The sun., 1896-10-11
THE OUTLOOK FOR DUCKS.
,ry7r OF SPORT PROMISED
onUT NET YORK THIS Fam.

nrrn
Ph Ph..,d- Speed OF the Riue-winr Teal
aood Duck shooting In Conneetteut--
T,. Hest Battery for the sport.
rh. season for duck shooting opened In Con-
..,,icut on sept. /, and in Kings county, queens
I.rnty. and Long leland Sound territories on
A., / Tie mon who considered best In
,.,m.d on Wild fowl matters predict n plentiful
.rnply this season, equal IL not superior to the
.ood year OF S94. Sachtsmen running into
,h. sheltercd harbors and bays for the last two
months have sighted innumerablo families
NJ redheads and other varieties which have
hesn reared here and as coon as woodcock
,hooting began many ducks were flushed and
,,chted all along the immediate coast line where
,h.re was any sheltered pool OF fresh water
vuhIn striking distance. Even on tho lower
h,y thcre were at least flve broods successfully
reared near the mouth OF the Great Kills and Mt
HolIyhock pool. amt light-draught boat run
ming close in shore at high water could almost
.ny day in August have got between the babies
and the shore.
Reports from the Essex River. Conn. arc
eood 40 far and the outlook at the mouth of
the Connecticut River is better than In years.
The Great South Bay has many fowls already
thcre. and at the Fireplace. that quecrly
shaped, sheltered bay away down toward Mon
t,uk. to tho seaward OF Sag Harbor. the local
men report an unusual lot OF breeders. Cold
weather is foretold by the weather sharps. and
n their representations prove correct and
there il an early frost two. the birds will come
scurrying in on their way south, and the men
who keep watch for local reports will get good
fun early in the season with moderately light
guns which is really the cream OF the wild
fowling syort. Before their usual time by
at least two weeks blue-wing teal and black
ducks are beginning to arrive in the coves and
tidewater inlets OF the Connecticut River.
these stretching right up to the Ely Meadows, a
good eight miles from the mouth. There is a
scarcity OF mallard reported. but before Oct. /.
II the frost comes these fowls will be also in the
New York waters. The blue-wing is preferred
by the majority OF fowlets because it puts their
craftsmanship to the test moro strongly than
any Of the duck family by rea-on of its great
speed in flying. an authority estimating that, in
full swing. It has reached a speed of 150 miles
m hour. This means that IL it rises at about
nifty yards and flies across the hunter. he has TO
shoot about five feet ahead of II, and that IL 1t
ecuds straight away from him he will have to
shoot nearly six inches above It or see IL disap-
pear with dropped leg sure >gn OF an under
shot. So very nice judgment Is requit ed on the
part OF the gunner TO the distance at which the
duck rises and the speed IL has attained as he
draws the trigger Another thing Is that tho
than most of its family, and when 1t comes to
the water IL settles at once without circling.
II the hunter Is behind a blind he cannot wait
for the ciroling which in other ducks exposes
the side but must snap right the birds to catch
thcm before they strike the water. Once set
tied they present q comparativly small surface
to the gun. and IL they head on to the hunter
and he fires sitting the feathers will shed tho
shot and away the bird will 60. unless hit plumb
on the breast or in the head. When fat tho
bluewing teal weighs about two pounds and is
delicious eating. especially when fed on celery.
varied with wild oats from tho Connecticut
River district.
In the same neiehborhood during the past
week have been found wood ducks: but these
will not be here In numbers until another two
ii tfal I ali along Long Island Sound. viii not Be in
remembered that the wood ducks are very fond
they may be often found in October at a consid-
cradle distance from the water. feeding on these
ducf. S can pe readily Oh, aimed from the %aTkss
men. and u Connecticut Information is desired
locally s For the next week il vii ,pfob.biy
pay best for any hunter with the time
u sal sser ana Long % s Week
shore is the first place the birds strike coming
to the square inch as around Long Island and.
secondly. that after week or so OF good hunt
VIII maxi make fur tartSer sonth The next stoppns1o
place being Long Island. Amy way, the great
6glk Of the DUCKS shot between now and Oct 10
for tho hunter get his hand In for better game.
The best battery is a ten;gauge gun weighing
heavy for the gunner he had better carry q
twslye.EeuEe rather than a liEhter ten bore: It
chosen. 1t should be we'll choked in both barrels.
and. despite the opinion of Capt Bogardus and
other eminent sportsmen, It should be loaded
tlenen take their stand for No. 9 shot and a
twelve bore for ducks and geese. While 1t is an
armed thus, the idea is moreo OF fad than any,
thing else and the average gunner VIII do well
making sure that the gun is we'll bored and has
egood regular pattern In thirty inch circle At
ftty, yards and upward. II the gun 10 to be
Otis onlya question Of dollar or two more than
fora poor gun at a cheap renting Htore any way.
Ss Popsg sS ol Ty the se@e
times 1t will be found that hired gun Is sll
& assa 5s1 ,S. m The a1s @
not crooked enough. While the experienced
shooter can readily accom- ate himself TO this.
excitement the regular hang OF the gun: This
Gs be readily BY the ns ss
I'd edition iH Of piece. Of felt can ee made
sown % throw 70 the crook Of the stock up or
be changed. but stock too short can be length
sned s by the same device. r. possible use 2 rub
Der pad which is faced with leather. for II tho
gunner is not accustomed TO throw HIS gun we'll
Forward IN bringing 1t up to the shoulder, tho
InDner ls liable to catch on the coat and hang
sightly. whereas the leather will slide 1t M. IL
Erlnst the same as putting on an overcoat with
shk-llhed sleeves. An experienced wild-fowl
gunner naturally throws the gun well forward
oy reason OF his being used TO the thick clothes
"hth ne Will have TO don later on. which
e0nslIeraoly increase the chest gi-th.
In all the seQuestered inlets and bays which
sear me Gnsst line in this vicinity. the bulk Of
Iihe early falI duck shooting is done from shall
t,Vw-uraueht boat In which there Is a cockpit for
IIe gunner and his dog. II one Is taken. and a
PiWe l"r the boatmen and caller. unless tho
r nuhttr goes u alone. Tho ground should be
Ieatheu Jual before dawn, and The decoys set out
hva, clump OF rnshes; or. better still. let tho
sahhhter provide himself with a coat of the grass
M Mnure Illustrated In THE SUN last November, put
Sne on hls boatman, and then choose any location
M nc WISHES. he must, however. face the wind,
OF or may blow the grass over his head at erIt-
ea moment and make him say naughty things.
tio 80 'uon @ as the long fingers of the dawn pierce
snJ s'af green SKY the ducks leave the coves
s snn inlets and make their way TO the
Sten water. chatting noisily as they go.
stnne{ pass is the golden time for the hunter.
NJ 10 ~ very well in its way, but II requires
@ ny hanuling OF an artist To Just buy a call
1, 1hmu now blow, blow through f. a. a tyro did
I''' 'hiu iuruay on the Connecticut River renders