THE SHOOTING SEASON.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7526, 16 April 1890, Page 6

THE SHOOTING SEASON.

Our Ellesinere correspondent writes :— The weather has been tooiine for many very large bags to be made this season. Considering; the number of shootists this is a good thing for our native game. At toe opening, and every day since, the ducks have been very wild, and only a few sportsmen Who happened to be in the direct trail of the ducks got anything like bags, tin the first day Messrs F. Coe and H. Kimber shoe ninety-six ducks at the thoiifch of the Selwyn, Messrs L. Gardiner andH.Jacksoneighty-nveonWashbourne's .Lagoon. Mfcssra T. Header and Butler thirty-three also on the Selwyu, Dr. Moorebouse. Messrs C. Frankish and N. Watson, thirty odd on Garabaldi Island. Mr T. Overton'a party of five shot about thirty, while your correspondent with a party of two bagged thirty near Tatuutu. Mr i. McViauitt has shot eighty-four since the first up to the end of last week. There was excellent sport obtained on Lake Ellestnere with swamp-hen (pukaki) shooting, large 'bags being obtained both on the first and on the two following holidays, Good Friday and Easter Monday. The pukakis are very plentiful round the lake this season, and are in first-rate coudicion, and it will be no exaggeration to say that considerably more.than a thousand have baeu-ahot on this side of;the lake. As usual ou the first, the lake wds crowded with shootiats, and at daylight fairly bristled with guns; but with the exception of the few* good bags most of the shootists had to Vest content with from one to a pair of 'ducks. One party comprising tlrec wellknown shots, and including the wellknown sporting doctor, shoe one duck and a few.hawks, while another party of six from Chrisichurch, after remaining out in camp for.three days, returned with only three ducks.