HINTS FOR DECOY MAN. 89 



to prevent the fowl from scenting him, as well as to 

 keep it alight ; for it must be remembered that, 

 when proceeding to use a pipe, the birds are more 

 or less to leeward. 



He will sometimes find, especially in the grey of 

 morning, fowl paddling unsuspectedly in the very 

 pipe, and far enough up its length for him to hasten 

 to the entrance to intercept their retreat to the pool. 

 For this reason, when visiting a decoy, his approach 

 should be always cautious. Teal may be taken on 

 the calmest day, but Duck not so easily. As the 

 season advances, the fowl become more and more 

 wary and difficult to manoeuvre. 



A fresh flight of birds early in the winter should 

 be allowed a couple of days' rest, to realize that 

 they are in apparent security ; as well as to give 

 them the chance of alluring a more numerous 

 gathering. 



Very early in the season Teal may be captured in 

 little batches as fast as they arrive ; so also may 

 Duck, if they are the young and unsuspecting birds 

 of the year, discernible by their plumage. 



Let it be a golden rule for a decoyman never to 

 press his attentions too earnestly on fowl that do not 

 seem inclined to enter the pipes. They will become 

 very distrustful after a failure, and their caution will 

 be followed by all the other birds on the pool.* 



The most favourable hour to decoy fowl is about 

 noon, and from that time to two o'clock. 



By the middle of the day, the fowl will have 



* An old trick amongst decoymen to destroy sport was to turn a 

 pinioned bird loose with a feather through the nostrils to alarm the 

 rest. 



