Girls take to the mai mai

Duck-shooting is no longer just a boys’ club.

Although men still account for the majority of duck-shooters in Southland, the number of women involved has increased in recent years.

However, it was still a small rise, Southland Fish & Game manager Zane Moss said.

Less than 10% of the duck-shooting licences were issued to women.

‘‘We [Fish & Game Council] would love to see more women joining the sport and breaking this stereotype.’’

The season began on Saturday after a delay because of Covid-19 restrictions.

A group of female Southland duck-shooters believed it was a fun activity for everyone.

Kate Boylan, Nadine Duff, Jamiee Edwards, Janice Gerken, Jayne Law and Jess Turnbull have been duck-shooting together for the past seven years at their mai mai in Balfour.

‘‘We named it Hen House,’’ Mrs Edwards said.

Some of the group grew up on farms and their parents taught them to shoot.

‘‘We all knew each other before and grew up with duck-shooting around us. We decided we wanted to get together as a group of girls to have some fun while we went duck-shooting,’’ Mrs Gerken said.

Mrs Turnbull agreed.

‘‘Doesn’t matter who you are or what sex you are. It [duck-shooting] is about having a good time,’’ she said.

‘‘There are a lot of only-girls mai mai out there and they have way more fun than the boys.’’

But the gathering is not only about girl time.

Every year, the group also pays homage to Mrs Edwards’ late husband, Liam Edwards, who died four years ago in a helicopter crash near Athol.

She said he encouraged her to get into duck-shooting and when her friends decided to create a girls-only mai mai, Mr Edwards helped them build it.

As Mr Edwards died one week before the beginning of the duck season, the group supported Mrs Edwards through the rough time and they decided to create a new tradition.

‘‘We do a salute to him every duck-shooting season. We toast to the great man he was.’’