FINE WEATHER BRINGS THE PHEASANTS OUT

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1937, Page 4

FINE WEATHER BRINGS THE PHEASANTS OUT

The fine weather is enticing pheasants out of the bush, where they took cover early in the season, and sport generally is improving throughout the North. Although ducks usually disappear in May, they are still being taken in good numbers. ' The best shooting so far is reported from the Mangonui-Whangaroa district, where there are fewer local license-holders. Bay of Islands observed a close season last year, but, except in isolated districts, the sport offering there is no better than in the area controlled by the Whangarei acclimatisation district. Birds Are There.

Game is certainly not as plentiful as it was in the heyday, but the birds are still there if sportsmen are keen enough to chase them. Good marksmen are averaging bags of between three and four pheasants, not so bad when it is considered that the limit bag in the Wellington acclimatisation society is two.

Several local sportsmen have colj lected seven or eight birds in the one | day, particularly good results having been obtained in the Pipiwai, Taranui and Mangakahia districts. A Secret Out. One secret disclosed by the bags is that pheasants are not breeding in the Whangarei district to the extent desired. This is proved by the fact that at a meeting of the council of the Whangarei society last evening, only one member reported having shot the usual percentage of young birds. Out of 10 pheasants brought down by him four were of last season’s brood. Another reported, however, that there Were no chicks in a total bag of 20 taken by him, and other had similar experiences to relate.

The real mystery of the season, however, is the almost total disappearance of quail in some districts. Where it was quite usual to rise coveys of from 20 to 30 birds last year, there are ndw only one or tWo, if any. Many hen pheasants are about, a reassuring augury for the sport next season.