Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-11-08
muck HUNTING SEASON.
Several Parties Of Sportsmen
Invade Minnesota.
SOME REMARKABLE KILLS MADE.

Extraordinary Swarms of Wild
Ducks Reported at Swan Lakes.
Jacksnipe snid to he Unusually
Plentiful In the Northumberland
of an Old Theory.
Several parties Of sportsmen have
arrived recently in Minnesota for the
duck and geese hunting.
Local sportsmen are all talking Of
the wonderful hunting to be found at
Swan lakes, in the southern part Of
Minnesota, couple of hours ride from
st. Paul on the Northwestern, writes
L. q. Cavalier. the Chicago Times Her
aid correspondent, from st. Paul. Such
swarms Of ducks have never been seen
there before or in any other locality in
this vicinity. They fairly cover the
water they are so numerous The
birds appear to have been on their way
down from the north in vast focks
when they encountered a warm cur
rent which brought them to stop.
These lakes are about four miles
from the station called Nicollet and
were brought to public notice recently
by the days work Of two of st. Pauls
professional men who are not even re-
garded as fair shots. Two hundred
and ten and 235 ducks respectively
were brought home by these Nimrods.
1t was record that staggered the old
est sportsmen. and straightway trip
was made to Swan lakes, where it was
found that the picture had not been
overdrawn.
A question that has always puzzled
sportsmen was apparently well dis
posed Of the other day. Hunters have
held that ducks when wounded so they
cannot fly will dive into the water and
not return to the surface. A recent
experience indicates that wounded
ducks probably die from paralysis
rather than by drowning, as is ordi-'
narily supposed. In scientific works it
is said that when the bird dives 1t
grasps hold of grass roots under the
water and either browns or dies from
its wounds in few minutes, the death
rigor of the jaws preventing the body
from coming to the surface. This the
DRY Is probably correct as regards
ducks dying from wounds. but that
they must otherwise drown has been
proved incorrect in this vicinity within
a few weeks.
A sawbill was wounded and dived on
being pressed by the dog. After swim
ming around for some time the dog
took refuge on some PUSHES near by
and refused to come when called. The
hunter went to dinner and remained
away at least an hour and q half and
on his return found the dog still on the
watch. AS the dog insisted that the
duck was there the hunter made a
search for it, which occupied consider
able time, as the moss was thick, with
nearly a foot Of water over it. When
taken from the water, the duck was
found to have broken wing. but 9TH
erwise was not hurt, and it did not APP
pear to be in the least exhausted from
its long immersion. 1t appeared to
have been in a trance.
The second case was on Sept. % last
and was a spooHbill This duck dived
on being shot. the hunter waiting half
an hour for it to come to the surface.
He then went out and found it hanging
to some moss just where it had gone
down. Reaching after it and bringing
it to the surface restored animation,
and it was found that the bird was
only slightly wounded.
In each instance the duck was under
water longer than it could hold its
breath. which Is the ordinary method
of water fowl when diving, and it
would seem that nature has provided
some means whereby they may live be-
meath the water for considerable
time if they remain perfectly quiet 1t
is possible the position they assume.
the body being directly over the head.
has something to do with their exemp
ton from drowning. and it may be that
their condition at such times may be
suspended animation or what in q hu
man being would be termed trance
state.
.jacksnipe hunters have found game
unusually plentiful. Indeed so numer-
Gus are these birds that the market has
become overstodked. and hundreds Of
dozens are going into cold storage
They are more easily shot than most
other prairie fowl for they are found
in the main travelled country road in
the neighborhood of pastures and
swamps. Often they are found In
aocks. but are difficult to get, except
they be taken singly, and this makes
the jacksnipe an expensive bird and
for that reason much more Of deli
cacy.
In recounting his experience with
jacksnipe a well known st. Paul MIN
rod says that he found himself in the
center Of marsh covering four or five
acres. over which there was from six
inches to two feet of water. He had
gone into the marsh to scare up som
mallards that had dropped in there.
Jacksnipe became so numerous that
he abandoned all thought of the ducks
and though he was obliged to,us shot
three or four times too large he remain
ed there and kept up continuous BON
bardment, while his dog was busy
bringing in the birds that had fallen.
He gives it as an actual fact that he
,l,N >efS !,