New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-02


Los Angeles correspondence Philadelphia Times.
Hunting Wild goesc on the plains ard aiom.;
the Missouri and Mississippi River bottom Lands
Is great sport, but there are scores Of hunters
in southern California. and especially in tho
San joaquin Valley, who say that nowhere else
III the United States arr there better oppJrtUni-
ties TO hunt geese and ducks than in this region.
out here il is a sport rcplete with incident and
a recreation that one must experience to thor
oughly appreciate. In the months Of october
and November there are scores OF armies Of Wild
geese. numbering two thousand and three thou
sand each, that pass over this section in their
migration from British America t. the Mexican
and Central American lagoons. on some days
at this season there to lc seen in The little
coves and narshy bays that indcnt the coast
of Southern California Thousands Of wild geese
squawkinS, diving and "konk- honkinS" on the
surface Of the water. They feed upon the
wheat and barley left on the ground by the care
less thrasherS in the great grain fields Of this
region. Hundreds of men and boys who
shoot turn out annually at this season to have
day or two of sport in shooting wild geese.
There have been days when many a thou
sand wild geese have been "tumbied over" in
single locality. and ii is estimated that there
have been many days when several thousands
OF the birds have been slain by hunters here and
there in Southern California Still there is no
diminution in the number Of geese. And each
year the flOcks are just as frequent and as
large.
AT about the middle or October each year the
professional goose hunter of California fixes 4
station among the rank grasses and tul,s about
the shores Of the marShy bays. and especially
the muddy akal lakes. in preparation for the
coming of The migrating birds from the North.
AS surely November rolls around the birds
begin 10 come and the hunter begins his cam
paign Of shooting. There is no game quite 50
wary as the Pacific Coast geese. and II requires
patience. much exposure ana unusual
knowledge of the habits Of the birds To be- able
to get them in great quantities 20 supply the
markets When the hunter considers that he IS
much bigger than the goose. and that the range
of vision Of this tirclcss navigator of the air Is
greatly enhanced from his exalted position
among the clouds, ard that the game he seeks
is always on the alcr, for danger. he will then
appreciate the necessity Of lying very low when
he seeks - get within gunshot Of wild geese.
They cannot hc footed Ike ducks They are en-
tirely devoid of curiosity. and take many things
for granted without stopping to investigate, cs-
pecially if the thHgs look like men. When mi
grating the goose SCI dom aights in the water
in the daytime. although il keeps close To it.
and generally follows watcrcoursc during
most Of It's flight. WHEN II settles for nights
rest IL generally seeks open water, but IS up at
dawn and away. Thr best locality in southern
California t. bag srventy-ivc to "A hundred wild
geese "A day b5 man who makes business OF
hunting is about the alka'i Lake and the inn
mcnse reservoirs II mud in Kern County. where
over ten thousand acres If wheat fields liz adj
jacent. When the day is misty and the clouds
come low down toward the Garth IS considered
10y experienced hunters t. DE- tn best time u
get shots that tell FOR the gees, VIII not attempt
t. make long flights unless The lookout can see
the surroundings perfectly. ana thus they are
rise ,r rcN by When following the river in
stormy weather they viii often alight upon
gravel and sdndhars. whcrc no willows or VcSe-
tation If any kind row. Sometimes they drop
down in the centre Of Il big grain field and put
in their waiting moments in filling up
Tho hunter for wild goes in Kern County or
anyw here ~ the San joaquin Valley who goes
into :hc sport 10 make a business Of it for day
or two. or Il week two at a time must To-
cate himself on mud bar in the lake an hour
or two before the first streaks of dawn. The
ssi ,a.fc cTHft
away again after he assists in the preparations
for tn mornings shoot; shovel viii be handy
10 make a slight depression in the sand or
gravcl-say eighteen inches deep nrd seven ie"t
long. Throw an old quilt in the bottom 80 mat
when You liz down you viii not he exposed 10
the dampncsG. Then you want a piece 81 canvas
as near the color Of the sand or Eriicl rs POSI-
bic This canvas should be large enough to
covnr a space eight feet square. II possible nave
about half dozen tame geese, as DARK
in color as can be got These should be
tied to stakes at about thirty yards dis
lance from your blind BE- sure To have one ola
garder among thes" decoys. y - -calibre WIN
chester and good shotgun viii both come IN
play The shotgun shells should contain I'VE
drams Of powder and an ounce and n quarter
Of No = shot. With this parapherralia all IN
your blind and your decoys securely fastened
dawn can come AS soon ii likes, ANA II geese
come with il you are ready for them.
Take your seat in the blind 50 you can com
mand a good view of the direction from Wfich
th, geese are migrating. HAY" the canvas
sprcad over your feet and legs. and as soon as
YOU sight a flock Of geese or hear them cav
ing drop down on your back pulling the can
vas over your head. having lookout holes IN II,
then watch and wait. Your guns must be Wherc
Won can get them easily. The geese will never
pass the dccoys without first coming down III I
taking a look at them. unless frightened -
something VIII IN your game comes CLOSE
throw the canvas aside. get up quick ana siys
if To them just they swerve from your dl-
r,ction Sometimes YOU will get i'll two shots
without arising At all. The decoys are not 4
necessity but tney ar" a great hcip' even tire
artificial ones are much better than none al All.
I'm clear weather you may take rest from H.
M until near shutdown, or turn your attention
to Iucls-shootng but IN cloudy. driZZlhE DAYS