SHOOTING SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 100, 1 May 1933, Page 5

SHOOTING SEASON.

DUCKS ON THE WING. MODERATE BAGS REPORTED. . (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") RANGIRIRI, this day. Judging by the popping of. guns in many directions this morning, the wild ducks of the Waikato were being forcibly reminded of the fact that another shooting season had begun.

The morning broke with fairly bright weather, and after the early shooting the ducks were high on the wing and difficult to shoot.

For this time of the year it has been fairly dry in the swamps, and most of the ducks were on open water. They did not seem to be as plentiful as in some previous seasons, but in a. few localities there were high hopes of limit bags.

For weeks past shooters have been getting their 'loos" and decoys ready, while other sportsmen were trusting to overhead birds, flying from some disturbed quarter to quieter surroundings. Some of the shooting parties reported very poor bags and scarcity of, duck. Others were moderately successful. One party at Rangiriri had 30 duck at noon, but as far as could be learned they had fared much better than the majority. OPOTIKI SPORTSMEN/ ACTIVITIES OF "PIRATES." (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, this day. The shooting season opened this morning in unsettled weather, guns being heard in action in all directions. Fairly good bags were secured in several parts, but game is not quite so plentiful as was expected in vie"* of last year's close season. Sportsmen complain of the action of pirate shooters who were out days before the opening of the season.

GAME IN THE NORTH. WELL-FILLED BAGS EXPECTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. The popping of sporting guns bright and earlj' this morning proclaimed the fact that the 1933 shooting season had opened. After a close season in most of the Northern counties since 1931, there are now plenty of pheasants about and an abundance of game generally. Sportsmen should find it easy to fill their bags. The number of cock pheasants allowed has been, reduced from eight to six a day. However, under the conditions of the license sportsmen may make a bag of 25 birds in all. The birds which may be shot are cock pheasants, duck, teal and Cahfornian and Australian quail. The season is open for two months for all except teal, the shooting of which will be prohibited after a month.