The Washington herald., 1910-06-05
ESTATES MANAGED.
LIVE WILD BIRDS AS DECoYs.
Missouri Hunters Method of Luring
Ducks and Geese Within GunshOt.

Missouri Hunters Method of Luring
Ducks and Geese Within GunshOt.
From the Kansas City Star.
Ducks and geese quietly swimming and
feeding among the sedges that line the
still Reaches of shallow Missouri River
water near RushviIle, No. present an
alluring invitation Of seeming safety and
companionship for their feathered rela-
tives flying along the stream toward the
south in the late fall and winter or re-
turning North few months later They
descend 10 feed with the birds already IN
possession. Shots are heard. Some Of
the birds fly away. but others remain
fiuttering in the water, and two hunts
men from their blind speedily collect the
quarry.
The astute hunters who tired Of wooden
decoys a year or more ago and decided TO
improve upon the best work OF the manu-
facturers by using liking decoys are Fred
Fenton and o. c. Jones, Of RUshyille In
shooting game it had been their practice
to kill the crippled birds that they
brought down, but one day they shot
gander through the wing, and its injuries
were so slight that they resolved TO pre-
serve it. They wondered If it would not
be possible to use the gander. which was
unable 10 fly. as a live deeoy. They
pressed him into service a few days later.
L think he drew all the geese IN the
State" said Fenton. One result Of the
first days shooting was the acquisition
of a crippled goose. They were mated,
and now they have 123 wild geese in cap
tivity Ducks were obtained In the same
manner When Fenton and Jones shoot
they usually use about four geese Of the
ordinary wild variety. two brant. and
twenty ducks. The star performer among
the geese is a California pOw-wow.
He starts making a noise almost be-
fore we can see the geese and keeps It up
until they are clear out of sight, Fenton
said. "I have seen geese fly away past
him and then swing around and come
down.
Using their live decoys, the men shot
72s ducks in November. Their bag OF
geese numbered only six, all Of which
were got November 3. Spring is a better
time for shooting geese. they say.
''The geese feed on the prairies in the
fall and strike the river about dusk, head
ing for the South. It's too late then 10
catch them. When they come back in
the spring. though. they're generally fly
ing in better light" That is the way
Jones explains the seeming failure OF the
live aid to the hunters.
The ducks and geese are anchored" by
small weights on long lines. The cords
have snap hooks, which are fastened into
rings attached to straps about the birds
legs. Fenton and Jones have a gasoline
launch. and when they start out for the
day they carry a crate OF birds. each
with its leather leg strap. It is the work
Of only a moment 10 take them from the
coop, snap a weighted line to each ring.
and set the birds adrift Not all OF them
have to be tied out. The ducks and geese
are fastened, but generally 1t is not nee
essary to adopt the same means with the
brakes OF ganders. which swim about
near at hand. The ducks are half-breeds.
crosses between mallards and domestic
ducks
All the birds are fed regularly on shore,
and when a days shooting Is finished the
brakes and ganders swim willingly back
to the shack. where they have learned 10
expect their daily apportionments OF
grain.