Duck shooters are expected to turn out in the thousands around the country for opening weekend tomorrow.
Manawatu duck shooter Liam Moloney said he's been having trouble sleeping due to the excitement.
"This is our time of year where the water fowlers get all amped up and so tomorrow morning we’ll be down here, we’ll just be fizzing, chomping at the bit to get into the ducks," he said.
Mr Moloney said it's important duck shooters make safety the main priority tomorrow and be sensitive to the public, especially after the Christchurch terrorist attack.
"Don't be that guy going into BP with your shotty on the back cause there's just heightened tension at the moment."
Duck shooter Hayden Hazlitt said it's easy to tell a mate their breach on their gun isn't open or ask if there's bullets in their gun.
"People have just got to be respectful," Mr Hazlitt said.
"You're far better off to miss a duck or miss a pair of ducks than to have an accident."
Wellington region's Fish and Game office said in a statement weather conditions are forecast to be ideal for duck shooting this weekend and duck numbers are high.
"What we want is low cloud, a little bit of rain and it keeps the birds low so a bad, wet day for most people is a good hunting day for us," chief executive Martin Taylor said.
Mr Taylor said the organisation has told duck shooting licence holders to make sure they've read the new gun rules.
Firearm legislation states pump action or semi-automatic shotguns aren’t allowed to take detachable magazines and can’t hold more than five cartridges.
Magazine extensions can be used if this doesn't take the cartridge number to beyond the limit and modifications can be made if they're permanent to comply with the new laws.
"North Canterbury, central South Island and Southland - they didn't have the restrictions on the numbers of shots but for them, they're not a problem," Mr Taylor said.
Other regions have lower shot regulations.
Police will be out with Fish and Game rangers this weekend checking the rules are being followed at maimais, river banks and near vehicles.
New Zealand Police Inspector Morgan Gray said the focus will be on education and taking a preventative approach.
"That may mean just putting the firearm away for the day or taking it home and locking it away," Mr Gray said.
The amnesty period in place at the moment means unlawful possession is allowed.
"Police will make their decisions based off intent of the person and any unsafe or dangerous behaviour will be dealt with the same as it always has been."
Ensuring people aren't mixing duck shooting with alcohol and safe storage of weapons will also be checked.
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