The morning call., 1894-09-23
THE GUN.
How Experienced Hunters Shoot
Wild DuckS-A Pointer on Rail.

WIN DuChS-A fOINtCT Ou f<dfls
Tie present spell of warm weather has de-
TERED many enthusiastic sportsmen from taking
a trip into the country.
Although the season for shooting quail has
has opened in many counties, there has been
very little shooting done by local sportsmen,
who prefer to wait until after October l,
when the young birds will be strong of wing
and the weather much more propltious Tor the
sport. In Alameda County The quail shooting
season Will not be open until October 1, con-
quently hunters who have. in past years, been
accustomed TO shoot in that county after Sep
TENDER 10, will save themselves much an
noyance aud trouble by observing the county
ordinance recently enacted.
Latest reports from Suisun and other towns
near the Sacramento River state that ducks
from the north are arriving in good numbers
and that as soon as the mosquitoes vacate the
marshes, pleasant shooting Will be enjoyed.
The teal are among the first waterfowl to
afford sport TO the handler of the shotgun.
They are distinguished as the blue and green
wing, aud the former are the larger and
usually the more scarce. The little "quackers''
love TO bask in the sunshine OF the marshes or
sit some rounded bar which a sportsman
frequently sees in The winding creeks and
SloughS.
Teal shooting can be enjoyed thoroughly
when q good retriever accompanies the sports
man, but /! thu flight is such that The birds fly
over the open water, then boat answers as
well or better than dog.
There is another duck somewhat similar TO
the female mallaTd which frequents the
marshes about the latter part of October and
pays tribute TO the hunters skill. TEis is The
gray duck, aud known locally throughout the
United STATES as gadwall, specklebelly and
gray widgeOD. In its flight 1t resembles the
mallard, and is frequently mis- AIKEN for that
grand memb r OF the duck family.
The gray ducks drcOy splendidly, and the
sportsman who Is shooting mallardS over de-
coys is generally sure 10 have a fair number OF
them. Their call is quite similar TO the NAL
lard but 10 is snTiIler and OF a tenor tone.
The malard, although closely pressed by the
royal canvasback. is fairly entitled TO the title
of king of the duck family. b sides he is a
"home-mads" bird, and hunters should make
some allowance for the green heads and not
shoot them down until they are able TO seek
safety In flight, which frequently means death
however. There are many ways of hunting
mallards. aud at this time OF the year the Inc IL
DDS employed are: First, by Jumping" them.
This IS done by sculling The slOGghs. The
sportsman sits in the bow of a double lender.
and as the pusher propels the craft around the
narrow wiudings the birds rise in the air, pre-
scning the easiest kind of shots.
1t Is very easy 10 hit mallards as they fly out
of a slough, for they invariably "climb"-that
Is, they keep rising until they reach a height OF
from fifteen TO thirty feet. when they start of
In a direct line. When shooting al a mallard
rising from slough the gun should be held al
least few inches over the object to guarantee
a dead bird.
The second STYLE, which may be employed in
smaller shooting early In the season, is in flight
shooting. This is done by the hunter secreting
himself at some point or under The line of flight
when he has noticed the birds flying back and