The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
SHOOTING THE WILD GOOSE.
EXCITING SPORT IMU.,U the PONDS
or E.ISTERN MASSACHUSETTS,.
killing Thirty Forty Geese ut ~ SIneIo
N"tiey, aad Amer Uouis OF Patient Watt
ing-GrnDhte Description Of How u II Done.

Neiiey, aad Aner Uoats Of Patient Wait
inE-Grnphie Description Of How Il IL Done.
Strung out irrcgularly for distance Of
twenty miles or more. like great pools in the
bed of some ancient river, the fresh water
ponds OF Plymouth County lie directly across
the track Of the myrads Of wild geese that Jour
ncy northward with tho approach Of summer.
and southwark when cold weather comes To
bring down the swift moving flock. which looks
high in the air. like a mere thread drawn across
the sky. requires skill and patience to entice
| them within shooting range after they have
struck the water IL yet more dficult
The experienced huntor selects pond where
wild fowl have been known to stop either for
rest. fresh water, or sand. for geese must have
oil these. although they can do without either
Tor a long time. Then he selects cove or
miniature bay. backed by Doggy swamps. and,
II practicable with point Of land jutting out
into the pond. so rs to allow Of u clear range
to the right and left. as we'll rs in front. A
| gravelly or sandy beach is necessary. even
| the hunter has to boat the material TO
! the spot. Six rods back from the end OF the
point should be built tho stand. or blind This
should DO six feet in height. so as to allow tho
hunter room for hiding behind It. The better
way to construct blind Is first to build an
| ontire framework OF boards. These then
should be entirely covered on tho surface to-
ward the water with whatever variety Of ever
| green bouRhs tho woods In tho vicinity may
furnish. The structure resembles natural
growth OF bushes along the margin OF the lake.
| At the bottom Of the stand, in front small
archcd openings are left. through which the
| lines attached to the decoys arc manipu-
lated. and also through which tho grown gos-
lings. raised from wild geese that have boon
captured in previous years. are easily called
s..t.. - h. utv,,.l
shaking Of measure Of corn A rod or more
TO the rear OF the blind is the hut of the hunters.
| about ten feet square. and with battcned roof.
| in which the sportsman may live comfortably
! through tho flying season. which lasts from
| about the beginning oil frost until the lakes are
| frozen over.
The dccoys are wild geese that have been
wounded and captured in previous seasons.
and tho young raised from them. Although
grown TO full siza. tho young nre not clipped In
any length OF time. straps about eighteen
| inches I'm length are plnced upon their legs.
which hang down when they are on the wing,
thus preventing them from being shot. should
| they pass other stands In their Hight, for every
sportsman knows they belong TO some hunter.
We are waiting Tor tho wild geese. FIRST.
wooden decoys. or dummies. forty or more. arc
They look like living fowl ut distance.
NJ can DO testified TO by more than ono metro
| 10 windward has omptied the contents Of his
hreech LOADER into their whitc-pne cqrcasscs.
| Mt the waters edge. A hoop like a eruduet
wicket a few feet behind the fowl. through
| which line passes from the fetter on It's leg 10
the inside Of the blind Keeps the decoy In place.
and should tho bird squat upon the beach
vigorous jerk Of the limo enliyens IT, little dis
lance from the goose duck is anuho bored. who
stands, or swins, hts six hours tour OF duty
with the regularity y ssentinel: aud they are
count Of their peculiarly formed eyes. which
never fail to catch the slightest movement II a
goose has craned is neck at II. To the rear u
the cabin ON the shore. in crate or
on oSN the BEACH Within ths hut T are Ss
sportsmon. busy at thcir chess. whist OF
euchre. with one watcher e the window. Al
are warmly clothed In readiness To creep out
into the sleet storm-the best Of all weather for
this kind Of shooting. The sentinel duck utters
head. the watcher at the window carefully scans
the sky with his glass. and discovers a
clngaS. Guns are seiHed SnrriediS. tRe blind
window is closed. and the hut has the APPEAR;
closly AS they creep TO the stand. and hide
tempt 10 break down the approaching flock
ment has taken the basket in which the
sosilags are Kept anu hnrred oaGK rom t me
emlneuce or whore there Is mono 10 platform
built in tho boughs ~ tree, from which he
with cries Tor the centre Of the lake. and are
answered by the Old goose on the beach. while
the gandcr. separated from hor and shut close
ia tho crate AT the rear arrives al the Conclusion
that something or other Is going wrong, md
unilS MS nOnrse call 10 the concert. II II VIII
music when they all get at H. The cry 81 ne
old decoys arrests their young in their flight.
and they whirl gracefully toward the shore ct
their wings and pitch down among ths wooden
dummies out in the cove.
Meanwhile the thread seen in the distance
has drawn nearer. and a clearly defined
flock OF geese is visible Their attention
has been attracted. and the line begins to
wnvcr. then breaks into knots or groups.
then pitches the wings arr set and down
they come from their dizzy height nj an angie
of about uIirty-seven degrees making tho
nV : they in among the wooden
dccuys. The goslinEs are making Tor Tue shore.
and tlcy arc easily called into the blind Through
| the Hperturcs ut the bottom by the rafting corn
| In the grain dish, Now the flock is in the water,
but II is another matter to bring 1t within gun
unusual 10 work whole day. with fingers
aud ears aching with the cold only 10 have the
flock at three gunshots distance at nightiall.
The Swapping oi twig or the careless poking
OF n hat crown above the blind 10y some nervous
novice has been taken into confederation by the
gaRdSr-the commanding officer Of the bat
talion-and that flock is lost TO the hunter.
have seen two large locks. numbering At least
one hundred aud nlty, and aligned with the
precision Of regiment as they moved up in
patoons to within two hundred yards Of the
stand. startled by something that attracted the
attention OF the commander. An old gander
with hoarse cry started from the rear pla-
toon. and moving TO u central point between
the two seemed 10 manifest anger, as though
there was dissension whether they should
nam or move 9n and n Se Gd snser P"dss
flock halted for a moment, and then left the
pond and proceeded ON thoir journey SOUTH
With the exercise OF caution. the flock can
usually be brought within range in an hour or
two and, " they are particularly stubborn, the
gOslings should be thrown again, These. swim
ming TO the shore, give confidence 10 their
wilder relatives. and sometimes the whole flock
comes in with them. Then IT Is that the skill
and nerve OF the hunters put 70 the test for he
would not kill one OF his goslings for twenty
nocks. After a little chatterinR among them
selves however, and fishing the bottom for
grass and gravel the goslings start for the
deftly-shaken grain within the stand. ! have
seen on several occasions Wild geese follow
the gosllngs TO the very edge Of tho blind and
engage in a bitter wing pounding light thump-
ing against the boards on tho other side OF
which WIS watching. But IL IL the flock and
not the single oncs we want
Fresh caps are carefully put upon the heavy
doubie-bHrreed fowling pieces. and upon tho
. lighter guns which are set near by, ready
cooked. for shooting down the getaways after
the first yolley. There are four Of us in the
stand. The flock. ten. twenty. or maybe four
times that number IL only six rods away, some
pluming their feathers while standing in the
! shoal water. others fishing for the coveted
} gravel. all unmindful Of their danger. Tho
muzgies 81 the guns are placed carefully through
the twigs OF the blind. II anything is 10 ho said
, ii is spoken in IA low tone Of voice. ~ a whs-
per is more likely to attract the attention Of the
fowl.
The inexperienced hunter finds his heart