The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-23
WILpFONL AT CATAHOULA
A Secluded Louisiana Lake Where
One Nay Tire of Shooting.

In central Louisiana east of Rapides
parish lies Catahoula lake It is really
an extension Of Black river into a shall
low, marshy body several miles wide
and long
Save where the river runs through its
center It is not deep and it is grown
up with a vast quantity of weeds, reeds.
uly-Dads and duck grass and II IS the
winter home Of inconceivable numbers
Of wild fowl Suipe are along its Low
banks, woodcock n the woods about It
and on its3 surface is every sort OF duck
which frequents the south Atlantic
countrz.
There are plenty Of wild geese. too.
which feed upon nearby pralrIes in day-
time and rOost on it at night BraEt
are there in thousands. as well as
cranes and herons.
No railway runs near enough to Cata-
houla lake to disturb its inhabitants
and its rich stores OF food viii continue
to make it an abiding place for fowls
for many years to come
1t i hunted only by camping parties
who 60 to II from neighborIng towns
and by professionals who shoot for the
money there is IN it. There are not
enough Of these people TO make any sen
sible impression upon the supply OF
game.
The shooting on Catahoula IS general
~ as Zeod as it vas fifteen years ago.
since it IS far out Of the beaten track Of
spOrtsnen. The men who go there make
enormous bags, and this is true par
ticuiarly Of those who have taken the
precaution to supply themselves with
boats in which they may get out fro
the land.
Even without a boat steady killing IS
possible 1t is a popularity Of Cata-
hOula that a frequent intervals along
its shores long points of land run FAR
out They are not more than ten yards
wide and their outer ends are covered
with reeds which afford excellent cover
Most of the ducks learn to know these
of them refuse to grow wise to make
the shooting admirable SquatJing on
the end Of point a man may mark a
flight Of mallards hurting toward him
from Two miles down the lake and he
Will have ample time in which to cali
eulate their height. the distance at
which they viii cross him and their
sReed.
This IS shooting that has many at
fractions because under the conditions
some remarka bly, long shots are possible
and there is nothing which does a duck
hunters heart more good than to bring
his duck down apparently out of the
sky. It Is nothing out Of the way for
fair shot to make score Of fifty
ducks day in and out for week or
Catahou4a. and there are men who kill
hundred day regularly
The market hunters who live about
there use swivel guns when they think
they VIII not be found out but thew
make no effort to dispose Of the meat
They have no way of getting their game
to New Orleans. the only market worth
considering. so they shoot for the feath-
ers-
The fowl life on Catahoula Is 50 great
that the clamor Is audible some miles
away. Visiting sportsmen always know
when they are approaching it by the
incessant scuawking of the ducks ana
honking of the geese This noise is 50
great that it is a serious inconvenience
Until men get used to it. For three Us
the cries Of the birds sounding in their
ears
Catahoula is a place where q man can
shoot until the barrels burn him
through the glove on his left hand and
then he can shove the muzzle into the
cold water and shoot again 1t is a
place where he can shoot until he be-
comes disguised with shooting. and
many sDortsmen do get Disguised with
it. going home days before their time
New Eork sun.