The evening times., 1896-10-07

| dusky duck. Very few OF them are found
| except in the remote parts OF the Eastern
| shore, but Et,le further south in South
| Carolina they are reported To be III great
abundance. black duck is regarded by
| every gunner as a special prize They
| bring good price in the market, but aside
| from that the killing of a black or dusky
| is regarded as special favor not granted
| by Providence 10 every sportsman in this
| part OF the country.
They are hunted much the same as the
well known canvasback, for which Mary
land is famous. The gunDers keep live
decoy ducks of the mallard kind which
they take with them in the floats or
boats. on arriving at place which they
know to lie suitable, they push or haul
their boat INTO some small nook aud con-
ceal it among the grass or rushes.
PLACING THE DECoYs.
of their ambush. the rest on either side,
each having lire attached to one OF its
feet. with stone at the other end by which
II is kept as If riding at anchor. One of
the bir'is is retained in the boat, where the
gunner lies concealed and in cold weather
amply covered with thick, heavy cloth
decoy ducks. should some wild birds ap-
pear. sound their call notes, anxious as
they feel TO be delivered from their bond
age.
Should this fail TO produce the desired
effect Of drawing the wild ducks near.
the poor bird in the boat is pinchcd on the
ruinp, when it Immediately calls aloud.
Those at anchor respond aud the Joint
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check their onward speed wheel several
tunes over the spot and at last alight.
The gunner seldom waits long for a shot
and often kills fifteen or twenty black
ducks or canvas backs 1T Il single discharge
of his huge piece. which is not infrequeutly
charged with as much as one-quarter pound
OF powder and three quarters pound OF
shot.
The same system OF shooting is in general
use for water fowl, and besides the species
mentioned there is also bunted the plover
and water hen.
Coming To land birds the woodcock Is
regarded as the king OF his kind. Not SO
much because OF the bird Itself as the
sport in hunting him. The woodcock has
a very long, straight and slender bill,
the head is flattened, and the tail short,
while his legs are all covered with
feathers. They live in the woods, and
differ from the snpe in having the body
fuller. They are shy, tinIid birds, and
conceal themselves all day long in the
depths OF the most retired part of the
woods.
Dogs FOR HUNTING WOODCOCK
Before one commences hunting the Wood
cock he must first see to his dog. that in-
nj, of tb.
sportsman, for without the dog there is no
hunting OF either woodcock or snipe.
Tie gunner considers only five varieties
of dogs, settlers, pointers, spaniels, re-
trievers, and small hounds. OF all these
for good all-round work the setter is re-
carded as the best. In reed bird hunting
the water spaniel il a valuable acquisition,
and in bird hunting pointers render ex-
cellcnt service, but a setter will hunt rab-
bits one hour, and then at the instance OF
the master will fall in line and era wi under
dense tlIckets for the woodcock.
The chief difficulty wiz the woodcock
is TO find them and make them flush.
Hidden, motionless and mute in the thicket
of bushes they emit but little scent to
be caught by the dog, but after long
trial and perseverance, scratched and torn
by thorns and briers the slightest faint on
the air tells the scent and the dog draws
and points at the game.
AS soon as this is seen by tue gunner he
advances and gets in position for firing.
The instant the birds flush bang goes the
gun and down drops the game. Never did
SchIey utter greater truth when he said:
Fast flying shots and running game,
Shoot without closing either eye to aim
Beside woodcock the common game
is quail and partrfdges. The former is
noted for its migrations, travelling in the
evening andnight. They are swift runners
and their flesh is delicate and delicious.
Like the quail, the partridge is a swift
runner and keeps well under cover. They
are to be found in many parts of Maryland
and Virginia and just across the District
line covies of partridges are frequently
seen.
The general laws of Maryland permit
the killing of the partridge from November
l to February l, wocdcock from Sep
tember to February 1. rabbit from October
3 to January Is. while in Prince Georges
and Montgomery counties rabbits are not
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