The San Francisco call., 1908-11-01
Duck Hunters Happy
Over DOwnpOur
Rain Increases Number of Birds
and Good Shooting Is
Found on Preserves

When lowering clouds and intermit-
tent showers heralded the advent OF
the rainy season Thursday duck hunt
ers were as happy as a San Joaquin
valley farmer when a much needed
downpour comes to moisten his parched
fields, for after long. dry season rain
seemed a gift from the gods to de-
votees of the shotgun. With rain fall
ing and the weather prophet intimat-
ing broadly that there was more to
come, hunters were In happy frame
of mind. and their joy was reflected
in the smile wreathed faces of dealers
In shooting equipment. who benefited
In business way from the changed
weather outlook. The number of duck
hunters that left the city and adjacent
bay towns Friday and yesterday was
the largest since the season opened,
the abundance of game at the shoot
ing grounds and the. prospect for ideal
hunting weather proving irresistible
attractions to lovers of this form of
sport.
According to reports from the diff
ferent shooting grounds, ducks are be-
coming more numerous every day, and
while complaints are still heard of the
thinness of the birds, conditions seem
to be improving, and on preserves
shooting properly conducted plump
birds are plentiful. On some of the
marsh areas around the bay both
sportsmen and market hunters are I'M
dulging in the practice of night shoot
ing, and in sections where this ques-
tionable form of sport is tolerated
ducks are thin and bony, as they are
deprived of the chance to rest and
the lack of food.
The rain thus far has not done much
to scatter the f1ocks by forming new
ponds or by replenishing old ones. but
some sections within a short distance
of the city have benefited greatly by
the downpour, according to state
ments of returning hunters. The ins
fiux of wild fowls from the north. con-
tinues unchecked, and the fiocks on
the open stretches of the bay and on
the marsh areas are increasing. but
feed for the birds is still scarce, and
until sufficient rain is had fat fowls
will be scarce, except on the few pre-
serves where inducements in the way
oors.
The most successful shoot of the sea-
son was enjoyed by members and
guests OF the Empire gun club on the
preserve at Elkhorn. in Monterey coun-
ty. last Sunday. Twenty hunters
spent the day on the grounds and
brought down 43S ducks. an average of
about 22 for each shooter. Among the
members present were W. W. Potter.
w. S. Goodfellow, J. b. Hauer and F. s.
Judah. Besides bringing down a limit
got eight English snipe and seven
geese. He had notion to try for a
limit bag of quail. which are plentiful
on the preserve. but he was dissuaded
from doing so by his companions. who
argued that such action would tire him
out. s.sr<
E. W. Adams and c. r. Crawfors
journeyed to the Los Banos region at
the close of last week and secured the
| limit without difficulty their bags
consisting chiefly OF sprig and widgeon.
Achille Roos; with G. III. r. jackson and
w. Murdoch as his guests, spent last
Sunday at Allegro with the good re-
suits that have made that place famous.
and Phil Bekeart enjoyed a profitable
shoot over the grounds of the Family
club on the same day.
On the Alvarado marshes, particu-
lariy around Mount Eden. shooting is
reported much better than it was a
week ago. and the ponds at Collinsville
are said to be covered with canvas
backs. Goose shooting continues ex-
cellent at Colusa. While from Newman
comes the report that ducks are still
very thin and bony. The Suisun and
Alvarado marshes will be noisy places
today, as all of the clubs holding leases
in those regions. have big delegations
out and are prepared to entertain large
numbers of guests.