The San Francisco call., 1908-11-29
WEATHER IS IDEAL
FOR DUCK HUNTING
Cold Snap Brings Game Within
Reach of NimrOds' Guns
in Marshes
Birds Are Plentiful and Well
Fed and Limit Bags Are
the Rule
By Frank O,DonneH

For the nrSt time since the duck
shooting season opened nearly two
months ago weather conditions are
ideal for this form of sport and dew
otees Of the shotgun who frequent
the shooting grounds within easy trav-
ehng distance of the city are enthusi-
astie over the prospect Of securing
good bags of the tOothsome wild fowls
with little trouble.
The cold snap, following Immediately
after the recent rains is inst what
nun nt.neeIs nave been wanting since open
Ihg day, and although the weather
was not as severe as they would wish
ene general situation shows decided
Improvement, and to judge from the
reports sent out from different local
iIies, Where shooting had been poor
until recently, the sport is at its hest
ana returning ntmrOds are telling their
friends that now Is the time to go ont
and try ones luck
Until the rain began falling last
week, ducks were seen in countless
atuinoeTs numbers ioa1ng around the bay, par
UcuIarly IN the upper reaches of San
FaDio pay, but they showed little or
no inclination to visit the inland
ponds where the hunters were lying
ABOUT a change in these conditions AZ
the cool weather following the pre-
elp1tation drove the ducks from their
maven or refuge on the Omen Stretches
of the bay back to warm spots on the
marsh areas Their temperance in
large numbers on the inland pOnds WAS
nailed with delight. and to say that
they were given a hot reception would
be putting il mildly. for members of
the shotgun brigade had been haunt
ing the bay shores and the marsh
an event.
WATERFOWL NUMEROUS
Around the bay shores all kinds OF
uucKs are numerous and there are as
many hne large northern fowls to be
ndd as there are local or home bred
birds. but northern birds are not nu-
merous in districts further south as
yet, local fowls predominating in the
oags obtained throughout the San JOa-
quin valley. There are enough Of these
home bred fowls in the valley row
ever, to furnish all of the sport that
nunters could wish for. and the
birds have found good feeding places
plump.
The storm at the close of last week
lnterfered somewhat with shooting on
Sunday, as the buffeting the birds re-
ce1ved from the sOutheaster tired them
out and they stayed out in the open
water TO rest for a day or so. but tney
began to fly inland when the weather
became cool and excellent shooting was
mad at the different preserves early in
the week. On Wednesday George Gould
OF the Morrow gun club got the limit
at Joyce station and Captain Cheese
borough and Phil Bekeart had a splen-
Theodore Kytka and Otto Feudner
with DTS. simon. La COSte and WibOn.
spent sunday on the, grounds of the
Gadwa1 club at COllinSvilIe and re-
turned home heavily laden. most of
them bagging the limit. Recent hunts
on the Empire gun club grounds AT
ElkhOrn We're successful. on Sunday
r. ). judah. with c. b. Prayer as his
guest. got So birds between them six
canvasbacks falling to their guns. the
rest OF the bag being mostly sDrig and
WldSeOn. Nine other members of the
club spent the day on the grounds and
Isaac Q. UDham was present as the
guest of J. W. Dorsey
ALL ARE SUCCESSFUL
According to late reports from shoot
ing grounds around the bay and in
sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
conditions leave little to be desired.
and IN fact the cloud of apathy which
hung over the gun clubs during the
long spell of dry weather has been dis
PEELED by the uniform successor hunt
attendance at the preserves is large to-
day in consequence.
Wild geese are receiving their share
of attention from hunters and this
sport is good in nearly all districts. the
birds being numerous and well fed. ~
the grain fields in the valleys afford
full shoot of these birds was enjoyed
last Sunday BY G.. A. Hawkins. G. A.
Eastman and Ben Allen at Willows in
the Sacramento valley. The trio shot
over flock of live decOyS owned by
Richard Ajax, guide and hunter OF
that locality and secured more than
100 fine. fat birds in a few hours
TRAINED DECOYS
The decOys owned by Ajax have been
in his possession for eight years and
are trained to give the call at a signal
from their owner Some large and
famous parties have shot ever these
trained birds and good results were
always obtained.
Weather conditions are a. s favOrable
for quail shooting as for duck hunting
but this sport has not received much
Of an impetus from the rain and cool
weather as vet The quail are said TO
be coming out from the cover OF the
thick brush and timber in Marin and
Sonoma counties. however and when
this becomes generally known hunters
will be numerous in those districts