GOOSE SHOOTING. 259 



We separate and take up position in the willow thickets 

 that abound along the river bank. With the river on 

 the north of us, feeding grounds are a great deal closer 

 on the south side, so, contrary to their regular habits, 

 the birds come out with the wind, and come back flying 

 low, but with no good results ; so I concluded to get in 

 a good sheltered place and wait for some to come over, 

 if I had to wait all day. They flew on all sides, ducks 

 and geese both, some barely clearing the ground. Just 

 to the south of me was open ground for about 200 

 yards, then a high bluff with some trees growing on 

 the sides and rising above the table land above. My 

 patience was nearly exhausted, when just behind these 

 trees came a flock of mallards. I did not see them till 

 they rose to clear these trees. As I stood in a thick 

 stand of willows, they never saw me, but came on just a 

 little to my left about 40 yards high. They looked big 

 and grand. I could distinguish all their fine colorings 

 as they came closer. I rose up and made a double on 

 two fine drakes that were nearest to me. Having re- 

 trieved these, I had not long to wait before a lone pin- 

 tail came along, and I had a fine shot at him. Shooting 

 was good until dark. I bagged seventeen ducks and 

 one brant. One of the other boys got sixteen ducks, 

 and the others all had a respectable bag of ducks. 



We had another stormy day while on this trip, and 

 these two days were my best, in fact the only days when 

 we bagged very many ducks. We got geese almost 

 every morning and evening until our return home. 



Ducks do not seem to decoy on the feeding grounds 



