Rural farm stores and sports shops selling lead shot will be targeted by Otago Fish and Game after six duck-shooters were caught with the ammunition near ponds during the season.
Fish and Game was concerned about the reappearance of lead shot during the duck-shooting season which ended at the weekend.
It was illegal to use lead shot on or near waterways, where most duck-shooting was done in Otago.
Operations manager Ian Hadland said six of seven offenders caught during the season were in possession of lead shot.
The other did not have a licence.
"There seems to have been a shift from compliance last season to non-compliance in that area [lead shot]. It is a concern."
It was a practice happening on a low level across the region but was more prevalent in remote spots, such as Hillend, in the Clutha district.
"Nobody can hide in these days of Google Earth and digital imagery."
Rural farm stores and sport shops were known to advertise they were the place to stock up on duck-shooting supplies and had lead shot on display.
"It should be their duty to inform people that using it that way is against the law," Mr Hadland said.
Fish and Game aimed to help the retailers with information so they could inform their customers.
"It's not good business for them to sell it to people and us going out and taking it off them."
CRT Balclutha retail manager Jason Michie said staff explained to customers using lead shot was illegal around water, and also displayed posters warning shooters of the risks of using it.
As a result of this season's experience, Fish and Game would be coming down hard on shooters who used lead shot.
Recent cases in the Invercargill District Court for similar offences saw shooters fined about $700 and in some cases shotguns had been forfeited, Mr Hadland said.
In the six Otago cases, settlements were made out of court but that "did not come cheaply for them", he said.
Overall, the season could only be described as average, despite earlier predictions of a better-than-normal season.
"All hunters bagged a few and some did as well mid-season as they did on opening," Mr Hadland said.
The Maniototo shot really well as the area had a wetter summer than normal, so there was plenty of feed about.
While the main duck-shooting season had ended, paradise ducks could still be shot until the last weekend in August.
