Fish & Game New Zealand are predicting a great start to the duck season.

The game bird season starts on Saturday May 6 and there appears to be plenty of ducks says Fish & Game.

Mallard and grey duck numbers have been low in recent years which has forced Fish & Game to apply restrictive bag limits.

This season the prospects look the best they have in four years says Senior Fish & Game Officer Matthew McDougall.

'We banded 1,600 ducks and could have done more if it wasn't for cyclone Gabrielle. The trapping numbers, brood counts, and our modelling, all indicate it has been a good breeding season so hunters should be very happy."

Despite the breeding season the number of adult hen mallards are still low, so a restrictive bag limit will still apply. Mallard and grey ducks can be hunted from opening day on May 6 until June 5 in the Eastern Fish & Game Region and hunters can bag six birds per day.

Duck hunting is a popular and traditional sport among kiwis often embracing several family generations with the opening weekend being the highlight of the year.

Fish & Game say about 36,000 hunters will be out around New Zealand on opening morning.

'It's a great chance to get out there with friends, family members, and don't forget the dog, and harvest some tasty wild food” says Matthew.

Hunters that want to introduce a mate to game bird hunting can apply for a 'Take a Mate Hunting” licence by contacting the Eastern Office.

Black swan, pukeko and shoveler duck numbers appear to be on par with previous years and paradise shelduck numbers were looking okay before the cyclones hit over summer. Cyclone Bola in 1988 caused damage to the paradise shelduck numbers on the East Coast.

Hunters are reminded that good preparation makes for safe and successful hunting. Preparing the decoys, brushing up the mai mai, getting in some target practice, training the dog and getting a game bird hunting licence are just a few of the things on the keen duck hunters' checklist.