370 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTIKG. 



behind an ice-blind, for in coming near such spots they 

 sweep partially around before alighting, and present their 

 sides. A volley poured into them at that time is sure 

 to bring down several, for the wing-tipped strike the 

 ground so heavily that some are killed by the fall, and 

 those that arc not may be readily disposed of. Ducks 

 frccpieutly seek the shelter of timber in blustry weather. 

 Large bags can then be made near almost any wood- 

 land stream or tarn; and also in the spring, when 

 the lower lands are inundated by the rise of the rivers, as 

 tliey resort thither to feed on the vegetation and insects 

 that float on the water. AVhen driven from such places 

 by shooting, they return in a short time, either singly, in 

 pairs, or in trips, and if the sportsman has a good 

 shelter he may tumble them over as they pass him, or 

 when they are preparing to alight. Whatever the season 

 may be, it is necessary for a man to keep as much out of 

 sight as possible, to avoid making a noise, and to have 

 his clothes as near the color of the ground and woods as 

 he can. The clothing should be white in winter, and a 

 sedge, drab, or butternut hue at all other times. 



The ordinary methods employed for capturing ducks 

 in the West are similar to those for bagging geese. Tliese 

 are, shooting from blinds, with or without decoys; shoot- 

 ing from sneak-boxes, sneak-boats, and punts. A blind 

 is generally made of the branches of trees, ])rusliwood, 

 weeds, grass, leaves, and such other vegetation as would 

 give it the appearance of a natural thicket. The boughs 

 are stuck into the ground, close together, and all oj^en- 

 ings, which are likely to allow the gunner to be seen, are 

 closed with the lighter material. A shelter of this kind 

 should not be higlier than the shoulders of a man wlien 

 he stands up, as he needs a clear space to enable liim to 

 note tlie movements of tlio ducks and to handle liis gun 

 promptly. Others are made of boards, screened with 

 brush or trees, in order to present as natural an ai)pear- 



