Ducks Hard To Bag

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31363, 8 May 1967, Page 1

Ducks Hard To Bag

The fine, mild weather with hardly any wind on Saturday produced frustrating conditions for the shooters clustered thickly around Lake Ellesmere on the opening day of the season on Saturday. Few shooters were able to I bag a duck or a swan and some did not have the chance of a shot.

Yesterday, drizzle and low cloud produced better shooting conditions. A number of shooters were reported to have shot ducks but there were no reports of a limit bag. The low cloud helped the shooters but the absence of wind meant that most of the ducks and swans paddled happily around in the middle of the lake with nothing to stir them off the water. Mr J. P. Glasson, public relations officer of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, said yesterday that Saturday was a very tame opening. “I did hear of persons bagging an odd swan and a few ducks, but generally it was a very disappointing day for shooters.

“It is the first time for years that I can remember sitting there in my shirtsleeves on the opening day of the season,” said Mr Glasson. "Yesterday was a bit better. I got three ducks and shooters were having a better time but it was hardly a good day.” On Saturday there were plenty of birds in the air but most were well out of

range and the shots that heralded the opening of the season about 6.30 a.m. apparently were fired more in hope than with intent. By 10.30 a.m. only one shooter, Mr B. R. Porteous, of Lyttelton, had appeared with a duck and other shooters who came in soon after were empty handed. Conditions were not much better in the afternoon, but the promise of a southerly change kept many shooters at Lake Ellesmere over night.