The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-16
ALcOHOLlZED GEESE,
A North Dakota Farmers Strategy Brings
Him Abundant Returns.

Him Abundant Returns.
A farmer on the Fort Rice reserva-
ton, about ten miles below Bismarck,
N. d., on the Missouri River, has a
liberal supply of wild geese, both dead
and alive, as O result of an experiment
upon which he has been bordering
for some time, and which worked to
his entire satisfaction and greatly to
the disadvantage of the geese. The
season for the fight Of the great Can
ada geese from the South to their
summer haunts in the North has be-
gun, and thousands of the honkers
stop at different places along the river
en- route. The sand bars in the morn
ing are black with the great focks of
geese, and they make short pilgrim
ages from the bars to the fields of the
farmers adjacent to the river for feed.
They remain several days in the To-
cality and furnish abundant amuse-
ment for sportsmen.
At the farm Of the man in question
there is huge sand bar projecting
into the river, but so far from shore
that no hunter can steal upon the
geese which congregate there near
enough to get shot. Aware Of their
immunity, large focks> of the birds
settle there every morning and sun
themselves for several hours, and then
migrate to the interior for food.
Having observed the movements of
the geese for several days, the farmer
resolved to accomplish by strategy
what he could not accomplish by
stealth, and every morning before the
arrival of the birds he distributed
about peck of corn about the bar.
Upon the return Of the geese this
would be speedily devoured, and the
process was repeated every morning
for several days, greatly to the salts
faction Of the geese.
Finally the farmer secured quart
of the best alcohol, which he said
would be sufficient to saturate peck
of corn quite thoroughly. He placed
the corn in the alcohol over night, so
that it was thoroughly soaked, and in
the morning at the usual time he
spread it over the bar and concealed
himself in the brush along the shore
of the river and awaited the coming
Of the geese.
They came as usual, and also as
usual ate up the corn. Soon after
there was a great disturbance mani
fest among the feathered denizens of
the bar. The alcohol had O swift
effect, and soon the bar was covered
with sprawling, waddling, maudlin
geese in all stages of intoxication.
Those that had eaten most freely of
the doctored corn were speedily affect
ed, and in various ways. Some of
them were Immediately overpowered
and lay helpless in the sand in a sort
Of drunken stupor. Others attempted
to fly and were unable to do so, their
wings refusing to perform the usual
functions, and the only result of their
efforts being an aimless Topping about
the bar. Others staggered off like
tipsy men and finally succumbed to
the influence of the liquor and lay
down in the sun in a drunken sleep.
A few were able to fly and scared off
for few moments, but the alcohol
was too much for them and they were
forced to circle back to the bar and
settle again on the sand.
After waiting for the liquor to have
effect the farmer emerged from his
hiding place and approached the
drunken birds. They seemed to have
lost their usual fear and many of them
were inspired with remarkable pug
nacity, flying at him and endeavoring
to beat him with their wings. It was
a laughable sight and none of the
geese realized their danger, but were
inspired with all the drunken courage
of men in the same situation. The
farmer knocked over a number of them
with club and captured as many as
were totally stupefed with the liquor,
alive. for decOvS