SHOOTING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 13

SHOOTING SEASON

EFFECT OF RAINS FAVOURABLE PROSPECTS GAME BIRDS PLENTIFUL [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday " The recent rains will not seriously affect the levels of shooting water, but large flocks of ducks will be broken up and distributed over all parts of New Zealand," said Mr. A. A. McLean, secretary of the Hamilton Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, to-day, when discussing the prospects for the opening of the shooting season on May 1. Mr. McLean said that owing to the time fixed for staking stands being put forward, many sportsmen had taken advantage of the Easter vacation to make arrangements. The rncent rains, however, would necessitate some of the stands being removed to better shooting areas. Mr. McLean added that there had been an increased liberation of pheasants, and a naturally good breeding season for these birds. As a result pheasants were more plentiful than they had been for many years. Quail were also available in large numbers. For the first time for many years there would be an open season for pukeko, the shooting of which was previously confined to property owners, on whose lands the birds had becomo a nuisance.

Mr. McLean said although there liail been an increase in the cost of licence fees, the demand for licences had increased, due, possibly, to the reduction in the price of cartridges. Limit bags for this season had been declared as follows: —Nine cock pheasants; 15 head in all of grey, spoonbill and mallard duck and black swan; and eight pukekos.