Arizona republican., 1920-05-04

Are ducks attracted by the odor of petroleum? We all know that fish of the sucker variety, in countless num- bers are drawn to the oil fields by the get-rich quick stock salesmen. In my judgment, feathered aces of the air visit Oklahoma, the land of gushers, impelled by voracious appetites which are created to by sportsmen promoting preserves. At one time I was invited by my old friend. Tom Hartman, a banker in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to join a party for a December duck hunt. Sid Mallory, an oil magnate of Tulsa and Rolla Pop" Heikes. a professional shot of Dayton. Ohio. completed the quartette. Comfortably ensconed in Hartmans touring car, which was freighted with every duck hunting ac- cessory that a fertile imagination or mediate acquaintance with the Ways and means committed could produce we added to our party as travelling companions, two red Irish setters, as fine dogs ever pointed a bevy of quail or extracted cookie burr
 20mile run against time landed us in the VerdigIis river bottoms ad- jacent to Verdigris lake which covers a territory one and one-half miles long by one mile wide, the largest natural lake in Oklahoma. This body of water has been planted to wild rice, celery duck potatoes" and grass nuts, with an excellent stand of yonkopin, pond lily or Egyptian lotus. which when eaten by the winged beauties, occa- toned total forgetfulness 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 'duckoom' a perfect mecca of culinary delicacies. Near the lake, nestling ln a grove of oak trees, is a commodious T. entered, warm welcome was extend ed by an immense fireplace loaded with burning logs which reflected good cheer and impregnated the atmosphere with a wave of goodfellowship. Floors were covered with many rugs evidence of the large game killed by President Hartman on his many excursions to the Canadian Rockies. Mounted hea6
 graced the four walls making the hunt.
 CTS lodge most attractive and inviting
 dining table, which could be very materially reduced in size, was a mo- ticeable feature. later adding to the evening entertainment without the in troduction of the ouija board
 Our first morning we were astir in advance of the crows. At daylight we had our block decoys set and our live birds anchored so that they were un- able to see each other, hence a contin- ous calling was to be heard. Perma- nent blinds Of buckbruSh and jules had been constructed along the shore at intervals. which needed only a little retouching to make them habitable and most excellent, the home birds having become so accustomed to their presence evinced no fear. They were built to accommodate two hunters. en- gendering sociability. a marked char acteristic found in all true sportsmen An elegant flight of holdover birds was ,IA many There is at all times a colony of migratory birds on Verdigris 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 represent cd and were riding gracefully on the miniature ground swells. while white silvered sheen or blanket of canvas backs. floated near the center. Sid Mallory and Pop" Heikes were sta toned in a blind directly opposite Hartman and me, who had recon