The Otago Fish & Game Council plans to restore a large drained wetland in the lower Taieri River for young hunters to practise shooting game birds.
The council owns 75% of the 80 hectare Takitakitoa Wetland near Henley, which is now a rush-covered valley floor.
Fish & Game plans to develop extensive areas of open water for a game bird habitat and a hunting area for junior duck hunters, 12 - 17 years old.
Operations manager Ian Hadland says the project is also likely to create a habitat for a wide range of other species such as whitebait, eels and wading birds.
He says resource consents for the wetland enhancement project are expected to be completed next winter, and work should begin shortly after.
