The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-16
DUCK SHOOTING.
Arrival Of Large Flocks on the
Marshes.
Good Bsgs Msde in scnema County and on
Ur-River Marshes Loading Shells
for Ling shcts.

The paraphrase, It's bad wind that
does not bring somebody good" can be fit
tingly applied at present to the cold snap,
which has very materially benefited duck
shooting on the adjacent marshes.
x Within the past week large focks of
birds, but principally widgeon, spoonbill
and teal ducks, lave put in an appearance
on the unreclaimed flats between Ignacio
and McGills, on the line of the San Fran
cisco and North Pacific Railroad, and, as
result, lovers of the sport of duck shooting
were out in strong force on Sunday.
Some very fair bags were filled by those
who had made preparations to give the "web-
footers" warm reception. and the con-
slant reports of the breech-loaders from the
batteries conveyed the Intelligence to sports
men who had poor stands that the shooting
was first-class all along the line of flight.
THINGS THAT MUST BE KNOWN.
To insure good results, it is very neces-
sary that hunter must have a fair knowi-
edge of the marshes-tbat is, he must know
how 10 navigate through the many winding
sloughs and estuaries, which are veritable
Chinese puzzles to the unsophistcated sports
man.
A hunting skiff is part of the parapher-
MALTA of a duck-hunter which cannot be dis
pensed with on these marshes, unless the
son OF NlmfoQ mas no particular desire
as to the size Of his bag, be it small or large.
Game will continue to be plentiful until a
change in the weather will bring a heavy
rain-storm. Then the birds will vacate the
salt marshes to pay their best respects to the
grain-fields far inland. Still, according to
the reports received from various duck
shooting resorts on the Sacramento and San
Joaquin rivers, the sport must be really ex-
cellent now.
GOOD SPORT MAY BE FOUND.
gentleman who returned yesterday
from Suisun states that he has never seen
as many birds as are at present located on
these well-known shooting grounds, and
that the farmers sons and tOwnspeople of
Suisun have been killing more birds than
they really know what to do with.
The good sport of the present is in
large measure, attributed to the feed, which
is this year quite plentiful on the lands that
were flooded last season, and also to the fact
that enough rain has not fallen this year to
I'LL up the ponds and water courses conven-
lent TO the grain-felds inland.
The duck shooting resorts near Byron. on
the Sacramento River, have been well
patronzed by city spOrtSmen, and some very
good bags of fat, Succulent birds were
brought from there since the birds put in
an appearance.
Last Sunday a small party of crack shots,
consisting of Will Patchell William Cline,
William Bernard, Doctor Steel, Fred Muir
dock, A. Brown, I. Cleary, Robert Young,
Captain Cummings and son, returned with
nice bags. which they distributed among
their friends upon arrival.
LOADING SHELLS EFFECTIVELY.
Many warm disputes have arisen time and
again among hunters as regards the better
way OF loading shells to produce good shoot
ing. An excellent article appears in the
American Field on this subject, aud the fol-
lowing extracts will be of interest to duck
hunters who are anxious TO bring down
game at long range:
For long shots Il do not mean very long shots
there is no use giving directions concerning
them as they are but chances) we must be able TO
put several pellets into The game. Accurate
aiming is of no use If tile pattern is so open at
long range that The game can fly through it with
out being struck. For long shots, up 10 fifty
yards for instance, rs ounces Of No. gives a
much too scattered pattern when fired from a
cylinder gun. While the same measure OF No.
gives US pattern from which a bird would be
far less likely 10 escape.
A shooter should bear In mind that to XIII long
shots he need never increase his powder and
shot; he should either increase his powder If
using cylinder or, In the case OF a choke with
out altering his powder, reduce his shot. If his
gun Is prof eIly bored lie do this without Its
pattern suffering much. III both cases. however,
additional penetration at long range, II the
game be stIuch-whicb, through loss OF pattern
TO some extent. Is not SO easy of achievement.
Increasing the powder Is In many guns more
likely TO scatter The pattern thaE reducing the
shot and leaving tho powder alone; and ii the
there Will, Of course, be no advantage TO the
shooter In respect TO long shots.
Loss OF PATTERN.
This loss OF pattern is caused by the Increased
proportion OF powder driving the shot at such
high rate OF speed that a larger percentage OF
The charge than usual whirls of at tangent on
leaving the muZZs, instead OF travelling up TO the
game, as IL should do, in an even cluster Without
fringe OF diyerging pellets-which latter are, of
course, wasted from being wide OF the mark
aimed at.
II the shooter however, by reducing his load
OF shot can do away with these scattering and
useless pellets, and stu send up 10 the 30.inch
circle as many or very nearly as many pellets as
he did before making change, and with cou-
slderabiy higher velocity, lie VIII then Kill his
game well at long distances. But he will have
10 prove this on his target before experimenting
on game. lie may take IL for granted that the
velocity OF his shot is Increased by reducing its
bulk. The only thing for him 10 satisfy himself
on IS Wneihef MS gun still makes useful pat
tern on The target.
aud one ounce OF No. shot In medium
choked IL Dor e-gun will kill game il the aim be
true, at unusual distances, and without undue
Iccol-always provided The gun is able TO retain
regular spread with lbs charge; 314 drains OF
powder and ounce of No. would not answer
IN cylinder, or even In a medium choked gun
on account OF the considerably less number OF
pellets tins size of shot contains than does one
ounce OF No. q; but In The hands OF a first-rate
shof armed with tull-choke some wonderful
ieats oil shooting may be made with this load
very effective charge TO use from medium
shots. and II were worth while to load for them,
IS 314 drains OF powder and l $40 ounces OF
No shot. heavy shot like No. A has great
stllkng force. aud travels very fast to the mark,
and with II The shooter need not therefore aim
forward at long ranges TO the same extent as
when using No. 6. One and three-sixteeuth
ounces OF No. contains but tweDIy-four less
pellets than i ounce of No 8, and gives similar
pattern, but is, OF course. much superior to The
later In kllllng at long ranges. The larger tile
shot the less the recou, aud 3-16 ounces OF No.
Will not be felt By the shooter more than ia
ounces Oh NO. 81 and though the above charge
might De fatber smashing one for game, yet for
occasional shots al hard plumaged birds, such as