GAME SHOOTING.

Shannon News, 7 September 1928, Page 2

GAME SHOOTING.

DUCKS NOT SO PLENTIFUL THIS YEAR. / SOME GOOD BAGS ON THIS COAST, HOWEVER. “The 1927 season, after a solid opening, ended tamely, says the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. Birds were scarce after the first half of the season closed, and the total of licenses issued dropped from 1430 to 1290. The 1928 season opened with rain and wind in several districts, but or. the main lakes the sport was more than fair. There are three classes cf gunmen always to be met with on opening days—the men who shoot and kill; the men who shoot and sometimes kill, but have a lot of fun; and the men who shoot, and merely make a noise. - The general analysis tends to show that the-flights, of .duck are not as plentiful as in past seasons, and that swan are becoming scarce. This is the natural result of loss of secule breeding places and an ever increasing number of guns. It is a striking tribute to the sagacity of wild game that after the first hours the lake sanctu--1 arics were reported to have been literally covered with duck. However, a large percentage of sportsmen had an enjoyable outing.” Amongst the “bags” mentioned in the report, for the 1928 season, are the following, the figures in parentheses denoting the number of guns in each party: —Linton (8), 120 duck; Tokomaru (2), 35 duck; Himitangi (8), 153 duck, (14) 122 duck, (2) 21 duck, (2) 34 duck; Kairanga (4), 70 (2 days); Horowhenua (2), for 3 days got 85 duck, (4) for 1 day 45 duck, (4) 1 day 40 duck, (2) 22 duck; Buller Lake (3), 60 duck (limit), (2) 2 days 42 duck; Te Horo —Bulliman’s Lake (3), 2 days, 120 duck (limit). in the vicinity of Palmerston North and r okomaru quite a number of pheasants, were shot, several sportsmen getting a brace. i Quail were to be flushed in secluded valleys. One party (4) got 24, and missed twice as many. No reports came to hand from the far-out districts. Six hundred lists of protected birds, and an equal “number of Regulations, were issued with licenses, with the result that of some hundreds halted, each man had a license, with one exception. Up to May 9th nearly 1300 licenses had been issued. BED AND SAMBUR DEER SHOOTING SEASON. The following . notes with reference to deer-stalking are included in the Society’s report: — i “The deer-stalking season for 1928 opened on 24th March, closing on 31st May. For the first time in the lifetime of the Society, the Red and Sambur deer were gazetted undez-- one warrant, and under one license (£2). ing possibly to the long, dry season, stags began roaring late, and ceased early, and stalkers who went out fejr the first ten days of the season had a thin time; later on matters improved and good sport |wa;s obtained. The most striking feature of the season so far is the all-round improvement in the quality of the heads brought in, arid extracts from a letter written by ;Mr P. McDonald, the';, veteran stalker, guide* ana taxidermist, of Featherston, set out his views of the present day heads: ‘Re stags’ heads for 1928, by far the most noticeable feature is the distinct- improvement in quality they show. This seems to apply generally to all the stalking areas, but perhaps more so to the Wellington district, with Taihape and the country beyond easily first. This latter district has to date produced nearly twenty heads, ranging from 10 to 15-pointers. Two of the 15-pointers are good examples of what heads ought to be, of splendid shape, size, and quality. One other outstanding feature is the absence of weedy heads. Taking all the above into consideration, I can only conclude that the Wellington heads have vastly iir.provin both quality and quantity. Incidentally the Hawkes Bay heads also show a distinct improvement. I can only suggest that the heavy culling has had a most beneficial effect on all the herds concerned, and is probably the key-note to success. All my observations of former years go to show that seasons, good or bad, do not affect the issues very much.’ ” Some notable Sambur heads hvere taken, the finest being one taken by Mr J. E. Warrington, of Tokomaru, a photograph of which is published with the report. . During the year ended March 31st, 1928, the Society culled 4051 head of deer ijz the Wellington district, and ammunition to the value of £IOO was granted to the Wairarapa stations.