The Washington times., 1901-12-01
DUCKS PLENTIFUL
OUT IN ARIZONA.
HUNTERS KILL THEM WITH CLUBS
Sport Detrncted From by the Pres
ence of Great FIocks That
Hover Around the sheets
of Water.

| Wild ducks from the northern lakes are
| swarining southwark, and in such num-
! bers as have never been known in this
| portion Of the Southwest. Hunters of the
duck, who have shot the mallard. the teal,
and the canvasback, in all portions of the
\ South, declare that never have been seen
such large and early focks as are settling
down along the lower Colorado and Gulf
of California, says Phoenix, Ariz., news
paper From few niles below Yuma,
/ far down the river and below it's mouth,
/ lies fine duck country. Below the inter-
national line, where game laws are un-
I known. in such quantities are the birds
that from true sportsman's point of
view shooting loses its enjoyment, and
becomes a mere slaughter. Every fall and
winter millions of ducks are killed there
| by white hunters. MeXicans, and Indians,
but each year there is an apparent in
crease in the incoming focks. Harden
cd by their long fight from the north, the
ducks fatten quickly in the luxury of the
iowlands, and become easily approach
able, by virtue of the comparatively
small number of hunters that go into the
region.
Learning the Hunting Grounds.
! Each year. however. the hunting ground
| is becoming better known, and there are
few Eastern sportsmen who get into
southwestern Arizona during the winter
and late autumn who do not try their
luck at the Colorado River DICKS Last
December a party of New York and Cali
! foTnia hunters made trip from Yuma
4 down the river and gulf in a small steam
er and brought in what is believed to be
the largest bag of ducks ever known. In
two days ride down seYenty-fve miles
/ of the river they killed more birds than
could be packed into the hold and on the
deck OF the steamer. and before they had
reached the mouth of the Colorado eight
of the ten men in the party were nursing
shoulders tilzt were so badly bruised by
hundreds of recoils of the breechloaders
that they were unable to shoot again for
days. When Guaynlas was reached and
the count made it was found that $500
ducks were on the boat For two days
the population of the Mexican port rev.
eled in a great free banquet of ducks
meat.
Down along the Gila River, the Pima
Indians kill the ducks in large numbers,
using only clubs as weapons. Creeping
like snakes through the thick brush which
leads close up to the banks of the stream,
or it's bayous, three or four Pima lads will
emerge suddenly and simultaneously upon
the bank, and within few feet of q flock
of ducks.
Indians Armed with Clubs.
Each Indian is armed with half dozen
short, heavy clubs, and each let's fly
missile as the frightened. squawking
ducks arise. Sometimes a two-foot mes
quite stick brings down two ducks, and
rarely misses one. Then, before the fight
is fairly started another volleyis launched
and two or three more wounded birds
drop to the water. Then three or four
1.-the red bodies churn through the water,
and it is a merry tight for the birds. To
hold two or three wounded, struggling.
diving ducks in deep water is no small
task, and only the longpractice of the Pima
gives the perfection which makes the feast
at the tepee that night.
The Seri and Cocopah Indians, along the
lower Colorado and the gulf. adopt even
a more interesting method of getting
their game. The older bucks, with bows
and arrows, secure the birds in the good,
old-fashioned manner. but the younger
boys use a plan more difficult and less
certain. Early in the morning, before
dawn, they arrange in the water OF the
bayous light horsehair riatas, weighted
and buoyed. until they float about three
inches below water level. Then attaching
TO traps long and strong lines, the boys
lie in wait for the coming OF the ducks
When the birds settle in the water and
finally congregate about a buoy. there is
a long. sharp. and hard pull. and one or
two and sometimes three ducks are
hauIed IN dry land and the stew pot.