The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-17
JUMPING BLUE WING TEAL.

in proximity to the blue bills there
are places where the mallards can find
feeding place and regale themselves
on seeds and larvae, which may be
skinned from the surface of the water,
or the wild rice, which is as fondly
desired by the mallard as ice cream is
by the budding woman.
As the mallards come within few
hundred yards of the decoys the wild
fowler calls to them, initiating the cry
of mallards when they are in the
marshes enjoying seclusion and con-
tentment. This call is made by using:
a duck call made especially for the,
purpose or by calling with the human
voice. The duck-shooter presses his
lips and teeth together, and when the:
birds are within hailing distance he
calls softly, "Me-amph, " "Me-amph. I"
This cry, if properly given, results in
turning the birds toward the conf
cesled hunter, and they fly toward the
decoys. The mallards frequently an
swer these calls; if they do the hunter
is sure to get good shot if he remains
notionless and concealed, and, as hei
watches the birds come to him With
wings bowed preparatory to alighting,
his heart trobs fast as his eyes rest on;
the russell and mottled female mallard
and then on the splendid drake, whose
deep green head and white band around
his head draw first to him the hunters
aim. Just as the birds are over the
decoys and their red feet are extended
and ready to alight, and they are
chuckling their satisfaction at finding
this place, which they have long sought,
the wild fowler selects his bird, drake
by all means, and, as one report rapidly
follows another, the stricken birds fall
limp and dead, while their mates ut,
ter frightened cries and seek escape in
rapid flight. 1t often happens that
when two hunters are shooting from
the same blind each will make double,
j. e., each kill his pair of birds.
The sine qua non in having good
duck shooting is as the Irishman said:
'Plenty~ of very wet weather" Un-i
less there is plenty of water in the
marshes one cannot feel assured of
getting the best of wild fowl shooting.
If there are occasional ponds to be!
found throughout some extensive
swamp ducks may frequent that
swamp in great numbers, but the
hunter will scarcely find them worth.
the seeking, for the marsh will be one
vast bed of muck and the hunter will
soon become tired and disgusted with,
the situation. The ducks seem to re-!
alize the protection they find amid,
such surroundings, and, instead Of:
flying about, they remain in their.
secluded places and sip and feed and
squawk from morning till night. :
A well trained retriever is one Of
the greatest blessings the duck shooter,
was ever favored with. Such dog is
almost worth his weight in gold to the
wild fowler, for in no other way can;
the hunter get his birds out Of the
thick rushes and wild rice. The dog
must be obedient, have good nose,
be powerful and courageous. He must
be of neutral color. The best breed
of dogs is the Chesapeake. They are
q dead color of faded buffalo robe;
are not afraid Of mud, rushes or ice,
and will dive if necessary to get their
bird. have seen them retrieve in
floating ice in swift current and it
was mere play for them. I have seen
another mark where a goose fell and
retrieve it from distance offully one
half mile, carrying weight Of twelve
pounds in his mouth as if it was a
stick.
The wild fowler of to-day has
changed his ideas about the firearms
he uses. The large bores, such as six
or eight, are but seldom used, and the
one who uses them now is decidedly
behind the times. The favorite duck
gun among expert shots is the twelve
gauge hammerless, bvred full choke,
shooting At ounces of shot and 81
drains Of nitro-powder. Such gun,
with the load mentioned, is far.kill-
ing weapon. Black powder IS used
but very little by the majority OF
sportsmen. The noise, the report
and the smoke incident to black
powder are mostly done away with
when one uses nitro-powder, and ones
pleasures are consequently enhanced.
Nitro or smokeless powder has gun
cotton for its foundation, and its ad-
vantages are slight recoil, very little
noise and On almost total absence Of
smoke, thus enabling the shooter to
use the second barrel quickly without
interference from smoke, which from
powder made of charcoal and saltpeter
oftentimes prevents second shot,
Chicago Herald.