THE SHOOTING SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1695, 11 March 1913, Page 6

THE SHOOTING SEASON.

PROPOSED MODIFICATION. The , Animals Protection Act makes every third year- from 1910 a close season for imported game (other than deer), and native game, .but there is "a proviso that on the petition of an acclimatisation society'the district under its control may be exempted wholly or in part from tlio operation of the section.■■ Advantage is being taken of this provision by i number, of'acclimatisation societies 'to i-eciiro a modification of the close season which would otherwise obtain this year. Petitions from various parts of the Dominion have been received by the Minister for Internal Affairs, and numerous requests for modification of the close season provisions have been granted.' The classes of game to which the exemption is to apply have not yet in all cases been decittcd. The Wellington Acclimatisation Society petitioned'for an open season for imported game only. This request nas betn gn.'jted, but-no selling licenses are to be issued this season in the local district. This latter condition is in accordance with the wishes of the' Wellington Society. In this district "imported game" covers pheasants, quail, and in some portions of. the district, hares. These' animals are protected in that portion of the district extending southward from Paekakariki, but northward of Paekakariki they are prescribed as vermin. It is'expected that clos^'.Season will bo strictly maintained all over! the country so far as native game is concerned. Probably an open season of a month for ducks will be'granted 'in some-: parts of the Dominion. The for imported game in the Wel•lingtnii' district will extend, it is anticpated, from May 1 to July 31.