The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-02-19
HOW GEESE ARE LURED.
work of Live Decoya In Capturing
the wild Fowls Of Pimlico
sound.

from week among the wild fowl
hannts Of Hyde county, N. G., 70 New
York Sun representative. Live de-
coys are used almost entirely in hunt
ing wild geese ON Pamlico sound or
Metamuskeet lake, wild geese being do
mesticated and trained TO lure, as
captiyes, their free kindred to destruc-
tion.
"The bottom of Pamlico sound, along
the shores, Is of white sand, and in IL
are the nutritive roots and plants on
which the wild geese feed. The shores
themselves are vast tangles OF reedy
marsh.
''The reeds are very tall, and the
hunter does not have TO build q blind
for his shooting. lie simply makes q
space in the reeds, close to the water,
and lies there with the surrounding
natural growth Of reeds as his ambus-
cade. In front Of this the deeoys are
put out, each goose strapped by one
leg TO a stake driven into the bottom
of the sound, through a square Of sod
sunk beneath the water three or four
inches on which the goose rests.
"This gives the decoy the appear
ance OF floating or resting on the sus-
face as II II had alighted there, and the
skillfnl distribution Of number Of
them in a group in this way gives them
a natural appearance and attitudes
l that cannot be obtained from ARTIFICIAL
decoyR
! ut Is a manifestation of the won
derful keenness OF wild goose's hear
ing that long before even the trained
ear Of the professional fowlhunter has
detected the cries Of an approaching
flock Of geese the decoys have heard
them, and becoming suddenly alert, be-
gin TO send back responsive 'honks.
By and by V-shaped line comes into
shape against the sky, the unmistaka-
bic figure Of ilock of geese in fight.
"a flock Of wild geese isalways made
up Of the old gander and goose and the
brood or broods hatched early in the
season, grown to fun size when they
start for southern waters The gan
der Is invariably in the lead, the old
goose behind him When they com
elude 10 drop into the water where the
decoys have attracted them. II Is be-
cause the decoys have given the impress
sion that the feeding must he pariic-
uarly good at that spot. And now -
when the interesting part Of the ma
ueuvering begins.
"rhe old Rander and his mate are
careful TO alight al long distance
from the shore, out Of gunshoi, and, of
course, the young geese fellow them.
But the young geese, apparently think
ing that the decoys must be having a
good time where they are. are losing
no time In joining them and getting
share Of the supposed good things
.sThen Il Is amusing TO watch the old
gander handle that eager and incau-
tious flock Of his. Heheads the Young
sters OF at every turn as they try 10
hurry IN toward the shore. holds
them 10 cheek. and, as natives Of the
Carolina coast say talks TO them.
''lIe cackles high and be cackles low,
and By many modulations II his voice
and earnest gesticulations With his
neck plainly admonishes hia young.
Kters and warns them 20 GO slowly and
cautiously
eAll this time the decoy geese are
gabbling away to the flock apparently
reassuringly. and praising that par
tieular place a. just the place for geese
looking for something good to eat,
"After some time spent in this pre-
eautlonary delay, the old gander
moves gradually toward the deeoys, his
mate following him, and the young.
sters kept back from too rash an ad.
vance.
"And all this time, too, the suspi-
eious and wary head Of the flock keeps
an eye on the line Of tall reeds. and so
keen Is his eye that II the hunter
should happen TO expose himself for
only an instant at an opening no big
ger than a silver dollar that eye would
detect him, and with sharp warning
cry the gnnder would turn and rise
from the water followed by his entire
flock.
Sometimes 4 decoy goose not prop
eriy strapped vii slip from is sod.
This will make It flop in the water, and
that will be too suspicious o eifcum-
stance for an old Rander 10 overlook,
and away he will 60 with his flock, II
Is pretty certain. though, that once q
gander turns to lead his flock toward
The decoys. and nothing In the reeds
alarms him. aud the conduct of the lnr-
ing geese Is above suspicion, his curioe.
ity and bis greed viii IN time outweigh
his wariness and fears, and he viii line
up himself and his followers AZ last
within the range Of the hunters gun,
and how many Of them resume the
treacheronsly Interrupted flight will
depend on the hunters sl.ill and alert
nessr