170 GAME SHOAL- WATER FOWL. 



land, which causes them to fly high until ready 

 to alight, when they circle about and lower 

 gradually near the centre of the field, aj^proaching 

 within gunshot of the fences as rarely as possible ; 

 and this, from the large size of the "Western corn- 

 fields, they can easily do. 



Daring a heavy snow-storm is the best time for 

 making a large bag, as the snow covers up the 

 corn,* which being harder for the ducks to find, 

 they fly lower and more continually. At this 

 time the shooter's dress cannot be too white, and 

 he will need but a small blind (the smaller the 

 better in a corn-field, as the ducks will notice 

 any unusual appearance and avoid it). In build- 

 ing it (of corn-stalks, of course) the stalks should 

 be stood on end, leaning against each other, and 

 a heavy, solid look avoided as much as possible. 

 After the shooter has secured a few ducks it will 

 be a good plan to set them up for decoys on split 

 corn-stalks, taking care to select as clear a space 

 as possible, where the stalks are low and thinly 

 dispersed. As they get covered with snow they 

 should be shaken clean again, or they will be of 



* The ducks usually feed on the scattered grains lost in husking, or 

 the small ears thrown away, rather than tear the husks off them- 

 selves. 



