THE SHOOTING SEASON

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 105, 4 May 1926, Page 6

THE SHOOTING SEASON

OPENING SPOILED IN THE NOBTH.

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

An Auckland sportsman, Dr. C. Murphy, had an unusual experience at Lake Whangape on Saturday morning in connection with the opening of the shooting season. He got a "bag" without firing a shot. ■ "It was the worst opening of a shooting season I have known for 25 years," said Dr. F. J. Rayner, on his return. He said he had arranged with Dr. Murphy and Mr. L. P. Hughes to shoot on the lake. When they put off in a boat for their "maimai" it was found that the waves were, about four feet high, and a hundred yards out from shore the boat was swamped. The waves soon drove it back to the edge of the lake, and then Dr. Murphy decided that he had had enough of boating for the day. Dr. Eayner and Mr. Hughes put off again in the boat, and this time reached the maimai. They endured wind, rain, and wet clothes for several hours, and as all the shooting was one shot at a passing duck, they decided to return to the camp. On reaching there they found to their amazement that Dr. Murphy had ten ducks hung up in a row. They had been shot from other maimais in the lake,' carried across by the waves, and literally washup up at the doctor's feet for him to gather. It is reported that very poor "bags were secured on other lower Waikato lakes, the best on Waikare being a bare half-dozen ducks. Sportsmen had been anticipating an excellent opening for ducks, but the stormy weather upset their calculations.