THE GAME SEASON

Evening Star, Issue 25782, 3 May 1946, Page 7

THE GAME SEASON

OPENING ON SATURDAY bright” prospects Recent reports which indicated that in many parts of the Otago district there was more game than had been tlie case for the past 40 years, promise bright prospects for the opening of the game shooting season on Saturday, Mr L. Millar, secretary of the Otago Acclimatisation Society stated that in spite of the fact that supplies of ammunition continued to be limited, the co-operation of the retailers had ensured that distribution of their available stocks would be on an equitable basis. Further supplies of ammunition were expected during the season, said Mr Millar, and in the meantime most sportsmen were satisfied ,to obtain sufficient to meet their requirements for the opening. According to reports from the agents, Mr Millar said, licenses, were selling well, and it was expected that more sportsmen would be out on the opening day than had been the case for many years past. Already 130 complimentary licenses had been issued from the office of the society to returned servicemen. Any returned man who had not had either a complimentary fishing or game shooting license previously could now obtain a game licenses on production of his pay book or service posting order. Unfortunately for sportsmen, Mr Millar said, the water in the Green Island Swamp had burst out to sea, and this popular rendezvous would not be likely to produce good shooting for as long a period as usual. As a result of the mild, dry autumn, there would be no surplus water on the Taieri Plain, and the birds in that district would be confined to the permanent waters of the lakes at Waihola and Waipori. The secretary also stated that sportsmen were notified that they were not entitled to shoot on private land without the consent of -the owner or occupier. They were also asked ,to acquaint themselves with the position of sanctuaries and protected areas in the district in which they intended to shoot. Precise information concerning any sanctuary or protected area was available from the office of the secretary. Mr'Millar pointed out that sportsmen should also acquaint - themselves with the new boundary between Otago and the Lakes acclimatisation district, which may be summarised as' the Dunstan Ranges, Cairnmuir Hills, and the Garbio Mountains. There was no reciprocity of licenses between the Lakes district and the Otago district, but the holder* of an Otago license may shoot in Southland for native game and mallard ducks. Similarly a Southland license holder can shoot in the Otago district for these birds, but his license does not extend to imported game, such as quail, chukor or pheasants.