The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-03-20
MYRlADS OF WILD GEESE,
GREAT SHOOTING ALONG THE
ROANOKE RIVER.
Steering the FIocks Toward the
Guns of the Ambushed Hunters
The Floating Island Method.

Steering the FIocks Toward the
Guns of the Ambushed Hunters
The Floating Island Method.
Wild geese congregate on the Roanoke
River in North Carolina in vast numbers
to feed on the berries, nuts and wild
weeds, which grow in great abundance
along either bank. In the early morn
ing, which is regarded as the best time
to shoot them, they swarm into the Ia
goons and shadows that indent the
shore, and the noise they make can be
heard at a considerable distance. The
wild goose of this country, says
Roanoke letter in the New York World,
is a magnificent bird, with a plumage
of mixed black and gray, and is exceed
ingly fat and plump. There are few
natives who do not rest upon the downiest
Of beds made from his feathers.
There is very little pot hunting carried
on, except in few isolated cases where
it occurs in the unfrequented sections Of
the stream, and even then the offender,
if caught, is severely punished by the
natives. They prize the feathers of the
birds too highly to permit the great flock
to become demorah ed by any illegt-
innate means, and woe be to the nettor,
or the 'demon of the pine knot" as the
pot hunter is known in native parlance,
if he is caught at an unreasonable hour
along shore with suspicious-looklng
bundle of pine splinters and box of
matches about his person.
There are two methods employed in
shooting the wild goose which are
recognized as legitimate, and which, in
deed afford rare sport to him who is an
expert with the gun. One is the "steer-
ing" and the other the "hoating island" "
In the former the hunter, with his guns
Cand he usually has two double-barreled
ones, takes up a position in ambush
among the thick bushes close to the
shore. The 'steerer," who knows the
habits of the bird, and is acquainted
with every inch of the river, with his
light canoe goes about quarter of q
mile up stream. Taking his seat in one
end, he sits like a statue, guiding the
cauoe by long, thin bladed paddle,
which he dexterously twists with hi'
hand, and so quickly and easily is the
movement made that not even u ripple
is created upon the surface of the water.
Down the stream the canoe floats witt
the current, its occupant as rigid anc
silent rs death itself. Coming near {
flock, the loud tapping of wings sounds
like the rushing wind, and the familia
honk, honk, indicates that they are pre-
pairing to move before the approachin!
object. The ''steerer" does not at
tempt 10 pierce the centre of the flock
but directs them by flank movements
The whole flock slowly moves off, tn
"steerer" regulating the speed of hi
NV ci, mia pf hic wrist
Having previously stationed his "sen
tinel" as he calls the ambushed sports
man, he brings the whole flock t
within about thirty or forty yards of tn
shore, when suddenly he snatches hi
gun from the bottom of his canoe an
discharges it into the water.
This Is the signal for operations to bC
gin from on land, and the bang, bang
has for en- instant thrown the flock int
confusion, but quickly recovering,
| rises V shape, and sails gracefully away
| not, however, before the bang, bang {
the second gun has carried death t
: some of them, who rapidly descend wit
l a whirl and a tlutter into the water n
, decoys are required. The whole tloc
l will move off at the approach of an
5 quiet OBJ ,ect on the water, and singult
J to relate, can be "steered" in almost an
7 direction. The FLOATING island" metho
) is simplya counterfeit of the well-know
) Susquehanna sink box, although the nj
, tive makes his contrivance out of ra
of light lumber, and having numerou
= holes in the boards constructs dens
ambush of bushes and twigs, and tloa
: at will right into the midst of the ur
g suspecting flock. "String shooting,
that is shooting at long range when II
a birds are in a single column, and movin
9 swiftly away after they have been fugh
l ened, finds favor with some, although
: requires skilled marksman to mai
a even fair exhibit of his spoils.
8 There are quaint looking log cabin
/ with the inevitable mud chimney at sho
t intervals along the river, where Il
D hunter can pass the night if desired,
e as to be prepared for an early mornir
a hunt. Here he can enjoy the geni
= warmth of an oakwood fire that sparkl
t and sputters in the open fireplace,
o can slumber calmly and peacefully in Il
o most luxurious bed of goose dow
90 while the watcher smokes his veterl
y pipe of clay or dozes in the chimn,
, corner, and rise refreshed and inyigo
J ated in the morning to partake of {
= appetizing breakfast of excellent colTe
hot none bread and baked goose.