PHEASANTS SCARCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 30, 19 May 1947, Page 5

PHEASANTS SCARCE

RETURNING TO BUSH COUNTRY CONSERVATOR’S VIEWS The dry, fine conditions which were so detrimental to the fishing during the year had also marred the opening days of the shooting season, said the Conservator of Fish and Game, Mr S. McNamara, last weekend. Apart from some good bags taken in the Whakatane district, sport generally had been disappointing.

On the opening morning, the weather was- all in favour of the duck, with the result that after a few shots had been fired, all the game made for the sanctuaries or the open sea. In the Whakatane district 52 limit bags had been reported for the five days, although in the Rotorua district the sport had been only fair, with twelve limits reported. Similar conditions prevailed in the Wairoa locality, where a fine morning saw the birds on the wing and very high. Four limit bags were taken. A large number of birds were reported in this region. On Lake Whakaki, between 2000 and 3000 duck and Swan were seen on the opening morning, but the majority made off after a few shots had been fired. ,A number of cock pheasant were also seen near Wairoa and one limit bag was secured.

Pheasants in the Rotorua district were not particularly plentiful continued Mr McNamara, as most of the birds had retreated to higher and denser country. Quail were reported to be plentiful in the Taupo district and some good shooting should be obtained there.