The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-10
DUCK SHOOTING HARDER.
Less Cover in the South, Birds Wa
rier, FIocks Breaking Up.

In late January duck shooting down
south has altered materially from the
shooting in early fall. The birds are
apparently as numerous and they're fat
ter but they are much harder to get.
This is due to a variety of causes.
There is much less cover now than
formerly. While frosts are not severe
and in the winter home of the ducks
ice seldom comes, yet winter winds and
rains and natural decay have worn
down the weeds and grasses, thinned
out the brush along the streams and
levelled many good clumps which, near
to feeding water. afforded excellent con-
cealment
The ducks have come to know those
parts of the country in which they were
most shot at and avoid them Then,
the hocks have been learning.
Most of the birds which go south each
fall, of course, are birds OF the previous
spring. They do not know much, and
depend at first for safety on instinct
and the guidance of their elders They
couple of months Of peril they become
more expert in steering clear of DANCE:
as well as more wary.
There is a great difference in them in
this respect. Canvasbacks. sprigs and
teal never learn much. but the mallard,
the redhead and the bluebin have brains
and guide themselves by experience.
On waters where in November all
KINDS OIL DUCKS came IN freely 10 uECOyS
and a man could make a bag OF 100
in a short day, only an expert can now
gather %. and he Will do long, haTd
shooting to get those. He must know
how to set his deeoys, on which side OF
the water to place them. as the wind
may blow. what sort of blind and how
big a blind to use. and lots of other
things to be learned only from steady
practice.
n V7rO174d nadllaTdE and that
was the size of pellets generally en-
pIOyed but they are much too light Tor
January or February shooting. The
birds are not only farther away when
shot at. but their meat and feathers
have toughened.
No will have little effect on a Feb
ruary mallard coming head on and away
up, or crossing at forty yards, unless this
bird is struck in the head or on wing
bone. FOurs are much better, and many
of the older sDortsmen prefer twos.
The f1oczs are much smaller than they
used to be. A man in blind Will see
many more single ducks and ducks COM
ing in pairs. This is due not so much
to thinning out of the hocks though
tens Of thousands of individuals have
been killed, as to a natural separation
due to the approach Of spring.
There are no indications of change
of season in our northern ATTITUDES. bu+
on the gulf coast and thereab bouts the
signs are apparent The air has grown
softer, the limbs OF trees are more
elastic because of an uDcreeping sap.
and in the fields and along the edges of
roads new grass is springing. In many
instances ducks select their mates be-
fore they begin their northward journey
Fewer ducks and separated ducks
mean thinner bags, particularly when
the ducks have grown wise and are
growing wiser every day. Two weeks
hence, along in the middle Of February.
the shooting will be notably difficult
and a dozen birds in a day viii be es-
teemed reward sufficient. Not a great
while after that the hordes viii begin
moving northward by degrees. takins
their time about it, feeding and sleep
ing lust below the ice line.-New York