Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-17
FEW FACTS ABOUT
SPRING SHOOTING.
An Experienced Duck Hunter
Gives His Idea Of Pot :
Hunters.
SAYS HE SAW THOUSANDS.
And Predicts More will Come When
The Weather Becomes Warmer
Where the Birds Winter.

,,o following was received by the
.norting editor Of the News last even
DO and will be read with interest by
,hoso who are interested In the subjeG
of spring shooung'
considerable has been written and said
lately In regard to spring shooting pot
hunters true sportsmen and sportsmen
who arc not 20 true IL | may be permit
ga nv these so-called sportsmen, | would
ilke TO say few words In a plain, Sim
,in manner, ducks being the chief sub
,ect Of this question. A few of us were
down on the new State Gun club grounds
Yesterday and saw thousands upon thou
sands Of ducks, and ] may, say, millions
r. whole country for miles being alive
Win them. They would raise sometimes
liz clouds and settle down again on the
i"s ami mud. This can be verified by
those who will take the time TO go ana
Gee Mr.. Harmon, who has charge OF the
grounds, will take any one who Wishes
IL see this for themselves. Being one OF
those who went 1 shot 10 ducks. one
canvas back one mallard, one broad Dllli
one spoon bill, one w1dgeon, two teal and
three peaked tails. In a few weeks from
now the redheads, jadwell, blue winged
taai and whstlers and butter balls Will
hp here as they are ducks that Ike
warm weather. These are the names by
which the ducks are known with the
hunters. 1t has been said that some kinds
of ducks that used to frequent these parts
are not seen now which Is not so. speak
nom many years Of experience. II has
ieen said that spring shooting was fay-
ored and egislated upon by members
from Sanpete county There are several
counties In the state whose waters are
very scarce In the fall through irriga-
lion, making no place for feeding grounds
for these birds When the SHOWS of
winter melts and form ponds the ducks
come In, making Il about the only time
these counties can Indulge in the pleasure
Of spring shooting. II has been said that
a senator down east was In favor OF maxi
Ing national law IN regard 10 spring
Shooting What applies TO one part OF tho
country don't TO another II you Will read
Fannie b Wards travels In South Amer
lea she speaks Of the lakes and rivers,
and streams In those countries, teaming
with myrlads Of water fowls, chiefly
ducks and geese-this IN our winter
months. We are In n direct line for these
birds when they migrate to the north as
the weather opens, Ducks don't like TO
cross any great eXpanse OF water like the
Gulf Of Mexico; they follow more by
land The reason why thcy don't frequent
The eastern STATES like they do these
westorn-take California and Utah ana
the states in The line north and south Of
these-haye more ducks, ten To one than
ans other state In the Union. | saw sew
fra anmes attached to one OF these COM
muncaions Spoken Of above) In all my
experience OF duck shooting In these
parts which have extended over great
many years, | never saw one OF these
men in all my rambles, and think they
are not tit judges on these matters. 1t Is
said the Bear River Duck club u closed
on account Of the scarcity OF ducks, and
70 forth | believe II the true reason was
shown, II would be on account OF so
much expense attached TO an outing, I
have heard there Is fine hotel with
bath rooms and other nice things which
true sportsmen don't care about on such
trips Members must pay so much TO go
On the grounds, and hire n man and boat
and railroad fare, making an expense
from $40 10 $40 n trip. The state Gun club
and other clubs adjacent to this city can
90 early IN the morning and have their
days sport and back again at night, with
hut very little expense. We don't want
such men 10 influence legislation for us,
A farmer was heard to say week or
80 ago, when he saw ilock OF ducks
light on his grounds he wished the 18th
Of February was come 80 that he would
get mess Of roast ducks for his family,
a great deal more could be said II time
and space would permit
AN EXPERIENCED DUCK HUNTER. |