THE SHOOTING SEASON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 23

THE SHOOTING SEASON.

SOME GOOD BAGS. The shooting season opened on Tuesday particularly unpleasant weather conditions. A number of Dunedin sportsmen went out to the .various shooting grounds, but so far no information has been received with regard to the measure of success which attended their efforts. Our Balclutha correspondent states that the localities most favoured in that, district by sportsmen were the Otanomomo swamp, Puerua, and Tuakitoto Lake. There were eight boats operating on the lake. Duck and black swans were very plentiful, and some good bags were secured, but authentic records ars not vet available. Messrs A. Henderson ana party, of Balclutha, shot six ducks in-d 16 swans, and report that game is plentiful. At Otanomomo portion of the swamp is flooded and a boat is required to move about Mr W, Mason, North Balclutha, did well at Otanomomo. securing an excellent bag of ducks and also some pukekos. A number of shooting parties from Balclutha reported a fair measure of success. Among the most successful were Messrs Wilson Elliott and party, to whose guns at Tuakitoto Lake fell 20 ducks and a large number of black swans. The swans are said to be particularly plentiful at Tuakitoto this season. On the Kaihiku Stream, Mr J. Barclay (Balclutha) shot 20 ducks, a particularly good bag for the locality. Some sportsmen who visited Wangaloa on opening day report little success. Several parties who visited Otanomomo Swamp were handicapped by the lack of a boat. Pukeko, as well as duck, are plentiful in. the swamp, chiefly in the flooded areas. It was stated that the bag of Mr W. Mason, at Otanomomo, on the Ist, included pukeko. This was incorrect. Several good bags have been secured at the Head of the Lake and other wellknown duck habitations. The Lakes’ Society is taking special precautions to prevent persons shooting without a license as in former years this practice has been prevalent throughout the district.

Tuakitoto Lake has been a favourite resort of sportsmen from the surrounding district, and from morning till night the crack of fowling pieces has been heard in that vicinity. The sister lake of Kaitangata is practically dried up now. and failed to attract as formerly. Mr Wilson Elliott’s actual bag at Tuakitoto was 13 ducks and 12 swans on the first day, and on the second nine ducks and 16 swans. Mr C. Hasler got seven ducks and swans sufficient to make up his day’s quota to 25, as allowed by law, Messrs Newburn (2), of Kaitangata, had a bag of 20 ducks, and the Messrs Oliver and Barclay (Kaitangata) are reported to have bagged 48 ducks. At the Puerua River Messrs 11. and J. Hurring bagged 25 ducks each on the opening day, and Messrs Stiven (Otanamomo) and two friends from Dunedin 40 ducks, the latter party operating at the mouth of the Puerua. Some of the Owaka sportsmen who visited the Tuakitoto Lake had to be content with very small bags. Probably the record bag of ducks for the first two days of the season was got by Messrs Stiven, jun. (Otanamomo) and Messrs G. E. Turner (secretary of the Dunedin Gun Club), and Morrison, also of Dunedin. The three guns secured 103 ducks on the Puerua and in the adjacent sw»mp at Otanomomo.

One of 60 sportsmen who devoted their time to duck shooting on the opening day of the season secured the limit bag if 25, between Waipiata and Hyde. All the birds shot were grey duck. Of the 60 who went in search of the game only one was found to be without the necessary Ecense to shoot: a little omm-ssion that cost him his I reach loader. The sportsman who secured the limit was Mr W. Robson, of Kokcnga.

The wild ducks, in Canterbury apparently know that the shooting season has begun (says the Lyttelton Times). The lakes in Hagley Park are sanctuaries, and they arc now tire safe haven of thousands of grey ducks. On Wednesday the surface of Lake Victoria, the larger of the two lakes in the park,, was dotted with the wise birds, who have found the sanctuary a timely refuge from the sportsman’s gun. The Avon is also giving its shelter to many hundreds of ducks. This invasion occurs every year, and lasts just as long as the shooting season.

Reports have come to the Timaru Herald of some good bags of ducks, which were secured by sportsmen on the opening day of the shooting season. These included one of 72 ducks, which fell to three guns at Scadown, 61 birds for four guns at Winchester. 57 for four guns at Claremont, 12 for two guns at Fairview, 70 for three guns at Sherwood Downs, and 20 for two guns at Otari.