The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties' Gazette FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1922. ACCLIMATISATION AND SPORT FOR FEILDING.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4575, 28 April 1922, Page 2

The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties' Gazette FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1922. ACCLIMATISATION AND SPORT FOR FEILDING.

After the deer-stalking season, which we may call the big game hunting oi Maoriland—although some men prefer to apply that term to the more dangerous and exciting adventuring after the wild pig—comes the shooting for ducks and hares. There are other things of feather games, it not of fur, to be hunted; but the men who carry the guns talk in terms of hares and ducks, The First of May is not sacred alone to the -Red Radicals. It is also the opening day of the shooting season,' and the sportsmen of Fcilding and district are oiling up and getting their gear in order for the great occasion. It is not a case with these enthusiasts of “if you re waking, call me early—call me early, mother, dear!” For they cannot sleep. It is mother who sleeps, whilst the boys are • out with the breaking of the day. This year the prospects arc better than ever in the Fcilding district for ducks. They have bred well and plentifully, and tlif. Acclimatisation Society’s experts and enthusiasts hereabout have done good work in the cause of sport. Hares are also promising good sport. But there is reason to believe that there has been an enemy in our midst. The poacher has been getting in early, and has even threatened to spoil sport. However, a surprise is in store for him in various parts of the district. The self-sacrificing volunteer wardens are out in couples lying in wait for tho poacher, and if any of him is caught he will suffer the extreme penalty of the law. He may fare even worse than that if certain enthusiastic members of the Society get their hands npon those who are shooting out of season—and even those who after next Monday go after the game without a license. “We arc determined to put down poaching in this district,” said one good sportsman—“and to do so effectively, woe betide tho poachers we catch!” In the interest of acclimatisation, we trust an example will bo made of such spoil-sports.