A CLOSE SHOOTING SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 140, 12 June 1912, Page 9

A CLOSE SHOOTING SEASON.

THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT.

The current shooting season has not been a success from the point pt view of the gunner who goes for big base, and -there seems to, be a pretty .unanimous , consensus of opinion that tbe game 13 not so plentiful as has been the erase in former years. The matter was yesterday evening discussed by the Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society; when the question of a close season next year was raised. It was' recognised that an unfavourable summer followed by a considerable spell of wet weather was a large factor in the scarcity of game, as providing adverse breediug conditions, but it was felt that .ey.en if the next breeding season were more favoured the result would not bring matters back to normal. Generally the opinion was that a close season was a desirable thing from the game point of view. Against that, however, was the consideration stated- by Colonel Hazard that it would mean a loss to the society of about £800 in licenses, while a considerable expense would have to be undertaken in ranging .to keep the irresponsible poacher in cheek. This was a loss the council was [not ready to undertake ,light/ly(. A short season of a month was mentioned, and the suggestion found some favour, though some members considered that this would not greatly reduce the mortality of the birds, as 75 per cent, of tho shooting was always done in the first month of the season.

Mr. Grayson remarked that in the interest of the game he would like to see the' season permanently made two instead of three months; but Colonel Hazard said that had frequently been suggested at conferences, but had been consistently over-ruled. -The argument against it was tha-t it gave all the advantage to the country sportsman, who was on the spot, as against the town sportsman, who could get away only at intervals on an expedition.

Captain Elliott pointed out also that the workman who got only a day a week to shoot would thus have his shooting cut down from twelve days to eight days. He preferred the close season to that. Eventually the matter was dropped without decision, though it was understood that it would be brought up for decision at the conference of acclimatisation society representatives in Wellington next month.