DUCKS AND WESTERN DUCK-SHOOTING. 195 



I have not been out much on these large rivers, 

 however, but have shot more in the corn-fields, 

 on the sloughs and ponds about the prairies, in 

 and about the Great Winnebago Swamp, and on 

 the Sangamon and Salt Creek. Sometimes when 

 a man is out after other sorts of shooting, espe- 

 cially snipe, he will find that the ducks are in 

 such numbers, and flying in such a way, that 

 he may abandon his intended pursuit, and turn 

 his attention to them. His shot will be smaller 

 on such occasions than he would have chosen 

 for ducks ; but with plenty of powder to drive 

 them at high velocities, he will get penetration, 

 and bring the wild fowl down. Once upon Salt 

 Creek, near where it falls into the Sangamon, I 

 was out after snipe, and noticed that the mallards 

 were flying in such a way as to afford a fine 

 chance. 1 had nothing but No. 9 shot, but de- 

 termined to try what could be done. This was 

 in 1868. The edge of the creek was well timbered, 

 and, choosing my post, I seated myself on a log 

 among the trees and brush. There was a light 

 snow on the bottoms some three inches deep, 

 and the snipe had to get near the margins of 

 the streams to feed. I could have killed a good 

 bag of them, but the ducks offered a chance 



