GROUND AND OTHER FEATHERED GAME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 24 (Supplement)

GROUND AND OTHER FEATHERED GAME.

Hares abound in nearly every part of Canterbury, and provide excellent sport. They are, however, more plentiful in the unfrequented parts, and in many cases organised drives take place, when good bags can be made. Rabbit shooting can also be obtained throughout tho district, principally in the river beds of the many streams which traverse (he province. In these river beds tho rabbits find splendid cover in the scrub, uorse. and tussocks which abound and afford good brooding ground. For many years the Rangitata has provided excellent sport in shooting rabbits. It is easy of accoss from north and south, and spoitsmon can take train to Ealing or the Rangitata railway station and commence at onso upon good ground. Near Christchurch the river bed of the Waimakariri has every soason boon well stocked with rabbits, and parties of sportsmen from Christchurch chive thore and invariably secure good bags. The Port Hills near Christchurch are famous for the number of rabbit* abounding there. River beds are free to all sportsmen. Good dogs are required by the rabbiting sportsman, spaniels and terriers being most suitable for the river bed country. In all parts of Canterbury north of Christchurch rabbit shooting can be obtained. Quail shooting can be obtained in the sandhills along the beaches and a few coveys in nearly all the river bed- whore there is thick cover.

A few pheasants are to be found in North Canterbury, but the poisoned wheat laid by farmers to kill off tho sparrows and other small feathered birds is responsible for the killing of the pheasants in numbers. The same remarks also apply to partridges Bittern frequent the lakes and ri\er«. but by reason of their scarcity they ha\e been protected during the last four or fhe years.