SHOOTING SEASON

Southland Times, Issue 19859, 3 May 1926, Page 6

SHOOTING SEASON

AUSPICIOUS OPENING.

GOOD BAGS REPORTED.

Auspicious conditions marked the opening of the 1926 shoting season on Saturday. By the time day broke sportsmen were in readiness for the arrival of the birds in likely spots on most of the lagoons and estuaries in lonely districts. The absence of wind in most parts was against the sportsmen, though a slight river mist assisted them to some extent. Ducks were found to be plentiful in most localities and provided good sport, until the shooting finally drove them high. The best bag so far reported fell to a party of nine guns, including Messrs Fosbender Bros., A. B. Moffett and Eric Russell, who were shooting on a lagoon in the vicinity of the Waimatuku. The bag yesterday totalled 201 ducks and two swans. A member of the party who returned before the conclusion of the expedition, reported that a good number of ducks were seen, more indeed than the previous year when the same party bagged 225 birds: Ho said that the conditions both on Saturday morning and yesterday morning were good. As in previous years good sport was obtained in the Wyndham district and a party consisting of Messrs J. Robertson, J. Kirby and R. Winter each shot the limit bag. Reports indicate that sportsmen at Awarua Bay, Awarua Siding, Fairfax and other well-known localities met with fairly good luck on the whole. A good number of sportsmen, however, are visiting lagoons a good distance from town and will not return until to-day. THE SEASON AT GORE. A large number of Gore sportsmen were out for the opening of the season and while a number of good bags were secured it was generally reported that the conditions were not so favourable as they were for the opening of last season. The weather was dull and windy and the ducks were flying high. Mr G. Gerkin, shooting at Knapdale, secured the limit bag, while his father was equally successful. Mr R. B. Bannerman, who hat! a position at Henley’s Lagoon, Washpool, secured twenty birds, while Messrs E. A. Pigeon and J. Beattie, who were also at the lagoon obtained a bag of 24. Dr Me Ara and D. Graham obtained 15 between them, while a party at Otipua obtained nine for two hours’ shooting. Messrs Scott and Moore, shooting at Waimumu, bagged 25 and Mr J. Perry secured eight at Waimea.