The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-30

The foreman of the Glenn ranch IN
formed the writer few years ago that the
amount of damage done yearly to the
growing grain by wild geese and ducks
Was. at the lowest calculation, $4,000.
The ducks proved far more destructive
than the geese, because they t1ocked on
the fields at night in thousands, and at
their departure in the morning acres OF
young, budding grain had been plucked
by those nocturnal visitors, much to the
chagrin of the farmer, who has peculiar
ideas regarding the recent introduction OF
wild duck preserves.
The people of Solano County are very
much interested in decision which will
be rendered by Judge Buckles OF the SUI
perior Court OF Fairfield next Wednesday,
in suit that was brought by the presi-
dent of the Cordelia Preserve Club against
certain sportmen, who have been enJolned
from trespassing and shooting wild ducks
on that part of the Suisun marsh leased
by the Cordelia Club, and known as the
Chamberlain tract.
Market hunters are now shipping large
numbers of ducks to commission mer-
chants who deal in game. The greater
part of the birds come from the south. In
the vicinity of Los Banos market hunters
are said to be as thick as mosquitoes. and
how all of them make living by
shooting wild ducks is puzzle to many
w
for the game is taken into consideration.
Some arrests have been made by Deputy
Fish and Game Commissioners of hunters
who were caught near Los BanoS IN the
act OF shooting birds with large boreguns.
According to the present law, ten-bore
gun is the largest that can be lawfully
used.
Local sportsmen who visit the marshes
adjacent to the bay are in hopes Of getting
some good shooting to-day and tomorrow
as it is believed that the birds will remain
in the ponds that have been formed by the
late rains.
While conversing on duck shooting with
local sportsman, who is noted as an eX-
ceedingly clever shot, the question OF hold
ing ahead was introduced and this IS how
he figured out reason why so many birds
are missed:
"Did you ever give a thought to the fact that
in uck-shooting the greater. part of a charge
Of shot goes behind the bird shot at" asked the
expert. 81 cannot give any proof OF this state
ment, but it stands to reason that more birds
missed because OF the lead going Dehlnu
than are killed by coming in contact with the
charge. 1t is astonishing the allowance mat al
must be made frequently at certain birds TO
make sure of them. The canyasback, Tor IN
stance, is most deceptive bird when on the
wing. He appears to be going comparatively
slow but il you will note the difference in
speed when he is joined by widgeon, sprig or
mallard in a race TO some particular LOCALITY
then you will have an idea OF the distance. you
must hold ahead of one of those royal chaps
when quartering shots are presented.
"The teal is another puzzing member OF the
duck family when he is behind time in his
journey TO some favorite feeding ground. Most
teal are missed by understanding them. The
little fellows climb into the air with great
speed when they are alarmed by the presence
OF man, and to stop q blue or green winged
beauty when it lis on q mission of business
snap-shooting will always give the better re.
suit. as they very quickly get out OF range OF
lead. The sprig is easily missed when dropping
into pond. His erratic way of landing on the
water puzzles many hunters, who either shoot
over or under him. Then again as he leaves
the water he presents shot that IS frequently
missed because of over-shooting. The spr1g, IN
stead of going straight up or sidewise like most
ducks, works its passage into the air by a back
ward motion OF the wings, and consequently il
does not ascend as rapidly as other birds. O
course experience in duck-shooting will teach
the hunter how to hold on his bird"
Some very nice bags of game came from
| the Sonoma marshe1 this week. Three
| hunters who shot at the mouth of Mid
ship man Slough last Thursday bagged
nine teen canvasback, eleven widgeon, five
from the south arrive to-day there will be
| first class duck-shooting in the Sonoma
marshes. 1t is a windstorm and not Q
rainstorm that brings about good shooting
! in the marshes.
| Frank Dolliver had some good sport las
sunday near POlnt Reyes. lie SnoC neal
| the lagoon on the ocean side of the Coun
try Clubs preserve and stopped the bird:
as they flew into the lagoon from the
ocean.
al Hall, Ned Bosqui and H. Golchel
were quail-shooting recently on ranch
near Point Reyes when they were &C
costed by one of the employees and in
formed that if they proposed to continue
| the sport they must pay 81 so each for tine
privilege. The keeper stated that he had
orders from Burdell Jr. to keep trespasser:
WHO refused to be taxed off the lands
The money was paid by the sportsmer
and the shoot went on.
The keepers who are looking after Fish
Commissioner Emeric' s duck-shooting pre-
serve near San Pablo caused the arrest
last Sunday of man named Jones, who
was recently acquitted by jury of tres
pass. The Sportsmen's Protective Asso
citation of this City, of which Jones is
member, will defend its representative.
AL Cumming is nursing very bad cole
which he caught on the wing while duck
shooting at Byron. Cumming and Billy
Patchell started from Byron one colo
morning of last week. In what are called