SHOOTING SEASON OPENS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18388, 2 May 1923, Page 8

SHOOTING SEASON OPENS.

": /".'•'■'.■'■'...;■.'';.-.'';'.'♦ . . :->',u''<:->y-DUCK PROVE PLENTIFUL. VERY FEW PHEASANT SEEN. [BT TELEGRAPH. — CORRESPONDENT.] - " HAMILTON. Tuesday. The crack of rifio firing a and the bang of shot guns puncturing the, crisp morning air signalised the opening of , the shooting season today. Dawn had scarcely broken before ; shots were heard on every hand. Many parties went out over-night and took up positions in the country where game is naturally more plentiful than near tho town. i - . '.'■ Sportsmen report : a good •■ number of; duck but;very few pheasant. The majority• of the parties 1 who went out have riot yet returned, but fair bags are generally anticipated. • • . •'; ~-, ■ LAKES TOO HIGH FOR SPORT. DUCK SEEK SWAMPY "MARGINS. - Prospects -■: for : the shooting season are described ■:".■ as not ■"'. particularly bright ;at {>resent. v; Owing to,-j the ; . recent rains tho akes arej very high, therefore tho duck are able toV retreat" into?* the • swamps around th© edges. '.. Provided, however/ 'that no heavy rain ;; falls' in Una > mean-.; time, ; conditions are : expected to improve in about; a fortnight, as marshes will probably dry up. : A The temporary . closing of I the ■•■■ Hobson County is regarded; as /a serious blow: to pheasant shooting, as it is said; to be one jof "- the \ best ; districts I: for i that form

of sport. * . ■ : It ;is an interesting * fact not generally known .that wild duck ;often f fly : ; out '[to sea. Instances are ;on ; record •: where • they have been found three ;or even'•• four miles from land.