Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-16
HUNTING WILD DUCKS.
sport which VIII Soon he as It's HeIeh
ON the Potomac.

HUNTING WILD DUCKS.
sport Which WIN Soon he ~ Its Height
ON the Potomac.
THE METHODS EhPLoYED BY TIKI GuNNRRs-BLrSps
AND sNEAk-soxEs-rHB Por-HUNrEKs AND THEM
OBSTRUCTIVE swIvKL-GUSs-N OLD HUNTERS
YARN.
The cool weather Of late has brought many wild
lucas down from the North. The ducxing season
wiz soon De at its height. The Potomac is &C
nno"ieugeo 10 be one OF the best hunting grounds
In the United states 1t is q way station for the
ouck stopping on their journey south In the fall
anu resting In their long flight 70 the north In the
spring. The creeks which abound on both sides Of
tne river are the best feeding grounds, as they
iurnisn an abundant supply OF wild celery, the
DUCKS favorite food. There are many kinds OF
ducks to be found on the Potomac: the canvas
pack, the acknowledged king OF ducks; the several
species OF the malard; the red head, somewhat re-
sembling canvas back: the bull head or Jngler,
taking It's name from the juggling sound It makes
while lying; tbs spoon bull; the shuifier; black
heads wfdgeon; teal; and In fact, nearly all varie
ducks found In the Potomac and It's tribu-
tar1es. In the proper season many hunters go In
search OF wild ducks. Along the river are many
cluo-houses where the s.gentlemen sports md
rest and recreation. There are many ways Of kill
ing ducks, and the number SLAIN every day during
the regular season 10 enormous
TIE POT HUNTERS SWIVEL GUN.
The professional or pot hunter nnds the ordinary
shot gun entirely useless, and he uses what is
termed big gun, which is a diminutive cannon,
carrying upwards OF pound and q half OF shot
s ano tnree9uafters Of pound Of powder The Dig
turns upon pivot The butt OF the gun Is usually
placed In Kind OF slide TO provide for the recoil
the evening. Then using pair of small paddles
called creepers he stealthily moves upon them until
otsn S EASY range and nIeS The water about is
wounded Sometimes the hunter Is not within
good range. and the only eject Of his firing is TO
from starvation. This mode OF shooting Is un,
sportsmanl1ke and prohibited by laws, which are
SELDOM Oa enforced EMO few years ago wsll-known
upon pot hunter and seriously injured him. He
was arrested, but got on without punishment
sISK-Box SHOOTING
Is another way TO kill ducks but 1t is prohibited In
some counties OF Maryland. The sink-box consists
OF large harrow box, having wings made OF can
vas which spread out over the water and buoy the
box wnen occupied. In this the hunter cramps
himself having previously placed his decoys within
while the decoys attract q passing flock. and they
olive" TO them. This Is the hunters opportunity.
gun in quick succession, and before the nocK can
get away discharges two more barrels OF another
gun he has handy. II is only those VINO have the
means OF killing ducks, as 1t Is anything but CON-
Portable. Another mode OF shooting Is to anchor
hosshead In the favorite feeding ground OF the
ducks, and shoot Lherefrom when Opportunity
oilers This somewhat resembles the sink-bOX,
but is more comfortable, as a stool can be placed
In the hogShedd, and the occupant has room 10
SIT or move his limbs.
SHOOTING FROM BLINDS
Is probably the method most generally employed.
-Four young saplings stripped of their limbs
are driven In the bottom In shallow water In the
form OF square. They are joined together by
Dy Railing nled with evergreens. In This bower
the hunter IA ), within easy range OF his decoys.
ashi, While Others prefer TO snoos them as tGey
are coming III" point blind shooting Is
another mode. The blind used differs from the
regular bind In that II Is attached 10 the shore.
GIN A SAILBOAT.r
Shooting from a sailboat Is probably the most
exciting. The gunner taxes his place in the bow
and waits for a good shot The sailboat moves
closer and closer upon the 1ock and before they
are aware they are being pursued several are
shot.
Perhaps the most cruel way OF killing ducks Is
by melting them" A flock OF ducks Is surrounded
oy a hugh fishing net, and the latter drawn close
around them. AS they dive for 1OOd they get caught
IN the neShes OF the net, and soon drown. This
method Is strictly prohibited Dy law In every
county OF Maryland and Virginia, and subjects the
ure OF all bis hunting paraphernAla.
There are two well-known old hunters who
keep bachelors ranch, just the other side OF
Marchall Hall, who IT is said have never been
known to miss bird, and the stories they tell Of
ducking would nil good size book.
81 remember" said one OF them to Q STAB re-
porter, when ducks were so thick on this yer
river that three and four hundred in days shoot
gun is runnin. them away, and in three or four
years wild duck on the Potomac will be a cuIi-
oslty."
AN OLD HUNTERS YARN.
I've used TO have q coon living with us,n con-
tinued the hunter, ''who swore he'd never shot q
duck, Yet he would go out In the morning and
come back in the evening with az big bag as both
OF US. IL WAS mystery 70 us how ne got them.
my experience had taught me that there amt
nothin Can charm q duck cept a good load OF No.
shot. That thing bothered US good bit, and we
determined one day, toward the close OF the sea-
son. to track the man and see how he done IT. He
started about O'Clock In the morning, and before
be was out OF sight we were following. There's a
little creek makes up in the shore, bout nile and
a-half from here, and II was toward this
be led US Fearing he would see US we
clump Of trees bOrderin' on the creek The coon
wasn't In sight, and we were about TO move on,
when my partner touched me OH the shoulder and
whispered 'lo9k thar Not more than 7o yards
from the shore there was as fine bunch Of gray
mlllard as you every Sot your eyes upon. There
was q rustic In the bushes across the creek, to our
right, and looking over saw the funniest sight In
all my lie. There was our man stark naked with
big pumpkin followed out over his head. We
stepped into the water and waded out 1t looked
Ike u pumpkin adrift. II approached nearer and
nearer tue ducks. One Old seltinel on the edge
snled when ne saw IL and Qlacked little, but II
looked 50 harmless ne soon got over mis- fright and
swan close up TO It, he didn't go no Turtner,
Cause he WAS snatched by the legs and hauled
under. The rest Oh The flock thought he had dived,
and upward OF a dozen were sndIched, when We
burst into d roar and the flock took wing. That's
the greatest duck story ever heard OF, and II
hadn't seen IL l wouldn't have beiieved IT."
When the hunter finished his yarn, his partner,
who sat by puffing an Old pipe smiled grimly as
he described the disguised look the colored man
wore when he remover mis- pumpkin head
Driven OFF by . Mob.
An ARKANSAS HAMLET.
A Memphis, Tenn, special says: Sheriff Werner
OF Crttenden County, Ark, relates thrilling story
Of the experience OF two OF his deputies at Jones'
Landing few days ago. Two negroes living at
Jones' Landing were wanted at Marion for some
onense, ana two deputy sherins were Instructed |
10 arrest them. The officers arrived at Homes,
Landing after nghtfall They proceeded to the |
house Of one OF the negroes and stated their
business The negro insisted on their read
ing the warrant before he would open the
door Of his house. The warrant was read
but the negro still refused TO open the door |
Mr. stuart, one of the deputies, became Impatient
and, sc ling axe, told the negro to open the door
or he would break n down. The negro replied maj
he would kill any one who ATTEMPTED TO enter the
house. stuart and his companion were undaupted
and broke the door down. They started into the
house, but beard the onninous "click" OF a unn
lock. They retreated, and the gun as DISCHARGED
The load passed between Stuarts arm and body hnI
did not wound him. The officers left the nrer,isas