IN THE MARSH 131 
you will surely get good shooting. This is the impres- 
sion fixed on the mind of every young hunter. If the 
reader has that thought, and seriously believes it, ask 
an experienced duck-hunter if he don’t usually have 
good shooting on warm, calm days. The only advantage 
on blustering days is, that birds flying against the wind 
fly slower and lower. My experience has been that some 
of the finest shooting may be had on the warmest, 
calmest days. One September afternoon, three years 
ago, I had as good shooting as one could wish for. The 
day was simply delightful, no wind and very warm. 
This was only one of many days of the same kind that 
I have experienced. The day I like for ducks is the 
day they are in their feeding grounds, and then it makes 
no particular difference whether the wind blows mild- 
ly or strong, whether the day is warm or cold. 
Never mind! Don’t shoot unless you are sure of 
killing. They have been feeding here, and will come 
back much sooner, and present better shots, if we don’t 
frighten them by shooting. Nice place here for them, 
isn’t it? Plenty of rice, and far enough from shore, 
so “stalkers and hoosiers” can’t sneak them. This 
pond must be fully one hundred yards long; that is, 
counting the little neck where you see so many dried 
pond lilies, and at least sixty yards wide. I will push 
the boat out so you can place the decoys where we want 
them. Take that smallest sack first, of red-heads. 
Throw them out in the open water; they have weights 
on, and will come right side up. Don’t be afraid to 
stand up, the boat won’t upset or rock. I have hunted 
too much to have a cranky boat. Years ago I shot 
quickly from a cranky boat; didn’t hurt the boat 
any, but I went out backward, head first, into water 
