The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-03
SHOOTING WILD DUCKS.
Sport as 1t is Enjoyed in Missouri and
 Kansas.

Sport as it is Enjoyed in Missouri and
 Kansas
 Do you recollect the first wild duck you ever shot? Do you remember the first one you ever lost in the reeds? And how you searched for hours in vain for 1t? Do you forget the hours you have lain in the rushes watching your decoys without seeing anything but mud hens or helldivers? Win you ever forget that finest of all fine shots you missed long. long ago. when, fasci- mated by the beautiful flight, you for got to pull the trigger until after the ducks were out of range? All of these earlier experiences may be dormant in your mind. but they usually come to the surface of your memory, at least at about this season of the year, when shorter days, colder nights and frosty < mornings make you realize that the teal and mallads have started south and that almost any day your favorite lake or stream is likely to be covered with them.
 It is not difficult to forget the big bags and the fine shots you have made. But the mistakes you have made and the birds you have lost are none the less unforgotten. They were really the best shots and the largest birds. you think. It is fine to have the game sea- son open, even if 1t only serves to re- call the pleasant days spent in field and wood. And the luck. The very first bunch, five mallards, I believe, that came flying over. Do you remember how the leader took them down the lake, and coming back led them over to the far side and then criss-crosse6 right a! you!
 .'Tll take the first one,' you whis- pered to Bill; you take the second" EThen you only heard one shot, and you knew it was your gun. In amazement lyou saw all five birds drop. You turned to Bill. and Bill said, Well, by thunder, if you didn't clean up the I bunch." Didn't you feel great for yourself and sorry for Bill? Didn't the old armer guy you when you tried to make him believe 1t? Hasn't Bills af- fidavit been most valuable ever since whenever you have told that story. These are the days that recall all such experiences, as you get our your guns and look through your stores of ammu- nition. Duck hunting is one of the best for Kansas City sportsmen, because ducks can usually be found during a season when all other game Is scarce.
 Of the ducks, the pretty blue winged teal are the first to arrive. Like the majority of wild ducks, the blue fo,i IL, T3rsttct fs1I,,s,, bia. Their mating season is shorter than that of any other variety They grow faster, apparently, and mature more quickly than their larger sized cousins, the green winged teal. As the young ducks become able to find feed- ing places for themselves they flock with other broods. When the first signs of approaching winter appear in the far north they commence their long southern flight. The length Of time re- quired to make the passage to the gulf depends almost entirely upon the sea- son. If the cold is general all over the country, which is unusual, little time is wasted in reaching the more tropical , temperature. Whenever the sun comes out bright and warm for several days iil succession the leader of the flock swings back toward the northland. The ducks dilly-daliy among the north ern lakes, seeking sweet morsels and sporting in the water with one another,
 The green wings are usually the first to follow, but with thenfsi or at about the same time, are often found red heads and the different species of wood duck LaterScome the sprig tails, the widgeons, the spoonbills, the black jacks, the bald pates, the blue bills and # the numerous other varieties generally classified by game dealers as mixed ducks. Still colder weather starts the mallards, the last of the redheads, and generally. last of them all the canvas backs. In flight the mallards are easi- ly distinguished by their size. As a rule they fly higher in the air than most of the other smaller ducks. Sometimes an early frost up north is severe enough to start them all flying south at about the same time. This is unusual, however. As will be the case most likely this season, most of the blue winged teal will be far below this latitude before many of the other vari- cities have reached their former feeding grounds.
 The Missouri game law is criticised 5 severely by many duck hunters for this livery reason. At present 1t Is unlawful to kill ducks of any kind in the state before October The hunters say such < a lawfis unjust because 1t deprives them of some of the finest hunting of the season. The blue winged teal are not only matured but the majority ot them have flown over the state and are on their way south before the season, according to law, has opened. Infrac- tions of such a law are frequent and are condoned by many genuine sports men, who believe in the general observ- ance Of game laws, but who fail to see either justice or reason for so senseless a measure.
 In Kansas the open season for ducks is longer and more in accord with the views of duck hunters. The season opens on August 15 and does not close until April 1. Under a federal statute known as the Lacey law, it is unlawful to ship game out of the state. This section is constantly violated, and will be so long as the game wardens con tinue inactive. No definite reports