186 FIELD SHOOTING. 



tered about, even in the fields from which the 

 ears have been hauled off'. 



Duck-shooting in the corn-fields in the fall is 

 fine, pleasant sport. At that season many of 

 the stalks are still standing, and plenty of places 

 may be found to hide. Besides, the ducks are 

 not then very wild, and the majority of them 

 are young birds which, not having been shot at 

 a great deal, are not as wary as the old stagers, 

 who remember the shooting on their passage 

 north in the spring. An excellent place at this 

 time of the year is on the windward side of 

 an Osage orange hedge, near where they cross 

 on their way to feed. When the wind is blow- 

 ing against them, ducks fly low. With the wind 

 nearly dead ahead of them, the shooter on the 

 windward side of the hedge will get plenty of 

 shots at low-flying ducks as they come over, and 

 need not take the trouble to lie down in the 

 corn at those times. Rainy, misty, windy wea- 

 ther is the best of weather for this method. On 

 such days the ducks are flying low and going 

 into and out of the corn-fields all day. In clear 

 weather they fly* higher, but still low in their 

 evening flights, coming out to feed. Sometimes 

 the flocks will be seen high in the air, as it 



