SHOOTING SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 487, 21 April 1909, Page 8

SHOOTING SEASON.

(BT TZLEG&AFrt.—BPRCIA.L CORUESVONDKNT.) ✓ ■ Auckland,- April 20. Tho shooting season in tho Auckland Acclimatisation District will be opened'on Saturday, May 1. Reports from country districts point to a. good season, game being j stated to be .very plentiful in all parts of. tho province. Pheasants aro more abundant even than last season,- which was regarded as the best for years. The reason : for this I is considered to bo the dry season which has given tho young birds a good chance.; In faot, it- is stated that in many instances birds.have bad two clutches. .Ducks also seem te bo plentiful, the lakes and lagoons of tho TVaikatb giving promise of good bags. With' game-, both native and imported, so plentiful, many people think-there will bo no necessity for tho-proposed close season woxt year. Under'tha provisions of tho now Aot governing shooting matters of the Dominion, every third, season is declared a close one, both for native and imported gamo, tho first close season- being that oi 1910. Sportsmen consider the seasons' naturally • protect tho game, ducks,'; for instance, being afforded more protection by h wot season than by Acts of Parliament; Tho op<>ra-'. tion of tiho Act may bo removed in districts by application from tho local acclimatisation society, and it is probable that such a wurso will be advocated for Auckland district. The Auckland Acclimatisation Sooioty hasmode good arrangements in-. regard to rangers, a number of. residents'of'various districts having offered their seraoos in -a honorary capacity, while in addition a number of paid rangers have been appointed. It is hoped by these mearis to prevent most of the illicit shooting'so prevalent at this'timo of tho year.'