Nevertheless, Fish & Game ecologist Jayde Couper warned against equating the long-term trend in birds shot with population trends for the species.
In a report to the Otago Fish & Game Council, due to be tabled at today’s council meeting in Roxburgh, Mr Couper said shoveler counts and trend analysis indicated the native game birds’ numbers were somewhat stable or in a "slight" long-term decline, regionally as well as nationally.
The average number of shoveler counted per site in Otago for this year was slightly above the long-term average, "suggesting relative stability" in the number of birds.
"However, this does not account for changes in which sites were monitored over time.
"Trend analysis suggests a slight long-term decline in shoveler populations both in the Otago region and nationally," Mr Couper said.
The decline in harvest numbers since 1993 was likely brought about by a combination of factors "particularly changes in hunting practices such as a shift away from traditional large coastal ponds and alterations to bag limits and season lengths over time".
Last season, the shoveler duck bag limit in Otago was reduced from two birds to one drake per day.
In Southland, it was limited to two drakes.
In both regions the desired effect was achieved and the harvest was reduced, Mr Couper said.
But it remained too early to tell whether the reduced bag limit had affected shoveler populations themselves.
In order to understand the impact of the changes, Mr Couper said a period of three to five years would be beneficial.
His report said shovelers were "highly valued by hunters".
The species only accounted for about 0.6% of birds harvested in the region this year, making it a "small but important" part of the waterfowl bag, he said.
