The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
HIGH WINDS DRIVE
ALL DUCKS OFF
THE MARSHES
SpOrfsmen and Market Hunters
Lament Fate and Wait for
Weather TO Settle
By Frank O'DOnneH

The worst fears of the members OF
the duck hunting fraternity who shoot
from the blinds on the Suisun marsh or
from the shores Of the upper and lower
bays have been realized. The severe
oumeting that the birds received from
the savy winds that accompanied ths
recenI downpOurs proved more IAesh
they could stand. and. as was expecleG,
an immediate and general night 1ol-
lowed. Even the eanvasbackS and otue-
bills which often remain around deep
water when the smaller birds are drlV-
en- out have left for parts unknown,
and but few bags OF these IoWis nave
been obtained around San Pablo bay re-
Gently.
The scenes OF the early successes OF
local trigger pullers on the shores OF
San Pablo bay and on the Suisun, so
noma and Alvarado marshes were prac-
tfcally deserted by both ducks ana
hunters last week and what rew de-
votees OF the shotgun did journey 20
those sections cut their visits short and
returned to the city as quickly as the
railroad timetables would allow. Last
Sunday Edgar Forster and Clarence
Nauman, both crack shots. hunted near
Bordells on the Sonoma marsh and got
only 23 birds between them. the bag
consisting chiefly of canvasbacks- For
ster stated that there were hardly any
birds flying in that region during the
day, and about one hour before leaV-
ing the blinds he and Nauman had
bagged only five ducks shortly oefol,
dusk small fiockS started In flight. how
ever, and they managed TO increase
their bag to % birds in the last half
hour of shooting.
Ed Bowen. l. Cuneo. Fred Clark. Fl.
klevesahl. z. Klevesahl. w. Schendel,
@. Chrfstman and Fred Herring shot
in the same vicinity with poor results.
getting from s to is ducks each.
Four members OF the Volante club
were at the preserve on Joyce island
on wednesday. George Uhl was the
hlgh gun OF this quartet. getting 10
birds, while the other three averaged
- apiece. Sunday and midweek shoot
ing was very poor on the Jacksnipe.
Ibis and Cloverleaf preserves. the mem
bers OF those clubs who ventured out
efforts.
Ray Mecchi. Harry obetz and William
Suneo or this city had some good
tight shooting Of canvasbacks on the
san Pablo bay shore or Ignacio last
Tuesday. 81 birds falling to their guns.
blowing at the time sent the birds
Tying tnshore. where they fell easy
prey 10 the shooters, who were con-
This was the only real successful
hunt reported from that region last
week Besides being we'll satisfied
with the results Of this hunt. Meccht
expressed great delight over the fact
that the stormy weather put an effect
ual check upon the activities of launch
hunters, whose unspOrtsmanlike con-
duct has brought them into disrepute
around the upper reaches OF the bay.
CONDITIONS In the San Joaquin valley.
and Los Banos. are just the reverse OF
those on the bay marsh areas. Small
birds, such as teal, widgeOn and spoon
D1lls, are as numerous as ever through
out the valley and shooting continues
good In consequence on nearly all OF
the preserves in that region. At the
Field and Tule club near Los Banos all
of the members out secured limits and
many full bags were brought IN from
the West Side club on the same day.
Otto Feudner continues to find sport
R006 around NaVVr0Qn w
several fine bags on the famous NAL
lard lake near that place Pete Mac
Rae and Ed Schultz, who have hunted
around Los Banos so long that they
consider the valley their home took
last Sunday or and 1ourneyed to Julius
Bruins lodge at Sears point IN quest
OF canvasbacks. The sport was very
poor from the shore, 50 these two de-
ctded 70 go out on the bay In quest
Of game After rowing around for
about six hours, in which time they
covered II miles. they returned to the
lodge and their friends with only two
ducks. The other members of their
rooms or enjoying the creature com
forts furnished by their host.
The wall Of the market hunter IS
still heard above the lamentations OF
gun club members who have been
deprived OF their game by the elements
According to men who hunt for rev.
enue. only the ponds formed by the last
rains are scattered over so vast an area
that large docks Of ducks are seldom
found on the land left open TO them,
and they say that hunting for the mar
ket affords but a precariOu5 means OF
livelihood in consequence.
Geese shooting Is also very poor from
the viewpoint Of the market hunter. as
there Is altogether too much water In
the former feeding places OF these
fowls, and they have taken flight to
the large grain fields, where 1t Is Diff
dcult to get crack at them.
Judging from the meager arrivals OF
ducks and geese In the market since
the rain commenced falling heavily. It
is not surprising that the market hunt
ers are complaining, and their dissat-
isfaction IS shared by the commission
merchants, whose profits have also
been pruned by the lack OF choice
fowls.