New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-01
IME TO SHOOT DUCKS.
Open Season on Long Island Waters
Begins To-ddy.

The season for wild duck shooting will open to-
day in Long Island waters, but as 1t Is against
the law TO shoot Sunday 1t Is expected that rev
ducks will fall before tomorrow. Shooting IL not
allowed before sunrise after sunset at any time
This is the second year Of the embargo upon spring
duck shooting. and it lie expected that the cunning
this fall and winter will be even better than IT was
last year when the local sport excellent There
were many more birds last fall than had ever be-
fore been known around Long Island. The guides,
Of course, are against the Spring law" as 1t
takes from them half OF the season during which
they earn from s. TO 80 daily taking parties out
after ducks.
Governing the shooting of ducks in Long Island
waters the laws are varied Different waters have
special provisions. Sailing, for instance, which
means shooting from ssilboats uneGuipped with
any form of motive power Is permitted only on
Long Island Sound, Peconio Bay and GARDENERS
Bay. Sailing is illegal IN my other waters.
Floating devices may be used in Long Island
Sound. Peconic Shnnecock and Gardeners bays
during the entire open season. from October 10
December 81 both inclusive, but they are not per
nissble in Great South Bay until October 20, and
then only from Smiths Point west In East Bay
there is excellent shooting. the birds being driven
there by the almost constant banging Of guns IN
for city gunners than the moro distantly situated
The guides usually get s. a day. 50 to SO being
the price where battery is used good plan IS
20 1ks soas % ohsc 20 sG9p t the menu n VIII
be duck for supper and Chicken nicely 3 Ir ,eo
be made early to have the selection of the best
grounds and to be on hand at sunrise to bag the
first birds that fly
cred boats or in the grass on some point over
which the ducks are known to fly in numbers, and,
with decoys set out, to wait for birds to ny suf-
cfently near to be shot 1t requires a quick eye
and steady hand to shoot ducks, for they fly fast;
Many Of the guides keep several wild DUCKS ralseo
decoys. anchored by the legs. These ''honk and SO
attract the attention OF the flying birds.
favorite method OF shooting in Long Island
waters is to Stirring out" This consists Of placing
as many rowboats possible in long line, just
out OF gunshot of another, from the shore and
across the known line Of fight of the early morn
ing ducks. Many handsome bags are secured In
this way, but. Of course. the strtnging out, has
to be abandoned when the sun gets up, for the
ducks will then sheer off on seeing the boats Many
of those who participate in 'stringing OUT anchor
saiIboats mile away, and when the first shoot
ing is spend the remainder OF the day sailing
for the ducks.
The ducks which are shot in greatest numbers are
redheads, black ducks. widgeons, ruddy ducks,
springtails and broadbills Canvasbacks, whstlers.
sheldrakes. swamp sheldrakes. mallards, wood
ducks and dippers rather scarce, but are great
" coveted Hell divers, looms, cormorants, Coots
and crows. while affordtng considerable sport
to the marksman, are valuelesS as FOOD, and are
rarely taken home by the sportsmen Some geese
are be shot in the less frequented waters at the
eastern end of the island.