THE SHOOTING SEASON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 792, 11 May 1905, Page 6

THE SHOOTING SEASON.

The shooting season, which opened on the Ist of May, bids fair to prove one of the most successful for many years. Game has been unusually plentiful, especially as far <as grey ducks and teal are concerned, and some exceptionally large bags of these have been reported. To a certain extent the Acclimatisation Society is responsible for this improved state of affairs. Formerly there was a very large amount of illicit shooting done before the season opened, but the Society, by appointing extra rangers whose special business it was to prevent this, has to a very large extent done away this illegal shooting for the pot. The breeding season has also been a particularly good one, the wet spring and warm summer having been just the thing for the birds who have been provided with plenty of natural food. Quite a host of local sportsmen went afield, and have returned laden with spoil. Indeed some of the bags have beaten all previous records, ducks having been esqecially numerous in the vicinity of Lakes Whangape, Waikare, Waihou and at Rangiriri and Mercer. Pheasants have been also found in fair numbers, but in nothing like the quantity in years gone by prior to the idiotic importation of stoats and weasels, than which no more foolish act has ever been perpetrated by the Government. Quail have also been rather more plentiful than usual, and altogether during the opening days shootists have been experiencing a very good time.