Field Sports in Minnesota. 



4 



713 



A SIDE SHOT. 



by eccentric gambols. The two setters and Fan would delight in 

 retrieving ducks, but are not very often indulged ; the example of 

 the average " duck dog," as he dashes in at the crack of the gun, 

 is apt to have a demoralizing effect upon the steadiest of pointers 

 and setters, and they are tempted to " break shot " at all times, 

 which would be disastrous on almost any game other than ducks. 



Mallards, widgeons, and sprig-tails delight in those small grassy 

 ponds, which are generally thickly grown with wild rice, reeds, and 

 rushes. A musk-rat house here and there furnishes sunning oppor- 

 tunities, and also enables them to mount guard. While Bill is secur- 

 ing his team to a convenient fence, we are planning an assault on 

 one of these sloughs, which the little prairie-knoll ahead of us hides 

 from our view. We employ the usual tactics, by surrounding it, 

 each one approaching it from a different direction in deep silence, 

 though we are not able from the shore to discover a feather. When 

 one is posted in as good cover as possible, Hill, according to 

 previous arrangement, fires a random shot from his " pin-fire " over 



