110 “COME DUCK SHOOTING WITH ME” 
‘“‘T ought to know how by this time,’’ he answered, 
“‘to call ducks successfully you must know what kind 
of ducks they are as far as you can see them. Then 
it is not hard, if you know the calls of the different 
varieties of ducks, to give them a try.”’ 
‘““How do you know each kind of ducks, when you see 
them at a great distance? The one trouble I have is not 
knowing what variety they are until they are fairly 
close.”’ 
‘It’s curious,’’ said Jimmy; ‘‘I don’t know how I 
know them, but I do and can tell what they are as far 
as I can see them.”’ 
“It’s a gift, ’’ I said, ‘‘like many others, born with one, 
I suppose.’’ 
‘“There certainly is a big difference in men in their 
manner of shooting ducks,”’ said Jimmy thoughtfully. 
‘‘Some men understand just how to set out their decoys 
according to the wind, know the kind of ducks when 
they come in sight and the proper call to attract their 
attention, and nine times out of ten can call them up to 
the decoys. Another man puts out his decoys anyway. 
Makes no pretensions at calling ducks, but just sits 
still and shoots at the ducks that during the day inci- 
dentally come monkeying around within range. I guess 
that’s about the size of it.”’ 
‘“‘You’re dead right,’’ I answered, ‘‘but there is 
another class that includes perhaps the majority of duck 
hunters. ’”’ 
‘“Who are they?’’ asked Jimmy. 
‘‘Well, there’s a whole crowd, a good deal like myself, 
that are neither professional duck shooting sharks nor 
are they tenderfeet at the business. We know a little 
about putting out decoys and a little about calling 
ducks.” 
’ 
