SPORTSMEN OUT

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19565, 2 May 1935, Page 8

SPORTSMEN OUT

SHOOTING SEASON OPENS.

AVERAGE BAGS REPORTED.

SUCCESS IN RANGIRIRI DISTRICT

With the birds flying high on account of the clear, moderate weather, somewhat disappointing results experienced by sportsmen who occupied stands at the opening of the shooting season in the Waikato yesterday. Although u number of limit bags were obtained, the majority met with vacillating fortunes and at least a few sportsmen returned empty handed. Conditions showed a marked improvement this morning. Light drizzling rain and swirling mist oyer the swamps brought the birds within range but there seemed to be fewer guns operating and some good opportunities ■were missed. However, although the conditions were ideal several parties working the Rangirlri district found comparatively poor shooting. The Ranglriri and Te Kauwhata districts are the most popular areas with sportsmen in the Waikato. There was a good depth of water in the lagoons and swamps and before daybreak yesterday morning a large muster of sportsmen covered the Waikare and Whangape Lakes, Whitney’s Lagoon and Jackson’s Swamp. Messrs H. Hall and G. Bremner of Hamilton, enjoyed good sport returning to the township in the afternoon with 27 ducks to their credit, while the limit of 15 birds was also obtained by Mr A. Saxton of Glen Murray and Mr C. Seddon of Hamilton.

A Fine Bag.

The best bag of the day was obtained by a party comprising Mr G. R. McKenzie of Christchurch, Mr H. Steer of Te Awamutu, and Mr C. H. De Thierry of Ranglriri and his two brothers. The party commenced operations at 4.30 a.m. before daylight and returned at mid-day with 72 ducks to their credit. Of these 12 were black swans. Most of the birds were shot on the wing and it was only on rare occasions that the ducks, which were unusually wild for the

opening day of the season, were attracted to the water by the decoys. Another party of four, which occupied stands nearby, obtained 20 birds. There has been very poor sport with quail and pheasants in the northern Waikato district according to reports of sportsmen who came in this morning and It was only on rare occasions that game was seen. The same shortage of birds was in some places seen in North Auckland although at Whakapara and Maunu limit bags of pheasant were obtained.

Favourable conditions prevailed in the Otorohanga district and good average bags of pheasant and duck are reported. However, as many of the sportsmen are still out in the back' country the success of their operations cannot yet he accurately determined.

In the Franklin district varying success was met with. A party of live guns at Pope’s Lagoon in the Mangatawhiri Valley opened the season auspiciously, three of them obtaining the limit before nine o’clock and the remaining two bringing their respective totals lo 15 shortly afterward. At Aka Aka a parly of three guns spent a miserable find unprofitable morning, the few birds that were seen being well out of range.