THE SHOOTING SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 472, 2 April 1909, Page 5

THE SHOOTING SEASON.

PARADISE DUCKS. 181 TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Cliristchurch, April 1. Speaking to a reporter this morning, tho Hon. D. Buddo said the Department of Internal Affairs had decided that there should oo an absolutely close season for paradise ducks in all parts of tho Dominion this year. Spoi tsmen would not bo allowed to shoot tlioso ducks at all. A threat had been mado to kill those birds in certain parts of the country. If it was carried out, tho offenders would bo vigorously and strictly punished. These steps wero being taken in tho interests of sportsmon as much as in the interests of nativo avifauna. Tho Department indeed wished to encourage genuine sport. The position of tho paradise duck was shown by tho fact that attempts to secure birds for different sanctuaries in tho Dominion resulted in failure. It had been intended to capture 300 in tho King Country, but only thrcoTwere obtained. The efforts in that direction would not bo abandoned, however. It was still intended to distribute paradiso ducks amongst tho sanctuaries. There wero a largo number of theso sanctuaries now in lagoons, lakes, and other places where ducks breed. Several gentlemen had offered to make sanctuarvs on their private properties. Mr. Buddo pointed out that tho season generally for shooting nativo birds would begin on May 1, not April 1, this year, closing on July 31. Tho goclwit season began on February 1, and would close on April 30. Next year it would bo a closo season for all native game in all parts of tho Dominion. Only a few native birds, such as hawks and keas, may bo killed at any timo of tho year.