The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
SHOOTING SQUEALER DUCK.
SPORT That CALLS FOR RARE
SKILL IN CUNNING.
This Variety OF Duck Found in Great Num-
bers in the Desdcnins" of Arkansas
Files with Marvellous Speed In Woods
--lta Grant DiNea-Ita breeding HnhIta.

Piles with Marvellous Speed In Woods
its Great Dives-Its Breeding Habits.
FRosTvILLE, Ark. Dec. 10. Mast" az the
crop Of acorns is called here has been unusually
heavy this fall and, in consequence the incoming
Of wild fowl has been large All varieties Of Amer
lean ducks are fond Of acorns diving for them
in the shallow ponds Of the woods but they are
especially diet for mallards aud the small swift
flying fowl, known In the South as the "sqncalcr."
The mallards, for the most part, frequent the
larger lakes, such as Bodcau and Bistincau but
the "squeaer" is essentially woods duck aud
prefers the forest to any open body of water or
land. This duck is In reality variety of widgcon.
though in habits II resembles the wood duct II
will even light in trees occasionally, though ii
does not mes, in them. II gets it's name from
the peculiar whs.lnE sound made by its wings
when II Is In rapid flight. This whistle AT times
becomes u positive spuca
The duck is about the size " the teal with n
pronounced tOpknot ~ black feathers. II Is 81
u darker brown with less brilliant ccora,iun II
the wings II s also plunipcr ~ body aud will
weigh more. In flight II is much like the teal.
having the same rapid beat Of the wings and II
gets through the air almost as fast. II is more
difficult shooting because IL is rarely found on
open water Deep buried in the woods. II spends
the winter exploring the pond bottoms II darts
'''NV'n IV'N anu lliI'IgH U'H'il'N NJ Ril'ulHR
speed and no man not high.clnss snapshot
can hope To make respectable bag though the
"squealcts" be- dying past n, the rate Of one every
five minutes in the day. II derives its remark
able steering power from it's tail which is large
and strong and may bc elevated ar depressed
several degrees nj the will Of its owner
\ "squcaler" IN full flight. suddenly pcrCciying
some danger ahead will dart almos, at righ,
angles to its course In turning it does not de
scribe wide curve as de- all other ducks The
depression NJ its tail aud the depression Of one
wing and elevation of the other spin II half round
almost az II it were top In another second
ii is out 81 sight bu11ng amid the great branches
as II II were dragon fly.
Having this remarkable power ut altering
its course almost instantancousy. the "squealer"
gets out Of many tight places that would mean
sure death to one of its cousins. It's agility and
speed make of ii an attractive TARGET for any one
who enjoys sport in proportion to its difficulties
Many man who has made tremendous scores
shooting from blinds" on one Of the big lakes
has had the conccit taken out of him utterly when
given stand near pond in southwestern Ar.
kansas and told Ia exercise his skin on anything
that happened along. The only Corners were
"squcalcrs" and the crack found himself boring
holes in the air oftoner than was comfortable
People hcreAho who kill "squealers" all 81 the
winter 'htouEh nave gun intended especially
loi 'niS FORM "i wing Sho"'ing' IL ~ u gaugrd'
cylinder bored in each barrel and makes pat
tern" that covers the side of barn. Owing 10
the thickness Of the ttc,s which grow down In
49, -, -, - a., ,s, ""' w
'n' Nn''t '"Ee a'onE 'he ohE"uS 'hete Is any
quantity ~ cover and the duck is always within
easy range when shot at. Penetration is not
50 much TO I've desired as n widely distributed
load and Of thee guns will kill with reason.
able certainty IL th. aim Inc nnyvhcrc within 81,
o., -, ,,,. ,'.,,,,
'cet "' 'hc N""m.
THIS gun - known generally as the brush
run" and IFS botiny ia dcsirn,d r,,,,,,,Iy u, as
s,s, ,,o
"'"' ~" "u"P HI'"' w Wv u'S""'u'n "' ""N'''ch
or quail when flushed IN thick"ts " dense gruwihs
Il saplings Northern manufacturers arc com.
-, , =. =,
"S w "'"N' n'''' an" moro "' 'h's' W apohS'
both hcans' there is a growing demand for them
I, - T., ~, ,,,,. s,,o,.i ,,,,,., a., ,., ~. 49,,
~ N y" I" N"' N"oh'", however Wh' any m"N"'
can turn out So good brush gun as many
h, M int. -, - - $50
W ''' SI"Wo pN'SN "l '"''hH from i"ut !" SIX
inches on The barrels OF guns turned out as full
rhokrs Theodore Sandcrsnn Of this place has a
Parker 10. gauge ,bos. b,,,.Is ,,c,, h,,, L.
49, ~, ,,,.aI U'"T WI" NV" ,'S'
II was built for duck sh,u,ug ON upru wnt.t
Eight inches have hccn taken cr ,hcs,. ho-,c,.
=" that they now measure only twenty four inches
This gun makes a pattern to cover one side Of
. church and tho "s,,..io," ,,ht.h a.. -, T.,
=" ~" "'' wv "'"."'' why" ms III IRONY
OF II and Then keeps on lying Is a lucky bird
Eight miles southeast " here IL the decade ming
The "dcadrning" Is u low level stretch of ground
heavily fuTrstcd, upon which water stands Ia n
depth oi from two tn THREE feet all Of the winter
through. THIS submerged territory when tue
rains have ly,Cn heavy il six miles long nv three
wild, MAny of the trees which grow In II
are oaks and they shed many acnrns Con
srqu 'nty the "a, adcnng" IS n fa,urilr feeding
ground Tor "squeal,rs II takes hard work 10
get the BIRDS, but the delights Of the sp-rt com
pcnSatr Tor ITS PENALTIES To begin with th" weather
il nearly always mud and thu shuutrr Is not sub
lcctcd a. the icy cold he must face IN thu North
II the sun b. too hot. AZ often happens here even
IN mid winter ne is shielded from il BY thu inter
lacing branches No cumbersome rubber boots
worn, bccauS'' tn, man who enters the "dcaden
ing" expects L. get wet ana would not feel com.
Portable II he remained dry To h. wet IN a tenn
pcIaiurr oi ~ Ia ~ degrees Is no discomfort
All that the shooter cares about Is tu keep HIS
gun and shells from touching the wntrr lie
does this by holding the gun always higher than
his middle and by hfing the skirts al his shooting
coat in case he should happen 10 strike "A sud
den hollow in the water covered ground which
will let him in up 10 his waist y" boats are
used IN the "dradening bcaus" the und, growth
and trees IN many places are So th,ck that /, is
with difficulty man ON fu"t cau get through
boat, even slender prugur, would become fast