Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-09-16
HUNTERS PARADISE.
Where the Land 10 Black with Thou.
sands of wild Geese.

A HUNTERS PARADISE.
Where the Land 10 Black with Thou.
sands of wild Geese.
From the st. Louis Globe Democratl
During recent trip to Fisherman's Par
adise at the mouth of the Missouri river
well-known gentleman of this city was
very much surprised to note tbs won
| derful changes that have taken place
there in the past twenty years. He visi-
ted the place quite frequently from 1865
| to 1870 for the purpose of fishing in
summer and in winter to shoot some of
the myriads of geese which make the
point and sand-bsrs their homes for many
weeks every season. The gentleman re-
counted with considerable pleasure many
stories of adventure connected with his
| hunting expeditions, and refuted to a
certain extent several statements con-
cerning the exploits of fishermen and
hunters of that locality, whose wonder
full tales of big catches of fish and birds
have been heralded to all parts of the
sporting world, and which have no doubt
caused hundreds to visit the grounds
from homes thousands of miles away.
That the number of geese and ducks
which roost upon the point is almost ia
Vulnerable there can be no successful
contradiction. The farmers living on the
east side at the mouth of old Wood riv-
er are authority for the statement that q
bar extending down the river four miles,
of an average width of one mile, often
becomes literally covered ia half an hour
by the triangular focks as they return
from the wheat fields back on the bluffs
The birds stand so near each other on the
bar that to an observer on the opposite
side of the river it appears to be a living
mass. Ali of the other bars and points
along the west side of the Mississippi and
on both sides of the Missouri, as far as eye
can see, often present the same appear
auce, and visitors stand for hours gazing
with true hunters delight upon the wild
scene.
The birds have made the place their
home for many years according to the ira
ditions of the place, and surely the Oldest
inhabitsnt has never noticed diminution
in numbers during the season of migra-
ton.
In order to form some idea of the vast
number of geese which hold high carnival
upon the isolated and desolate sand bars,
it might be well to say that the cscklipg,
squsking and fighting of the multitude can
be plainly heard at distance of two miles,
and when such thing rs a general and
simultaneous rise occurs, from fright or
other cause, the Tapping of wings and
whizzing of the birds through the air
sounds like distant storm and often
causes those who have never known of
such an occurrence much alarm. The
birds are killed by the wholesale as they
proceed to the wheat fields in the morn
ing, and also when they return to roost at
night, yet the slaughter makes no appreci
able reduction in their ranks.
The hunters plan is to stand on or near
the east bank of the river about daylight
with double-barrel shotgun, and as the
geese take but three fourths of a mile
flight in which to rise before reaching that
point they are hardly ever out of reach of
the unerring aim of the skilled msrksman
or even the denizen of the locality who
prides himself in some instances on the
possession of an old musket.
In the evening stand is taken further
back, at least half a mile from the river,
SO that, when a bird is shot or crippled, il
will fall before ths stream is reached, SO it
can be secured. The evening shooting is
not SO acceptable as the daylight shoot,
owing to the fact that the birds fly much
higher and with redoubled speed, yet the
hunters knock many from this elevated
they can conveniently carry. Several per-
sons make fair salaries in the chase for the
geese, and ii is well-known fact that
Charlie Huntington aud others living at
Alton Junction have derived great pecuni-
sry profit from this source. Mr.. Hunting
ton, in particular. is known to have killed
as high as eighty geese in a single day, and
he has averaged twenty a day for two
weeks at time. He is not alone in his
kr,, rfz l,,ak- z.Ha a, o,I
are making, the sport their avocation.
Hundreds of little huts line the bank,
and every corn shock is an improvised
houss for the shelter of the goose hunter
who happens to arrive long before day
light. None of the old hunters ever at
tempt to visit the bar and lie in wait for
the birds to go to roost, as they have
learned from experience the utter useless
ness of such proceeding.
Some of the boys from the city, how
ever, who visit the place for the first time
aud learn of the wonderful number that
congregate upon the bar, cross over, make
a shelter of some kind and proceed to lie
in wait until the well.fed birds shall re-
turn and crowd up to the muzzle of their
guns. But this class are always doomed
to disappointment. The geese are not
such fools as he expects. They not only
fail to do as he desires, but in no instance
can he obtain fair shot. Any new OBJ
| ject on the bar is readily noticed by them
and they never venture near enough to
permit the gay chaps to knock a feather.
Other methods are sometimes attempted
to entrap the willy goose, but it is asserted
that all, as rule, fail in their purpose.
Some have placed small -fish-hooks, baited
with corn, near the roost, and then de-
| parted to q safe hiding place to await de-
/ velopments. They naturally expect to
find upon their return that many birds
have taken up the pala'abls but dangerous
morsel. None, however, so far forgot
themselves as to be deluded by the gene
rous gift of corn, and, of course, the pot
hunter goes home minus the game. 9th
ers soak corn in whiskey aud try to make
the poor birds too drunk to fly or even
walk, but the trouble 10 invariably reward
ed with only the greedy csckle of the
geese, and the money paid for the liquor
| might as well have been thrown into the