DUCK SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 21072, 2 May 1930, Page 8

DUCK SHOOTING

LOCAL SEASON OPENED.

MANY LIMIT BAGS REPORTED.

Yesterday could well be termed the ideal day for duck shooting. The “rough” weather the duck sportsmen were seeking and hoping for came with a vengeance and from before dawn until late morning, heavy rain sqtialls descended over the Southland district. Conditions could not have been bettered and it is not surprising then, to report a successful opening of the duckshooting season in Southland. At an early hour sportsmen all over Southland left their warm beds and sallied forth in the darkness to the haunts of the grey duck. The rain and wind had the effect of keeping the birds close to the shore and flying low, whereas in calm weather they would have been flying high. As a result shooting was particularly good. At the Waituna lagoon, probably the most favourite haunt in the district, the ducks were plentiful and many limit bags were shot. Sportsmen who tried out the Browns block had no luck, but on the New River there were good flocks and here again good bags were reported.

AH the birds shot were stated to be in excellent condition.

As is their usual custom, many sportsmen camp out for two or three days, and the result of a good many bags will not be known till the week-end. Indications, however, point to some big bags being brought back to town.

EASTERN SOL’TJILAND

SOME SUCCESSFUL SPORTSMEN. Sportsmen in Eastern Southland were early astir and arming themselves with their guns and plenty of ammunition, packages of sandwiches which provident wives had left lying on the kitchen table overnight for them, and raincoats, for the opening of the season dawned dull and wet, set off in pursuit of the ducks determined to do or die. While some of the sportsmen were rather unlucky and returned home with wet hides and no ducks, others, however, were very successful and as a result roast duck will form the piece de resistance on their tables to-day.

Reports from sportsmen at the conclusion of the day’s operations are to the effect that ducks, while plentiful, are not in such good condition as they might be owing to the prolonged dry spell in the country districts. This season’s sport, however, promises to compare very favourably with last, said one Gore sportsman who experienced a successful day generally. The ducks at Mandeville were flying high with the result that sportsmen on the lagoons there-were offered few opportunities. A party of six men at the lagoon on Mr. W. Miller’s property was out early in the morning and by ten o'clock had brought down 32 ducks by its united efforts. Only four ducks were secured by Messrs J. Fortune and J. Bruce, shooting in the vicinity of Mr. Fortune’s homestead where ducks in past seasons had been plentiful. A party comprising Messrs. Frank Cross, his son, G. Graham and A. Smith were out on the lagoon on the property owned by Mr. Crass. Their total by nine o’clock was 15 ducks.

Shooting at Riversdale Mr. L. Gee and a friend obtained limit bags. The ducks were rather wild on “Fernlea,” Mr. G. Smith’s property ■ near Gore, on which a party comprising Messrs. G. Smith, L. Smith junr., J. Perry and Fisher shot 24 ducks.

At Washpool Messrs. E. A. Pigeon and J. Beattie accounted for 11 ducks. The birds there were very wild and shy and came down to the decoys in twos and threes instead of the tens and twelves as in post seasons.

Shooting in the same locality Messrs. R. B. Bannerman, Royds and Stewart, jur., also obtained 11 ducks.

Limit bags were secured at Riversdale by Messrs Hodge (2) and Monaghan. On Mr. M. Hanley’s lagoon at Croydon Siding the birds were plentiful but the water was scarce. The. surface was also covered to a large extent with duckweed and. what clear stretches Of water remained were inclined to be very patchy with the result, that the ducks would not, land. Notwithstanding. these unfavourable conditions, Mr. D. Graham and party were successful in getting limit bags.