Southland duck shooters caught without gun licences have had an opening weekend they'd rather forget

Fish & Game rangers say hunters who failed to provide a licence had their guns confiscated.

Spokesman Richard Cosgrove says the Southland behaviour was disappointing, and some West Coast and central South Island hunters were also found without licences.

Cosgrove says licence breaches are now serious offences and can have a real impact on the life of anyone who's caught.

Southland and Otago hunters reported good duck numbers, but the still weather made calling them down difficult.