PROTECTION OF GAME

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 524, 20 April 1920, Page 2

PROTECTION OF GAME

While being in hearty accord with the Auckland Acclimatisation bociety's efforts to preserve the game in Its district, we feel constrained to submit that the society has made a false move by declaring a close season for ducks but leaving the pheasant season open. The natural consequence of this action will be. that, robbed of the opportunity of duck shooting, spoitsmen will colMj tentrate their attentions on pheasants and it is therefore safe to predict that by the end of July the ranks o£ the cock pheasants will be depleted to a much greater extent than would have been the case otherwise. We are strongly of the opinion that the season should either have been proclaimed a close one for both ducks and pheasants, or an entirely open one in respect to both classes of game. It would seem as though the bait of license fees had drawn the society into a dangerous position, to recover from the effects of which it will need some years of careful protective measures in operation. Jn view of the almost prohibitive prices of ammunition people would not greatly have minded lefraining from shooting for a season, provided that the wealthy few were not allowed to indulge. But as matters now stand, every shootist will be having sport occasionally throughout the season, and pheasants will be conspicuous bv their absence in 1921.