go SHOOTING THE DUCK 



local birds and the local sportsmen tether a couple 

 of live decoys in the dyke and keep the place 

 regularly fed with wheat. It is to be noted, one 

 should say, that if there are moorhens about they 

 must be killed, or most of the corn will fall to their 

 share. When the decoys have established a haunt, 

 and a fair number of duck are known to visit the 

 dyke, place the gun in its mountings and train it to 

 sweep the feeding-place ; and towards flight-time 

 make yourself as comfortable as possible in the 

 tub. Delay firing till you are sure the flight is over. 

 Put back the decoys the next day and continue to 

 feed the place. Let critics who have never engaged 

 in the rough-and-tumble work of wild-fowling, and 

 are unaware of the skill, perseverance, and endur- 

 ance the gunner has to exercise in order to bag just 

 a few couple of birds, call this means of killing duck 

 unsportsmanlike, or anything else they choose. It 

 is not, however ; it is as sportsmanlike as punting or 

 partridge -driving, and is a perfectly legitimate method 

 of outwitting birds which are inaccessible by day ; 

 and I heartily advise any one having the facilities to 

 put it into practice, and to congratulate himself with 

 a clear conscience on the few good and exciting shots 

 which a normal season will always yield him in return 

 for the trouble entailed. 



