Duck shooting season begins on South Island

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 5

Duck shooting season begins on South Island

South Island game bird hunters will be able to start their shooting season on April 21, with an extra two w'eeks before the season begins in the North Island. "In recent years ducks in the South Island, particularly the mallard, have had successful breeding conditions and slowly in- ■ creased in numbers,” said Mr Murray Crombie, of the game management section of the New Zealand Wildlife Service. As a result, the increased limit last year in the South Island, which was raised from 15 to 25 for a total daily waterfowl bag, will be allow'ed again this year.” In the Nelson and Marlborough acclimatisation districts, there is a slight increase in the daily limit for paradise ducks within the high country' areas. In Hawkes Bay', paradise ducks can again be hunted with a daily limit of two, and only during the last week-end of the season on June 16 and 17. Hunting had been stopped there for the last two years as a conservation measure and the flocks increased quite dramatically. In the Rotorua district, the limit on paradise ducks is raised from four to five because of a most satisfying increase there. The North Canterbury

Acclimatisation Society has announced that the game season for this area will begin on Saturday. April 21, with the duck and pukeko season ending on June 17 (consisting of eight weeks and nine w e e k-ends), California qua! from April 21 to August 26, cock pheasant from June 2 to June 9, and chtlkor, April 21 to August 26. Canada geese have been set from April 21 to July 29 in Counties Wairewa and Ellesmere east of State Highway No. 1, and the rest of North Canterbury from April 21 to October 28. For both

areas, ■ the 1980 goose season is February 1 to March 23. Game that mav be hunted or killed, daily bag limits, shooting hours and special conditions are all stated on the game shooting licences. The two main alterations are: :: The price of the junior licence has been increased to $6. These licences are now for all people under 16 y'ears of age and there is no need for a guardian's signature. :: The pegging of stands is now one month before opening day. except Lake Ellesmere, where the usual two weeks prevail owning to water level fluctuations.