SHOOTING SEASON

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 517, 28 April 1933, Page 5

SHOOTING SEASON

opening on monday GREY DUCK AND QUAIL REPORTED IN GOOD NUMBERS NO SANCTUARY CHANGES Although the extent of water in the immediate vicinity Of Rotorua as usual will make shooting conditions difiicult, general prospects for the coming season over the whole of the ! Rotorua Acclimatisation district ap- i pear to be good. The season opens >■ on Monday, May 1, and extends until ! June 30, both days inclusive. jj This year, there have been no al- s terations in the sanctuary boundaries ; and the only alteration in the game list is the protection of Virginian quail which previously have been open. The following game, with the limit bag given in parenthesis in each case, ' may be shot over the area: — Coclc . pheasants (six) Californian and Aus- , tralian quail (no limit) , mallard duck, :: grey duck, spoonbill duck and blaek '! swan (20 head in all). This season a limit of 20 has also j been imposed in the case of godwits which previously could be shot without limit. The godwit season will be from February 1, 1934, to March 31, 1934, both dates inclusive. Ducks are reported to be very plentiful in the Taupo area and in the Bay of Plenty. At Wairoa, the large Whakahi lagoon, which was previously a very popular shooting location,- has been largely drained dry as a result of the recent earthquake but the adjoining Korito, Waiau, and Ohouia lagoons have not been noticeably affected and are carrying a large number of birds. One shot of many years' experience in this area, reports that cock pheasants appear to be more numerous than he has ever before seen them. The suitable season has resulted in a noticeable increase. in the number of Californian quail while, although reports are more difiicult to obtain, there appears also to have been an increase in the number of pheasants. Over 450 pheasants have been liberated in the district during the offseason.