The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06

most any time. Duck hunting is one of
the things not carried on extensively around
indianapolis, except along White river, and
when the ducks begin to fly hunters can be
seen along the banks and out in boats. How
ever, the majority of local hunters go to
Water Valley, which is the Kankakee
river where the sport can be enjoyed in the
right way. This place is in the marsh re-
gion, which extends along the Kankakee
river through Newton, White, Lake, Jas
per- Laporte and number of northwestern
counties 1t is said by those who are in a
position to know that there are many ducks
this year and that the hunters will be
numerous.
In these counties q number of the inhab-
itants are professional hunters who kill
ducks for the purpose of selling them; but
no matter what the purpose of hunting
them. it is exceedingly rugged and
healthy sport and one which requires a
great amount of endurance, because there
is much exposure about it. And one must
be able to stand the sharp winds that blow
at a stiff gale over the marsh lands and
small lakes. 1t is a much colder sport than
any other kind of hunting from the fact
that there is little exercise about it, for
in the morning until he returns in the even
ing. 1t is quite wonderful sometimes how
the old duck hunters up around the marsh
es withstand as much exposure as they do,
but they have become so accustomed to it
that they seem all the better for the rough
usage. When a man goes duck hunting he
must make up his mind to be out early
every morning and often it is long after
-. - . h@tn
Wild duck hunting up at Water Valley,
ii may be incidentally remarked, is not an
expensive sport. as many people imagine.
and those who conduct the boarding houses
in the region do not endeavor TO graft"
as is often the case around such places.
Hunters from indianapolis and Chicago
have found this out and are crowding to the
place whenever the season is on.
Men who go up TO the Kankakee season
after season have made a special study of
the duck and know pretty much every
habit or popularity it has.
THE wild duck is not bird that is pecu-
liar to any locality said one of the local
hunters, but can be found not only in the
marsh lands of Indiana and the adjoining
States, but also in many of the Southern
States. especially those which have large
marsh lands in them. The duck season in
this State commences shortly after the first
of September, or late in November in the
fall. and about March l in the spring. The
flight of ducks depends entirely the
weather, and If very cold weather prevails
in the North. especially if the water is
frozen over, the birds will begin TO go
South in the fall. and as soon as the ice
breaks in the North in the spring they
come back.
The teal duck" said this gentleman sis
the most sensitive to cold. and is the first
to make its appearance. and also the first
TO leave the lake regions. The mallard
which is considered a much better bird
than the teal, because it Is larger and its
meat sweeter, can stand considerable cold
weather. 1t is the last 10 leave the North
ern marshes. remaining in this part of the
country until late in the winter, and in
the spring is the first to arrive. The mall
lard duck is built similar to the pintail
duck. in that both of these birds have long.