126 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



when the ducks come. Many good shots are lost by the 

 hunters not being on hand when the first birds come to 

 the field. 



Now you have the hole ready, throw a little straw 

 into the bottom, so that you will not have to stand in the 

 dirt. Get into the hole, and keep a good lookout, as, 

 early in the morning, it is impossible to tell from which 

 direction the ducks will come. They will be likely to 

 come in quite large flocks, and are apt to bunch quite 

 close to you. Now, mark! there is a bunch. They are 

 not more than five or six yards high. Have your gun to 

 your shoulder. They bunch together. Pour both barrels 

 into the thick bunch as quickly as possible. Load 

 quickly, and step out of the hole and gather your ducks. 

 Take your gun with you, as you may have another shot 

 before you find all the dead ducks. 



Just at day-break the ducks are so eager for food that 

 they will not notice you. Set up the dead ducks, placing 

 a stick in the ground to hold their heads up. Now get 

 back into the hole and look out for another flock. If it 

 should happen to be a cloudy, windy morning, your 

 shooting will be likely to last till 10 or 11 o'clock; but 

 if the sun shines, it will be over before 9. 



About the time the sun begins to show itself, keep a 

 sharp lookout for a few Canada geese. They, too, are 

 fond of buckwheat. You will, of course, have a few shells 

 with you loaded with BBB or O shot. Hark! u Honk, 

 honk, honk ! " Now get down close in the hole; change 

 your shells; the geese will soon be here. Let them come 

 within twenty yards of you before you shoot. Shoot 

 directly at the leader's bill, and then pull at the next one. 

 You have shot the first one dead, but only winged the 

 other slightly. He flaps the other wing, and calls. Load 

 quickly. Keep close. The other geese have turned to 

 him. Now they are close enough, give it to them, and 



