy growing season had meant a late harvest for cropping farmers, which could also help hunters, he said.
Newly harvested paddocks would attract waterfowl, providing hunting opportunities early in the season.
"Evening reconnoitres in grain-growing areas could provide the hunter with easily accessible and productive hunting," he said.
He also warned hunters to be safe and observe regulations.
"Fast-action firearms, dogs, boats and water provide a number of safety issues for hunters. Responsible hunters will insist on absolute gun safety in the duck hide," he said.
Warranted officers would be moving around the region checking public and private wetlands where hunting was taking place, he said.
The Seven Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling
1. TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS LOADED
Check every firearm yourself. Pass or accept only an open or unloaded firearm.
2. ALWAYS POINT FIREARMS IN A SAFE DIRECTION
Loaded or unloaded, always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
3. LOAD A FIREARM ONLY WHEN READY TO FIRE
Load only the magazine after you reach your shooting area. Load the chamber only when ready to shoot. Completely unload before leaving the shooting area.
4. IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET BEYOND ALL DOUBT
Movement, colour, sound and shape can all deceive you. Assume colour, shape, sound and movement to be human until proven otherwise
5. CHECK YOUR FIRING ZONE THINK!
What may happen if you miss your target? Do not fire when you know others are in your firing zone.
6. STORE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION SAFELY
When not in use, lock away the bolt, firearm and ammunition separately. Never leave firearms in a vehicle that is unattended.
7. AVOID ALCOHOL AND DRUGS WHEN HANDLING FIREARMS
Source: NZ Police
