Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
IDEAL DAY WITH WILD DUCKS
Shooting at the wapanOca Preserve
in Arkansas.
HOSPITALITY OF TENNESSEE
Splendid sport Fifty-six Hours from
New York and Limit OF Fifty
Birds Can he Quickly
Reached.

the recesses OF his comfortable chair IN
the library OF one OF New York's most
prominent clubs and removing the cigar
from his lips remarked to his companion
: that these we're the days when his sport
ing blood was stirred by the recollections
OF the fun he had enjoyed as a lad during
the ducking season In northern New York
when the inland lakes sof that region
swarmed with flight birds on their way to
the warm waters OF the southland.
Those good old times are a golden MEM
Dry and now II a couple Of days in a bat
terry on Great South Bay or at Havre De
Grace yield a score Of birds 1 think I'm
having lots Of fun" he went one. MY.
but I would like to have one more good
duck hunt! / think 1 would go some dis
lance TO get It, too
Gould you spare a week and go with
me to Arkansas? Because IL you really
yearn to kill ducks 1 can crafty the long
Ing in fifty-six hours from now"
The first speaker, after consulting his
engagement book, announced that less than
twenty-four hours would find him ready
for the road, ana a telegram was dis
patched to a friend in Memphis that an
open Invitation extended the year before to
shoot at the famous Wapanoca preserve
would be gratefully accepted and asked
permission to bring a friend who would be
congenial In every respect A quick reply
TO come at once FASTENED preparations and
the eager New Workers reached Memphis
on Sunday morning.
At 4 that same afternoon the train which
pulled leisurely across the Mississippi over
the Choctaw route had a dozen shooters
aboard already friends by that bond which
the gun cements so quickly. BY the rules
OF the Wapanoca organization each OF the
members Of the club is permitted to invite
a friend occasionally, but for not more
than three days, and during the time OF
the stay the member must accompany his
guest and pay a fee of so a day.
Club House I'm wild Region.
The famous club, whose roster contains
the names Of some of the best known men
in America, is located In the widest por-
ton of the state about forty miles from
Memphis. and to those who visit It for the
first time it is full Of surprises.
The shooting is over a series of lakes,
or more properly speaking, ponds, for none
Of them is more than four or five feet in
depth, while several have not more than
eighteen inches of water in them. BY some
peculiar cataclysm Of nature these ponds
were formed some fifty years ago by the
apparently solid ground sinking, and here
and there the shrubs and trees as they
stood at that time dot the surface Of the
water and make ideal blinds from which
the birds may be shot. Where nature has
not made a complete job the skilled hands
of the Wapanoca expert ~caretakers have
been employed.
Fringed with cypress and willow, with
bayous or lagoons here and there connect
ing the series of ponds and with wild celery
and rice for food in abundance, the place
is a veritable paradise for ducks, geese and
swans. There are probably a score Of spots
from which the shooting is good, but of
course, as is usually the case, the birds
frequently show a preference for certain
districts where the feeding grounds may be
In particularly good condition, and in order
that all the shooters may have an equal
chance a record is kept of the kills. and
prospective shooters by consulting it may
learn where the best bags nave lately been
made. The drawings for blinds is by lot
and so is the choice of paddlers.
Have FavOrite Blinds.
Each blind is known by a name and the
man who secures number one in the draw
as a rule takes the stand where the best
shooting has recently been had. Occa-
slonally a man who has had uniformly
good luck in a particular blind feels him
self more at home there and takes 1t when
ever the opportunity affords.
II Yves dark when the party stepped from
the train to the long platform where half
a dozen neat negroes in club uniforms and
a couple Of barking dogs were waiting to
welcome them. Lights bllnked a CHEEKY
welcome from the splendid club house not
more than 200 feet away, and through the
doorway there was a glimpse of a log fire
in an open hearth, for the evenings in
Arkansas in November make a fire as
welcome as In New York at the same
season.
The visitors were escorted to a huge
room with twin brass beds. a ceiling Of
peeled and vanished logs, and upon the
floor were rugs that made the realization
Of the locality difficult. Such fittings
might have been looked for in some Of the
so-called Joyous Adirondack camps, but
the presence OF so much that was elaborate
In furnishings In Arkansas was a genuine
surprise.
At dinner. which was served in a long
low oeiled room, the walls of which were
covered with shooting scenes, painted. en-
graved and Photographic, introductions
were general, and soon everybody was
busy with the splendidly cooked and per-
fectly served meal.
A Pittsburg millionaire who spends two
months each year at the place, told the
newcomers about getting the limit
fifty birds-the day before at his favorlte
station. and ~prophesied q famous DAYS
sport on the morrow. concluding with the
offer Of any OF the fine guns In his rack
and the placing at their disposal Of his
own paddler, employed by the season and
generally acknowledged to be the best man
In the region.
Admirable Spirit shown.
This was one specimen OF the spirit Of
hospitality and true s-portsmanship encoun.
tered. Another was seen in Memphis on
the arrival of the northern sportsman
when It was learned that the man who had
issued the original invitation had been
seized with a severe attack OF inflamma-
tory rheumatism and was confined to his
home. In his place there came to the club
a typical Tennesseean, grave and oourty,
the bearer Of regrets that his friend was
not able to extend a welcome in person,
and conveying an Invitation to the second
New Yorker with repeated assurances that
ne wanted a few days al Wapanoca in
the worst way and that the gentleman
from New York was really doing him a
favor In coming to Tennessee.
About this time the Invalid was on the
telephone saying that he would be at the
train. Protests were OF no avail. He
could take his medicine lust a. well al