The sun., 1903-01-18
MALLARDS IN THE CORNFIELD.
Times When the Wary Birds Are Betrayed
by Their Appetitcs.

As is known to devotees Of the shotgun,
the mallard Is the wariest of all our wild
fowls Still, the mallard, like other ducks.
is sometimes forced to do things by appetite
that in saner moments 1t would not do
This is well known to men who shoot in the
cornfields Of the Dakotas in early fall. and
to men now shooting in the cornhelds Of
the upper South.
The mallard ia very fond Of the loose
grains shaken from the ears, and when IL
finds ground that is plentifully st trewn II will
go TO it. even though it knows that danger
threatens, and will return to it after the
flock has been shot at more than once.
Mallards go to the fields early in the
morning, feeding there until near noon,
when they are apt TO rise and so in search
OF fresh water returning in the afternoon
and gorging themselves until night. II
occurs sometimes that a particularly good
field is known to many hocks. They rush
TO 1t thickly In the morning 40 that later II Ii
practically covered with them.
Approaching incautiously the hunter is
treated to the rare sight Of Thousands Of
big ducks roaring up from dry ground
and circling a mile away, loath to leave IL.
If then he will forbear to shoot and ensconce
himself properly, he will have rare sport.
| for the birds, hearing no gun and seeing no
smoke. will begin to return In little while.
They come back not in masses, but by
tance and the gun may speak and speak
| again without disturbing the other birds.
| 1t il possible 20 to knock down and bag
| two dozen of mallards in an hour, and that
is as much dead weight AZ any man will
care to carry to camp.
Until time has taught them better most
| field shooters build too big blinds. They
| put up structures that cover them COM
pletely. forgetting that though the birds
cannot see them they can ace the blind from
| it has no business there. A mallard will
| shy from a strange-looking blind just as
| quickly az from q man.
The hunter should know what the color
| of the earth is and clothe himself TO match
| it, II II is dark he should wear dark coat
and trousers and clothe himself In dead
| grass canvas If the ground warrants il, IL
| he matches the earth and lies fiat upon II
| he will be invisible at a quarter Of mile
| His hat should he Of the same hue and be
| face is readily distinguished and the ducks
know what 1t is.
| Having ret out his decoys not In bunch
| but widely scattered az mallards feed, he
| will lie down upon his back, with his gun
| along his side, and then he will pull over
| viously gathered. II is not q bad scheme
| to bend down a couple Of upright stalks
| M that they will cross above the shoulders
| He will lie perfectly still and listen for the
| coming Of the ducks.
II he hears them circlinR in the distance
| he will essay a call or two, II he knows how
| In any case he will not move until the sound
| Of the rushing wings, or his eyes staring
| straight upward. assure him that the game
is within shot. Then he will rise quickly
70 sitting posture throw up the gun AND
| shoot.
He will not trouble TO pick up the faller
| ducks. but will instantly sink back. fol
strange to say, dead ducks on the water oil
in a field have no power to frighten living
ones away.
| This is hard shooting and requires pa
tience, but II the ducks are flying thickly
and feeding on corn it will paw. One Of tho
best things for man to take to the fielc
| IL a rubber blanket. brown on one side anC
black on the other. Even OF a mild day
| In the mild s uth the ground Ia cold anc
| makes for rheumatism.