El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-05-01

A RE ducks attracted by the odor Of
n petroleum. We all know that
fish OF the sucker variety. in
countless numbers are drawn 10 the
old fields by the get rich quick stock
statesmen In my Judgment, teathered
aces Of the air visit Oklahoma the
land OF gushers- impeued by
voracious appetites which are catered
TO by sporrsmen promoting preserves
At one time I was invited by my old
friend, Tom Hartman, a banker in
Tulsa, Okla. 70 Join a party FOR
December duck hunt sid Mallory, an
old magnate OF Tulsa and Rolla
Pop" Heilces, a professional shot
OF Dayton, Ohio, complete the quar-
tet
Comfortably ensconced in Hart
mans touring car which was
freighted with every duck hunting
accessory that a fertile Imagination
or immediate acquaintance win the
Ways and Means committee" could
produce. we added 10 our party as
travelling companions. two red Irish
settlers, as fine dogs as ever pointed
bevy Of quail or extracted a cookie
burr
A 20 miles run against time landed
as IN the Verdigris river bottoms
adjacent 10 Nerdigris lake, which
covers one and one half miles long
by one mile wide, the largest natural
lake I'm Oklahoma This bodT Of
water has been planted 70 wild rice,
celery duck potatoes and grass
nuts. with an excellent stand Of
yonkopin, pondlily or Egyptian lotus,
which when eaten by the winged
beauties occasioned total forEetful
ness or desire TO depart from the
lakes Shore lines are skirted with
a rank growth OF slough grass This,
with the beds OF rice, celery and
grass nuts creates for "duckdom' a
perfect mecca OF culinary deAcacies-
Near the lake. nesting in
grove Of oak trees Il a com
m0diOus club house OF hu1tlnE
lodge. A. we entered, warm
welcome was extended by m i'm
mensc fire place, loaded with
burning legs. which reelected
good cheer and impreEnafed the
atmosphere with n wave OF coed
fellowship. Floors were covered
with many rugs. evidence Of the
large game killed by president
Hartman en- his many excursions
to the Canadian Rockies
Mounted heads grneed the four
walls making the hunters lodge
most attractive and Inviting
dining table. which could be very
materially reduced in size, was a
noticeable feature, later adding
to the evening entertainment
without the introduction OF the
oulfn board.
Our first morning we were astir
in advance Of the crows At day
light we had our block decoFs set
and our live birds anchored so that
they were unable to see each other,
hence a continuous calling was 70 be
heard. Permanent blinds OF buck
brush and tules had been constructed
along the shore at intervals, which
needed only a little retouching TO
make them habitable and most eX-
he
come so accustomed TO their presence
evinced no fear They were built to
accommodate two hunters, enEender-
ing sociabiity. a marked character
istic found in al true sportsmen-
Many 60 shoot At.
An elegant flight Of hOldOver birds
was on. the shooting opportunities
were many. There is at all times
colony OF migratory birds on Verdi
girls lake who waived their Texas and
Gulf rights. remaining through the
season in Oklahoma, seductive land
OF plenty and desirable surroundings.
Almost every species OF ducks was
represented and were riding grace
fully on the miniature ground swells,
while a white silvered sheen OF
near -the center. sid Mallory and
Pop" Heizes were stationed in a
blind directly opposite Hartman and
me. who had reconstructed hide
that defied detection.
This quartet OF shooters had fire.
uuently met on the firing line con-
testing for trapshooting honors- We
row met afield for the first time
and had paired for team work A
spirit OF friendly rivalry was prev
aient. 70 be computed on game sack
results. While setting our decoys,
that most seductive lullaby. occa-
stoned by the whistling OF wings as
birds passed overhead, was the
preliminary announcement OF the
flight. Two sharp, snappys whip
ike reports came from the opposite
blind and two wise old sprigs paid
the penalty for being inquisitive-
They folded up in midair Ike jack !
knives. Immediately followed by two I
distinct thuds as they struck the I
water.
Hartman and were 30
diverted by this artistic double
that we failed TO see q fine flock
Of redhen6s swing IN over our de-
covE. cutting out down wind, they
were out OF the zone OF danger
before we could prepare for uc-
ton. Never again during the
day were we caught mapping ns
we stood watch in relays, occa-
sionalIy pulling off single or
double that was satisfactory
Many times during the morning
we Witnessed skilled shooting by
our opponents across the lake
About 10 o'clock their canoe put
,-rr from rhe shore headed for