GOOD SHOOTING PROSPECTS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 16

GOOD SHOOTING PROSPECTS

SEASON TO OPEN ON MONDAY

ADVICE TO SPORTSMEN

Prospects for the shooting season, which will open on Monday, are very good, according to the secretary-man-ager of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society (Mr G. L. PomfretDodd). He said that there was an abundance of game, and sportsmen could look forward to some good shooting. Both duck and swan were to be found in very large numbers, and if present conditions continued, with a little more wind to disturb the birds lrom the centre of Lake Ellesmere, there would be very good shooting. The demand for licences had been very brisk. Mr Pomfret-Dodd said that he wished to make an appeal to sportsmen to respect the rights of landowners. "Considerable annoyance has been caused to stock and native game by persons trespassing on, property." he said. "But the vast majority of right-minded sportsmen will agree that if permission is sought there are very few landowners who will object, provided that these seeking admission are capable of acquitting themselves not only as sportsmen but as gentlemen." The season will last for two months instead of three this year. It was formerly the custom to have a longer reason for swan, but the season will be the same for both duck and Swan this year. Mr Pomfret-Dodd said that trouble had been sometimes caused when the duck season had closed by the shooting of duck by those who ■went out ostensibly to shoot swan. The society intends to pursue a very active ranging policy this season, and will take active measures in prosecuting those who shoot without licences. It will also make every effort to see that the regulation forbidding the shooting of game for trading purposes without authority is observed. An appeal is made to those who engage in pond shooting to shoot with consideration for future breeding Stocks.