tional clown. I knew well that one must sit in the center of a 

 canoe and keep his weight low, yet who could resist rising to a 

 crouch when a bird wheeled overhead? Only Charlie's balanc- 

 ing act saved us that time. 



We went ashore at an alder flat and tramped it for woodcock. 

 They were there and we took a brace. A big swamp rabbit 

 bounded through the browning brakes and Charlie sent him 

 spinning, too. In a marshy flat we had a try at jacksnipe and 

 dropped a half dozen. 



We boiled our tea water and ate our sandwiches there and 

 Charlie's dark eyes glowed because I liked it all and he'd had 

 a deal to do with making me like it. 



So when I looked at Morgan Douglas' pictures, it all came 

 back. The thrill of trying a new twist to a noble sport, the chal- 

 lenge of jumping such resourceful birds and trying to get on 

 them from the seat of a canoe. 



Not many hunters try for grouse this way. Since Charlie's 

 active days ended I've coaxed a few to go with me. But not many. 

 Mert McClure, of the Michigan Department of Conservation, 

 is a canoe-grouse hunter. We had a day on the Au Sable's South 

 Branch not too long ago. The bag was little enough, but, mister, 

 it was a day! With October's tapestry all about and trout dodg- 

 ing the canoe shadow, and we, never knowing what's around the 

 next bend! We saw a deer, coy and dainty, looking at us from 

 behind a poplar, seemingly aware that we weren't shooting at 

 her because the deer season hadn't started yet. Deer seem to 

 have an understanding of the calendar. 



The technique illustrated by Douglas is something to try. 

 With a dogless hunter on either bank and another gun in the 

 creek, the kill isn't going to be heavy no matter how many birds 

 are flushed. Counting three after they're on the wing keeps a 

 man clear of the charge of potting 'em. And, with such a bird, 

 such a charge must be avoided. 



Parts of all the northern states should offer chances for this 

 sort of fun. And what if the birds avoid the water but stick to 

 the far uplands? Unless you're just another meat hunter you've 

 had a wonderful time! 



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