Field Sports in Minnesota. 



725 



proaching. The decoys, to the number of a dozen or more, being 

 flat, must be placed at such angles that when viewed from any point 

 of the compass a few apparently solid geese are seen. 



In the air, with no intervening object to correct the eye, geese 

 appear very large, and consequently nearer than they actually are, 

 and one is exposed to the temptation of firing too soon ; therefore, 

 the hole should be "worked " by a veteran at the business, who will 

 command " Fire ! " in due time. 



Under the guidance of our junior, \\ , an old hand at this 



kind of work, our party bagged, in four times " setting " out, twenty- 

 one Canada, four white-fronted and three snow geese. 



The decoy-ducks were put to good use in the lakes about our 

 camp, and as tin- best of decoy shooting begins here after eight 

 o'clock in the morning, and ends near three in the afternoon, no time 

 is lost that could be better employed on the pass or on the stubble. 



re is a satisfaction in shooting over decoys that is not found in 

 any Other style of shooting, since by the exercise of judgment in 

 placing the decoys and boat, the ducks may be forced to present 

 whatever kind of shots you most desire. 



Our bag for the week's trip was : Geese, thirty-one ; cranes, 

 five ; pinnated grouse, fourteen ; canvas-backs, seventeen ; mallards 

 and other ducks, one hundred and ten ; Wilson's snipe and golden 

 plov< r tumty-eight. 



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