THE SHOOTING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 13

THE SHOOTING SEASON.

CONDITIONS IN WAIKATO. SOME DISAPPOINTMENT FELT. SPORTSMEN EXPRESS OPINIONS. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] HUNTLY, Friday. The shooting season which opened last week has been ■very disappointing to a number of sportsmen in and around the Waikato district. Big bags were not the order of tho day, and some sportsmen were openly disgusted at the result of their shooting. Some went so far as to state that conditions had been gradually getting worse for a number of years, and that tho present season was the worst of tho lot. Broadly speaking, tho area stretching from Huntly to Mercer and embracing tho lakes and rivers in the vicinity is tho centre of the duck shooting zono in tho Lower Waikato.

Messrs. M. Kcleher and L. Ralph, of Iluntly, who have been shooting on the river and lakes for the past 20 years, advanced the suggestion that tho question of closing next season should seriously engago tho attention of tho authorities. "Ten years ago," said Mr. Keleher, "ono could put decoys almost anywhere and bo quito sure of a maximum bag within a few hours. Now it is hard work to see tho 'limit,' let alone shoot them."

Another feature formerly was the great number of teal, and it was customary for the bag to consist of about three teal to every grey duck. "It is now about five years since I have seen a teal," said Mr. Keleher, "and I am quito confident that they were shot out. I would like to seo them reintroduced in the interest of sport." Erection of Shelters. Messrs. J. W. Keith and E. J. McCarthy, of To Kauwhata, have been shooting on tho lakes for many years, and both consider that the grey duck is as plentiful as ever, but that the tendency of sportsmen to erect shelters a few days prior to tlie opening of tho season disturbs tho ducks, which take refuge in the sanctuaries, where they may be seen in thousands. Neither considers that the season should bo closed, but they put foi;th the suggestion that on the first and second days of May beaters should drive the ducks from tho sanctuaries without shooting them. This would givo sportsmen a better chance of getting a bag even if tho limit was reduced to 15.

Discussing teal, they did not favour their rein traduction, and considered that although tho mallard was a good duck its breeding should not be persevered with as it was too tame. "Why pukekos should bo protected is beyond my comprehension," said Mr. Keith. There was no question, ho said, that these birds were increasing in numbers and they should be shot on sight. Mr. Bert Clarke, of Rangiriri, said he considered grey ducks were as plentiful a3 ever. On the opening day of the season ho saw literally acres of these ducks sitting in the centre of the Waikare Lake. There were two reasons why there was no flight of birds, the first being that a day or two prior to the opening of the season sportsmen put up their shelters and disturbed tho ducks from around the edges of the lake. Seventy per cent, of the ducks shot were young birds, the old ones being too cunning. Shooting out of Eange.

Another reason, aud one which had caused a lot of comment among sportsmen, was that a great many sportsmen shot out of range, with no chance of getting the birds, thus frightening them. The remedy would appear to be to erect shelters at least ono week before the season opened. "I am certainly not in favour of closing the season," said Mr. Clarke, "for the birds are still here, and last season I saw the best flight of birds I have ever seen, on Thompson's Lagoon at Rangiriri." Regarding pukekos, he considered tlieso birds should be shot on sight. Mr. J. Gow, of Mercer, who obtained the limit on the first day, has been shooting around about the Whangamarino swamps for the past eight years and was quite emphatic in asserting that there were thousands of ducks on these swamps, and were there until a few days before the opening of the seasou. When tho birds came into the creeks, he said, tho constant running of launches and tho building of shelters a few days before the opening of the season disturbed the birds, which took flight to tho sea coasts at Miranda and the Waikato Heads.

"Practically speaking," said Sir. Gow, "the success or otherwise of a season depends 011 the quantity of water in the Wliangamarino swamps. This year the swamps are drier than I have ever seen them in my experience. There are just as many ducks but far too many guns in the creeks. This season, for a distance of about six miles along the creek, there was a gun to every 100 yards." He expressed the opinion that the teal were not shot out because they disappeared all at once about eight years ago and must have migrated. Pukekos were increasing and next season should be an open one. He did not consider the mallard duck worth breeding. "As Plentiful as Ever." Mr. S. Foster, of Ohinewai, who has been shooting on Lake Waikare for the past 20 years, said he and his party obtained a good bag and ducks were as plentiful as ever. "On the morning of the opening day," he said, "just after daylight and within a mile of the eastern bank of Lake Waikare, we saw a mob of ducks quite two miles long and about a-quarter of a mile wide." These birds never shifted all day and there were comparatively few flights. The birds had become quite cunning, and the' fact that it was now illegal to stir up the mob with a power-boat as was done in the past, helped to account for the small bags. This provision was a good one, said Mr. Foster, and he was not in favour of any alteration. There was 110 need to close the season. Complaints had been made of unsportsmanlike tactics in that a number of sportsmen persisted in shooting out of range. Mr. Foster said: —"The last time I shot teal there were tens of thousands of them, and the next season they had completely disappeared. They certainly were not shot out. They must have migrated." Mallards were not in his opinion worth breeding as they became too tame. The restriction on pukekos should be lifted. A few years ago there were thousands of black swans on Lako Waikare, but very few were to bo seen at present. It looked as if they had migrated.