New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-18

sPORTSMEN REPORT THE GAME PLENTl-
FUL IN LONG ISLAND WATERS

Il
The hundreds Of sportsmen in this city and its
vicinity who look forward each year 10 the Wild
duck shooting in the fall will be delighted to hear
II the news has not already reached them that
this game is unusually abundant this season The
Connecticut and Jersey shores daily haunted
10y big and numerous hocks. and on Long Island
tho and visitors are enjoying the best duck
shooting known for many years The shores or
Jamaica Sheepshead and Great South bays are
now the feeding grounds Of black duck. coot.
widgcon, hrant and mallaris. to say nothing of "A
host 81 tardy shore birds that pass unnoticed In
the excitement II baggins the ducks.
Iy only A short trip from the city may find
nt any of the towns near these Long Island waters
good accommodations Of every sort one must go
prepared to rough 1t and must wear strong and
heavy clothes The hunter must take big eight
or ten bore gun along. for the ight tweve-bores
are not adequate 10 carry with advantage the big
charges used for duckng. The accepted load is
one ounce Of 40 shot and from three and
half to four and a half drains Of powder The
ducks are perhaps the hardest to kill OF all wild
fowl. and more than that, the heaviest feathered
and among the fastest flyers.
Several modes Of killing ducks are in vogue One
~ the moss popular ways. particularly on the Long
Island shore. IS "sneakins." This means padding
along under the reed-iringed creek banks in low.
narrow. uckllsh craft known as a "sneak-box' AMI
stcalthily coming upon your game The great beauty
Of this scheme Is that the shooter keeps dry and
warm. anI gets a chance - exercise in movns
from one creek to another. Then. too. he can re
trcvc has game with little or ~ bother. The great
objections the liability OF these craft 70 capsize
II used hy a careless or inexperienced person. and
their unstcddiness. which Is likely 10 discOncert the
aim AZ tirles The best "sneaking" hunters have
their b,it trimmed with reeds and dry boughs, so
that they themselves are entirely hidden from
sight and the entire mass looks 70 be simply drift
ing heap Of brush. one Of the great points in this
work t. to try move with tho tide as much as
possible. There is no winged creature any more
wary than a Wild duck. and they are quick 10 note
80 unusual occurrence an object floating
against the current Any movement which tips
the SNEAK box" and causes strong rlppes the
surface VIII also alarm the birds. OF course this
"sneaking' is only possible along shore much cut
up by creeks AMI coves. ON a broad. straight sand
shore IT woul be worse than idle 10 attempt It,
Another very common fashion down there IS
shooting over decoys from blind" \ blind
consists OF Il thick OF grass and rushes
built near a cove small bay where there is
good feeding. Usually where the situation Is
particularly good the gunners build a boNlkc
place with rough boards TO keep out the dampness
\ few yards from shore and within easy range
OF the 'bind' the decoys are placed These are
wooden ducks. carved and painted, 50 As cosely 70
res, mble the living thing. They are brought in
all kinds of POSITIONS. and Il carefully arranged
group Of them would deceive u sharp-sishted man
as they rise and fan the waves. TIalf dozen
or more of them are anchored together and then
the lunncrs retire behind the BLIND 10 await
DEVELOPMENTS In short time flock Of ducks
wiIl be- seen heading for somewhere near the spot.
II they do not notice the decoys somebody Will
move "A hand or a foot. anl that will attract their
attention. As they draw nearer they will see
the imitation birds. and will settle down near
them feed. Now the gunncrs set In shot
apiece. while the ducks are sitting bobbing up
and down the tide and as the second Hook
gets up. they get in the left barrel all around and
ought To bag apiece out Of the Hook.
Often a flock OF brant will drop in and circlng
over the "blind." Will detect something wrong and
viii fly swiftly away with loud. hoarse cries. II Is
chilly work 10 Sit for them on November day,
doubled up In blind" with IA east wind cut
ting the face and hands Then. too. II Is more diff
unless one has "A retriever. \ Chesapeake Bay dog
makes the best duck fetching animal In the world.
swim In the salt water II you haven't dog. of
course you must keep skin handy. and after each
vocy must push out after the game There Is no
time TO be lost at 1t, either particularly II the
tide sweeps heavily AT THAI point. for many tne
duck Is carried out Of sight and reach ny drifting
far before the gunner gets started on ms search
4 wounded duck will often escape by swimming
and getting a start that neither dog nor boat can
overcorne In this and all ducknr the best sport
Is had from half-nood to half-ebb tide. Al dead low
water the birds are too far away from shore to be
S,i another plan is to "stalk' the ducks. This
Is no fun for a heavy or elderly gunner. II con
feeding flock, which has been located. Every bit
of drift brush, every hassock OF salt grass ana
every uneyenness in The meadow or shore must ~, De
keen an eye the shore well one toward
the sea. As he draws nearer the gunner must iall
fiat and crawl on his hands and knees, Only al
vancing when the flock turn their heads away or
when the watching dive for food Old hands
who are used to this become so sharp snat .ney
heads under water, cover severa. roos by
quick run. dropping behind IA rock or ridge just
as the birds come up Suits made OF salt nay are