INLAND DUCK-SHOOTING. 127 



sit back in the hole and load again. They want to come 

 back to that wounded goose. Here they come ! Make 

 sure of your shots, as this will probably be your last 

 chance at that flock. About three rounds is all they will 

 stand. I have many times killed five or six out of a flock, 

 when they came to a field, and I got a winged goose with 

 the first shot. Now gather up your birds, and look out 

 for more ducks. 



When the flight of ducks has ceased, gather your 

 birds, but be sure to be back again by 3 in the after- 

 noon. 



As soon as you get back to the buckwheat-field in the 

 afternoon, go at once to the hole where you shot in the 

 morning. You will not have to wait long before the ducks 

 come to feed. You will have to be very careful now, as 

 the ducks are more shy than in the morning, and, besides, 

 many of them have heard your gun, and are on the watch. 

 Do not shoot unless you are sure the ducks are near 

 enough, as long, wild shots serve only to frighten the 

 ducks away. You will be likely to have very good shoot- 

 ing in the afternoon, but after that it is of no use to go to 

 that field for about ten days. By that time the ducks 

 will be over their fright, and you will have more sport 

 with them. 



Shooting mallard-ducks in corn-fields is great sport. 

 After the farmers have gathered the corn, the ducks often 

 come to the fields in great numbers. There is always a 

 great deal of corn scattered over the ground, which makes 

 fine feed for them. When once they get a taste of it, the v 

 will feed in the corn-fields, morning and evening, as long 

 as they stay in the country. If they are shot at very 

 much in one field, they will go to another. They are 

 bound to have corn for breakfast and supper. 



The hunter will need a good " retrieving dog," as, 

 when he shoots his ducks, many of them \vill drop 



