Maybe it’s just me but the ducks seem to win most of the time.

I would enjoy a 6 week season, with a six bird daily limit (possibly 10 bird limit on opening day).  I value the opportunity to go hunting more than the number of ducks I shoot.  I have a self imposed season limit.

F&G reduced the season length to increase the number of ducks.  There is no doubt in my mind (and a diary that I keep) that there are now more ducks in A/W (then prior to dropping to 4 weeks) and therefore it is time to go back to 6 weeks.  I will not shoot more ducks over a 6 week season, but I can be more selective with the ducks i shoot (target drakes) and more selective with the days that I go hunting.  Also maybe more opportunity to introduce others to hunting, to get the dog working better, and to try new areas.

Next thing DOC will want to cull all the mallards in NZ.... Greys Only!

Ive just retired after nine years as a AW F&G Councillor.

I am and always will be totally supportive of the science based policy around harvests that we installed.
We employ qualified people for a reason and the onus should be on those people to set regulations without pressure from councillors or the hunting public who are more often than not, operating solely on opinion and their experience in a single limited area.

My personnel opinion- for what its worth- Is that there is immense  value in sticking with one set of regulations for an extended period of time. 20 years for example.
In that way we get to verify if the measures taken are working over a number of seasonal changes. Good breeding years and bad. I would like to look back in 20 years and see a consistent improvement in our hunting opportunity.
We are all hunter/citizen scientists if we approach our sport with the attitude of, not just with what we get out of it, but what we can learn  and how we can improve our resource.