DUCK SHOOTING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19917, 2 May 1930, Page 14

DUCK SHOOTING.

OPENING OF SEASON. PEW "LIMIT" BAGS* Although calm weather on May Ist mocked the duck-shooter and his earlymorning sorties, one or two lucky sportsmen shot "limit" bags at Lake Ellesmere yesterday. On the whole, However, the opening of the season was a disappointment, for many did not shoot a single bird for their 10 or 12 hours' watch. Most of the sportsmen went out to Ellosmere before sunrise yesterday morning, having before them the ideal of a blustering wind, heavy clouds, and the threat of rain. Bat as the morning came on, the sun was shining, the sky was almost clear, the only wind was a light easterly, and the birds, once they sensed the danger of the guns, were able to fly high above their hunters' heads. When about four o'clock in the afternoon almost ideal conditions did prevail, most of the sportsmen had left for home after their 12 boars' stand, in many eases with empty bags. The few who had remained then found conditions much more to their liking. If the bad weather continues to-day, as these sportsmen pray that it will, then shooting should be good, and perhaps the season will not have begun so badly after all. Lake Ellesmere is well stocked with birds this season, although many will already have left for. more peaceful waters. The secretary of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society (M> 0. W. Hervey) estimated the licenses issued at "several hundreds," some of these taken out at his office and some with the society's country agents. Mr Hervey gave the reminder that while Paradise duck may be shot until Hay 7th, an absolutely close season has been; declared for pukeko. No breaches of this restriction were reported yesterday.