The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-18
BY TOM A. MARSHALL

-
BY TOM A. MARSHALL
A novel fifteen bird shooting event,
with wild ducks for targets. Don't
pass judgment or comment until you
have read facts in conjunction with
this tournament. Have you heard OF
the Duck Island Club, located "a
miles south of Peoria, ILL.,, on the Hi
nois River, Dan w. Voorhees,, ST.. Pres
ident?
The lands comprising the preserve
are owned by Uncle Dan, who is an
| ardent sportsman. Five thousand
acres of swamp land in the tract, uEon
| which a commodious Club House is
| located, where every comfort of a
| modern home is enjoyed Dy the mem
bers. One of the best duck shooting
clubs in Illinois. Two hundred yards
north of the club house is Bebee Lake,
two and one-half miles long, one mile
| wide. The sanctuary for all m1gra.
tory birds, within a radius of so miles.
Ducks volplane into the lake, know
ing they will not be disturbed, shot
is never fired over that body of wa
ter. There the birds rest, visit and
chant their love songs, serenading the
club members during the night. The
dulcet strains of Lieut.. John Philip
Sousa's Great Lakes Band would not
be as pleasing or entertaining to Ye
Knights of the Trigger, as the quack!
/ quack! quack! of bank Of ducks as
| they float on the water, visiting with
their feathered guests and kin folks.
Goes to Grounds.
| As a guest of the clubs president l
i g. \,
members. A chaperone punter Of &C
knowledged skill, Jess Pollitt, was
assigned by the court to my case,
handling me in a most satisfactory
manner. Refuge Lake was covered
with ducks of all species, which evinc-
ed no fear as we passed near them on
our way to willow fiat where l had
been located to shoot that day. Choice
of blinds was dependent upon the turn
of pool bottle, every shooter receiv-
ing numbered ball. which gave him
! the right to select umerically his
| shooting position On the following day.
| Arriving at our previously constructed
| blind, straps were buckled around the
| tame decoy ducks, males and females
were separated, which induced a line
| of conversation most seductive to
passing birds.
Below our blind was collection OF
eagles nests, built of small sticks and
! located in the tops of high cottonwood
| trees, constructed number of years
since by resident eagles. The nests
! were later capturd by an aggregation
of itinerant storks, after desperate
and decisive battle. Thus our ma
tional bird whose spreading wings
| foreshadow the worlds democracy,
was humbled and beaten by the birds
whose outspread wings are indicative
Of visits when precious packages are
distributed, which delights the hearts
and make glad the homes of produc-
time mothers. The proverbial useful
ness of the story in disseminating
Colonel Roosevelt's pet theory, ap-
peals to the sympathetic temperament
of Uncle Dan Voorhees,, who has issued
the edict which protects and proga-
gates the stork family.
Return to Club.
Club ethics are, kill your legal
| limit of ducks, returning to the club
| house at as early an hour as possible,
giving timber birds chance to rest
| balance of the day. All members were
| usually in for a seat at the monday
| luncheon, having annexed the bag linn
| it before that time. 1t is not an evil
| dence one is lacking in skill should
they be a little late. A blind might
| be unfavorably located, based on wind
| conditions. Ducks might have been
burnt out" and refuse to return. You
may have shot poorly, which is some
times the case. Many elements may
| enter into successful duck hunt.
| Motor boats are not permitted in
tho Eo fbou licfnrh h0fh
| the fish and game. This lake is TEEN
| ing with filmed beauties. Muskrats
| homes are scattered throughout the
| preserve, mink and coon are also num-
erous. The baying of hounds may be
heard during the night, sweet music
| to hunters ears as they give tongue,
| in pursuit of their quarry.
Birds Are Fat.
Duck Island Club is a non-baited
| preserve, natural environments, with
| rational duck protection are the only
| seductive features offered the feather
| ed visitors. Living en- wild rice, Gel
| cry, smart weed seeds and roots, TAX
| ing little exercises, they become fat
and heavy, are always found in most
excellent condition, unless they are
| recent arrivals.
Gathered around the immense fire.
place in the club house discussing the
days shoot, Dannie Voorhees,. Jr,
piped up with the information that he
| has a wise thought to be acted upon
the following day. "a fifteen bird
event on wild ducks, conditions to be
| stated when race started" There
were four entries, Uncle Dan Voor-
hees, C. j. Sammis, Dannie Voorhees,,
Jr., of Peoria, and the writer. Early
| the following morning we we're punted
into Little Goose Pond, where our de-
coys were set. Conditions of the race
were then announced. The four en-
| tries were to shoot from the same
| boat and blind One man up, who
| would shoot until he had killed five
birds on the wing, at which time he
| would join the audience in the boat,
there remaining until his opponents
| had all scored their five ducks, at
which time he again was in action for
his second multiple of 5, to be re-
trieved by the pushers.
Judges for Contest.
A challenged bird to be gathered at
once by a designated guide without