BLUEBILLS AND DECOYS 



boat by sinking half a dozen or more stout 

 stakes at the sides and end of the craft, bind- 

 ing these together with thick, strong cord, 

 and thatching the cord with grass, rushes, or 

 whatever natural growth is common to the 

 locality. Building a " blind " is a matter of 

 the greatest possible importance. It should 

 not be too high or too conspicuously heavy. 

 It should present as near as may be from the 

 outside a semblance of natural growth similar 

 to the growth about the surrounding shores. 



As a rule a low " blind " is the best, espe- 

 cially when the hunters build one about a boat. 

 They must depend considerably on crouching 

 low and on keeping absolutely immovable. 

 There is nothing so exasperating in duck 

 shooting over decoys as the man who persists 

 in getting up to stretch himself, and see if 

 the ducks are coming. The ducks can see 

 him as far or farther than he can see them, 

 and they will sheer off when they catch a 

 glimpse of him squatting down when he notes 

 their approach. 



Some men sit with the barrels of their guns 

 sticking up over the top of the " blind " and 

 then wonder why the ducks don't come in. 



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