The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24
STORM BLASTS THE
HOPES OF ALL
HUNTERS
Most of Them Are Ready TO
Hang Up Their TruSfy
Guns
By Frank O'DOnneH

owing to the long drawn out spell Of
severe weather there was practically
nothing doing in duck hunting circles
last week and the comparatively few
devotees Of the shotgun who persisted
in going out and trying their luck de-
spite the unfavorable conditions for
sport were poorly rewarded for their
trouble.
lourneyed 10 the marsh areas around
Tie bay last Sunday and nearly all OF
them returned with very slim bags
and some came back empty handed Re
ports from q i sections tell Of general
scattering of the fiOcks and in some
districts the sport is apparently of for
the rest Of the season, as the BIRDS
have been driven so far away from
their former haunts that IL is imprOb-
able that they viii return, according to
the opinions Of posted sportsmen.
This is particularly true Of the Suisun
and SOnOma marshes. and such hunting
experts as Pete McRae and Edgar Fors-
ter do not hesitate TO say that some OF
the clubhouses on the Suisun marsh
may as well be closed down for the rest
Of the season. McRae. VINO visited a
Joyce island preserve last sunday. said
that what few birds We're in sight were
not working around the ponds, but
were feeding in the fields or had taken
10 the inundated areas, where the grain
offered strong inducement for them
10 remain.
Forster made his usual weekend
trip to Bordells on the Sonoma marsh
and succeeded in bagging only two
ducks. He says that he viii remain in
the city for the rest of the season un-
less there is a decided change for the
better in general conditions With the
close Of the season only three weeks
away IL is doubtful If there Will be
much change in conditions, as there is
altogether too much water in the coun-
try and the new feed that is sure to
iva IN rroNnd the newly formed
ponds viii do much to keep the game
beyond the reach of city sportsmen.
That ducks are hard to get is shown
by the short supply IN the market AND
when a hunter with his thorough
knowledge OF the habits Of the game is
unable 10 get results it is not likely
that the city sportsman viii fare bet
ter
In the event Of the weather clearing
uD for a while. canvaSback shooting
may. again be good around the upper
reaches Of San Pablo bay, but there is
no sport TO be had in that region at
the moment, nor IS there likely to be
any during the rest Of the season.
Thousands OF ducks are seen in the
San Joaquin valley, but they are scat
tered over so vast an area, much OF
which was covered with water by re-
cent rains and foods, that hunters are
unable to get crack at them. A few
good bags are occasionally obtained
around Newman, Cuisine and Los
Banos. but results are poor as a rule
less there is a spell OF dry weather or
a cold snap
7-he members OF the Empire gun club
do not intend 10 allow weather condi-
lions to deter them from visiting their
Dreserve q [ ElkhOrn in Monterey coun-
- as they confidently believe that
shooting viii be good there until the
,vindup Of the season When the
weather showed signs OF clearing W
1asf Friday Floyd 5. judah and several
other members Of the club announced
their intention OF spending the week
end at the preserve. believing that
fhere would be game enough there to
make q days outing productive or good
results.
Quail shooting continues poor. ever
ia the most favored districts, and al
though many sportsmen figure that 2
smell Of dry or cold weather viii bet
tsr conditions they are not In a very
honeful frame OF mind. AS is the case
,rifh duck shooting the open season fol-
,i,fs game expires on February Is. and
,,-er, If there Is a change for the better
an the situation sportsmen viii profit
BAT little thereby.