NATIVE GAME SEASON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20705, 1 May 1929, Page 2

NATIVE GAME SEASON.

OPENING TO-DAY. THE SPORTSMAN’S OUTFIT. For those sportsmen whose favourite weapon is the gun, to-day is probably the most important day of the year. No thought of the merrymaking that is the custom in rural England on May Day is in the mind of the average New Zealand gunman, and though he may give a passing thought to the fact that it is the day of the municipal elections throughout the Dominion, if will be no more than a passing thought, for the shooting of ducks .and the other feathered game will absorb his mind to the exclusion of all else. There are many places in Otago where good shooting may be obtained, and it is anticipated that the great majority of the localities will receive a considerable degree of patronage to-day. Probably the most popular will be Lake Waibola which is always a favourite rendezvous. Grey duck are found there in good numbers, and for these fowl sportsmen will also visit tKe Catliris district and various parts of Central Otago. Central Otago, especially from Roxburgh up to Cromwell, Clyde, and- the districts further on, will be popular with hunters of quail. In certain parts, however, where they are few these birds are being protected in order to give them an opportunity to establish them-, selves. '*■( - 'At the head of Lake Wanakatbe Canty-*, dian geese may be found, and many sportsmen will, no doubt, go there. SHOOTING CONDITIONS. The conditions fqr the 1929 season were gazetted recently, and the following are the outstanding provisions of the notice: —Tlie imported .and native game which may be kiljed in the North Canterbury Society’s, district are: Canadian goose, Californian quail, grey dupk, spoonbill duck for shoveller),.black swan, mallard duck, and paradise duck. The number that may be killed by one person in any one day is limited as follows:—Californian quail, Canadian goose, grey duck and spoonbill duck (or shoveller), 25 head in all; black swan and mallard duck, not limited; paradise duck, not more than five head. The season is close as far as pukeko are concerned, except where the birds are found to do' damage to private property, and even in these cases, permission must be obtained from the department before they may be destroyed. The Minister has not altered the regulation that shooting may begin not earlier, than one hour before sunrise and must cease not later than one hour after sunset, although he was asked ’to do so. bhooting bv the aid of artificial light is not allowed. - . The Department of Internal Affairs has set out that an open season for paradise duck, will commence to-day and will close on May 7. with a limitation of five birds per license, per day. ' THE OUTFIT. With regard 'to a sportsman’s outfit, no definite range of equipment can he set down. The primary essential is, of course,, the gun. Prices of guns vary greatly. It is possible to obtain a serviceable doublebarrelled gun for £4. ■pfiile, at the other end of. the scale, there are guns of the de. luxe variety which run into £4O and £SO. For- general use, however, a good dual purpose trap and duck gun can be obtained for between £8 and £lO. Once the gun has -been purchased it will last, with reasonable care, for many years. In fact, this can be said of practically all a duck shooter’s equipment. , • Protection is needed for the cartridges, but there are so many means to this end that it is .well-nigh impossible to lay down any definite procedure. A cartridge belt or waistcoat is almost a necessity, but personal taste must be exercised in the purchase of this type of article. Shooting trousers are another essential. The latest patterns of these, which, of course, are waterproof, come right up to the neck and thus permit the shooter to sit down in his mai mai. Another is the necessity of manuka which is needed to construct the mai mai. These- are easily obtained and are' not difficult to construct. Even at the best of times, shooting is not the warmest of sports, and to be comfortable, plenty of warm clothes should be ■worn. THE DECOY. . The use of decoys is one that sometimes gives young sportsmen some trouble and often causes perplexity. It is well to remember that there is a limit of 25 decoys for each mai mai, and any excess of this is a breach of the regulations and is liable to involve the occupants of the mai mai in trouble. There are two types of decoys in general use. One is the solid type and, the other the silhouette type. The decision to use either type is really a question of taste and one’s own experience. The success of the use of the duck call lies in its judicious application. There are many sportsmen who call 10 times as much as is needed, and the diieka become suspicious. The more sparingly a call is used, the better the results. WORD OF WARNING. It is not only' advisable, but necessary, for the sportsman to make himself absolutely familiar with the terms upon which his license is issued to him and with the regulations generally governing the sport. For instance, it is stated on the license that no live birds of any sort may be used as decoys, and other details concerning the use of decoys are also stated. Another important stipulation is that no power boat or launch may ‘be used in connection with the taking of native game. A list of bird sanctuaries is issued with every license supplied by the Otago Acclimatisation Society, and all shootists should make themselves familiar with these places. , SEASON’S PROSPECTS. From present indications, the season should be a remarkably good one. The; number of local sportsmen who have an'-V nounced their intention of going out eavm in the season is large, and Jtgjs expected’ tlmt, if to-day ip favourable fdr shooting,? good bags should be the rulein most dis-i trlcts. ' , ■

reckoned with.” In the circbmstanees wet will do well to avoid expressions of sympathy/?witb those 5 sportsmen who are obliged? to empty-handed. As for Sir. Thomas’s! ingenious suggestion, it is p question ' whether the favour he finds with the farmers will compensate for jifs certain unpopularity'with tlie dpek-shopters. It is probable that tlie latter, for we have heardot rabbit-shooting befOpe. “ See that nian over there , with.; {he bruised tonsils? ” remarked,an, acquaintance to me the other day. 1 ‘h .1 followed his direction and noticed a man standing in front of the Stock Exchange buildings apparently engaged In watching the tram cars as they passed. As each car passed he seemed to undergo a . spasm of pain that produced an involuntary constriction about the nock. “ Well,” continued my informant, “ lie was an* inveterate pipe-smoker,' who used to travel on the Castle street car. Yon know the ridiculous way those - cars bounce at each end. Naturally, being a stnoker, he was obliged to stand at tlie rear of the car, and he has had his rammed down his throat so often that his tonsils have grown to abnormal proportions. He intended standing for the mayoralty last election, in order ,to. introduce some reforms in the Tramways Department. But at his-first meeting, when he mentioned tram caj;s, the reaction on his tonsils was so great that he was almost asphyxiated, ar.d had to give up the contest. He does not speak at all now, poor chap. Despite his terrible suffering; he cannot, forget the thrill of those helter-skelter rides along Castle street, and he’stands there every day to see each No. G set out on her journey.”