Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-21
LIVE DUCKS AS DECoYs.
Harnessed and Anchored Near the
Feed TrOughs of the FlOcks.


From the Portland Oregonian.
The carp having in mary places destroy
ed the wapatoes, widgeon weed and other
vegetable growths on which the wild ducks
visiting this region were wont to feed and
fatten, sportsmen are obliged, in order to
secure any duck shooting, to furnish some
thing in the way of food which will induce
the ducks to visit these lakes 1t has been
mentioned several times that parties who
brought home big bags of ducks were feed
irg." that is, were scattering wheat in the
shoaler parts of these lakes for the ducks
to feed on. Few probably have any idea to
what an extent and in what systematic
manner this Is carried out in some places.
1t must be borne in mind that the object Is
to feed the ducks, and not the carp, winch
are also fond Of wheat, and Of which there
are now enough in the ponds, sloughs and
lakes along the Columbia to eat up ship
load Of wheat in short time Some OF
these fish have already attained weight OF
over twenty pounds, and have the appetite
and capacity of a shoat.
In one lake down the river, where there
are arrangements for keeping the water at
a desirable level all the time, wooden troughs
are placed out in favorable positions in the
water the troughs being fastened to stakes
driven in the mud so that they are just
below the surface and keep filled with
water while the carp carnot reach over in
to them, having no necks to speak of. A
number of these troughs are ranged along
each side of the lake, within good shooting
distance of the shores, and are kept sup
piled with wheat. When the owners of the
lake go down to shoot, they find ducks of
all kinds ranged along these troughs feed
ing like fowls in a barnyard. They scare
the ducks out, as usual, in order to shoot
them as they come flying back, two or
three, or half dozen at a time. AS soon
as the ducks are gone, the hunters proceed
to Put out their deccys. These are no
wooden or tin, or inflated decoys, but genu-
me live mallards, and a whole flock of them
at that. The brakes are anchored to stakes,
under water, by sort OF harness, Whlcn
goes over their rumps and under their
wings, and is fastened below their chins'
with button. This enables the brakes to
sail around and about, and to flap their
wings and to squawk all they like. There
are number of ducks which belong to the
brakes, and will not leave, but swim around
them. This fleet of live decoys is placed
midway between rows of troughs where the
wild ducks feed, and wheat is put around
them and they begin feeding. Then the
hunters get into their blinds, among the
tules on each side of the lake, which is not
wide at this point, and the ducks driven out
begin coming back after their breakfasts.
They know the good soaked wheat is there
in the troughs and they see the live decoys
busy feeding and hear them gambling, and
there is one old duck among them which is
a daisy, and sets up a great quacking
whenever duck flying comes in sight. so
even the most cautious duck must be con-
WINGED that everything is lovely, and down
they sail and bang goes gun loaded with
smokeless powder, and the drama of life
is played out for that duck, or for hait a
dozen, If so many come in.
Then the rest of the ducks keep coming
in, and the shooting goes on, and hnally a
big bag is made and the days sport is over.