DUCK SHOOTING SEASON

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 8

DUCK SHOOTING SEASON

Good Prospects For Opening Day

Reports indicate that there are plenty of ducks at Lake Ellesmere and in North Canterbury, and the foothills, so duck-shooters who are up and away early this morning for the opening day of the season have good chances of big bags. The forecast is for light southwest winds early this morning, and if the sky is overcast, conditions will be ideal. The season opens at 6.30 a.m. The secretary of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society (Mr H. R. Bennington) said yesterday that duck-shooters would be looking forward to better conditions than were encountered on the opening day last year. With more water about this year, shooters’ chances would be greatly enhanced, he said. “Last year we had a little trouble with shooters arguing over their stands, but this season a tag has been issued with every licence,” said Mr Bennington. The hours of shooting are 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., but from July 1 to July 28 inclusive the hours for shooting Canada geese are from 6.30 a.m. to midnight. Paradise, grey, spoonbill, mallard, and crossbred ducks, pukeko, and cock pheasants may be shot from today until June 3; while the season for the black swan, Canada goose and chuckor expires on July 28. Californian quail may be shot from June 1 to June 30. The daily bag limits are: paradise duck, five; grey and spoonbill duck, 10; or a combination of grey, spoonbill, mallard, paradise, and crossbred, 15; pukeko, three; cock pheasants, two: chuckor, 15; Californian quail, 10. There is no daily bag limit for black swan and Canada geese.