Arizona republican., 1919-11-23

ASlS LueJ COLuS, uONu WlHu llhe bat out of perdition." A seasoned nimrod would at once look for blue wing teal, coming with the wind and splitting the atmosphere. The first migratory birds to act upon the travel ing hunch heading for the sunny south in the fall or their feeding grounds of the north in the spring, are Quer- quedula Discors or blue wing teal. They hail from the family of ''puddlers," are about 15 inches long, symmetrical in build. The male, with head of gray, white crescent in front of the eye, un- der parts puffy, heavily spotted with black, wing covertS blue and speculum green, is a beautiful bird. The fe
 male is not so attractive, has a whitish head and neck, duskily streaked, blue wing coverings. Teal are clannish, usually found in small flocks of four to 10 birds, representing the original brood. Having paired, they may fre
 quently be found in company with mallards. They feed in shallow ponds, marshes or along the rush grown shores of crooked rivers and lakes, upon small fish, insects, acquatic plants or seeds. Their flight is very fast, they possibly appear to be more rapid on account of their size. They have given many scatter gun operator a sudden awakening, of the necessity for lead or daylight ahead of his bird, when the rear bird of a passing flock was killed, when he had shot at the leader. Their flights is usually near the surface of the water, when ready to alight their descent is very preCipi- tous. Their call is weak but rapidly uttered quacking. Nests are made in weeds, in tall grass bordering marshes or ponds, six to 10 puffy eggs are laid during May or June.
 Many, who know, claim that teal are the acme of table delicacies. Their flight en route, is the real test of a sportsman's ability to accurately guess the distance and velocity of fast nov ing articles If he can press the trig- ger, releasing a load of shot, which travelling hypotenuse angle, will prove a reception committee" for a feathered ace, who is then travelling a pace, indicative of star route contract with a late mail. He is a cracker jack shot. If he is able to stop a single, occasionally negotiating double, on blue wing teal-coming down wing-he deserves honorable mention, with re- lease from a post graduate course. He is then a real wing artist. A wire from my old friend Jim Head of St. Louis invited me to meet an assembled party at Florence, Kansas, for blue wing teal shoot on Sept. 18th, the season opening day Ed O'Brien and Fred Clark (ex-manager of the Pittsburg Pirates) with Uncle Jim Head awaited my arrival. We immediately wheeled southwest about 125 miles, to Park Lake club, where we found Sunny Jim" Cook and Fatty" Arnold had ar rived in advance. They reported in addition to the "home-g grown birds" a fine flight of teal were arriving from the sand hills of Nebraska. All ar rangements had been made, for the shoot on the morning flight. The com modius club house, the old fashioned fireplace, piled high with logs, radiat- ing a conversational heat, looked most inviting. A few hundred targets were broken, without scoring a single miss A number of baseball games were played iQ front of the fire, without the introduction of a "boner." Wonderful bags of game, dating back many years, were killed. Long and difficult shots were mentally made and recited which have never been equalled in the presence of truthful witnesses. The club house is located on the north oi upper of a series of three lakes, be- tween big and little salt marshes. The three lakes have about 40 acres area with permanent shore blinds-dry ant comfortable-built around their shore | line. l was paired with Uncle Jin Head, we were shooting from a poin | blind on middle lake. We were shoot. | ing over about 75 wood or block tea decoys, with a half dozen live birds tC give action. Returning birds from th' salt marshes, carrying burning thirsts headed for our fresh water lake. They came in flocks, singly and in pairs. 4 rapid overhead flight furnished pas' shooting, it was certainly diversified shooting. Difficult shots were made doubles scored. "eye-wipes" recorded, ; succession of agreeable surprises anC embarrassing disappointments. w
 completed our bag limit, long befor' the luncheon hour, on teal and widgeon
 A delightful morning shoot with
 "cracker jack" shot and congenial com
 panion. Our associate hunters al
 scored their limit backing into the clul house in time for the noon day lunch
 The afternoon and evening were de
 voted to the allAmerican game Nots 4a hn nf