WILD GEESE 151 



It is most important for the sportsman to know 

 what the birds are doing — what points they are flying 

 over when they go out to the fields to feed, what 

 course they take in returning to the water, what fields 

 they are using, and in what particular part of a field 

 they are feeding, and what sand-bar in the river or 

 what part of the beach they frequent. Time spent 

 in finding out what the birds are doing is well spent, 

 since a blind or ambush placed where there are no 

 birds is, of course, useless. When the shooting is to 

 be done in a field, it is well to seek a place where the 

 birds are feeding and after they have left, dig the holes 

 in the ground and carefully remove the dirt, scatter it 

 so it will not be noticeable and arrange the grass or 

 stubble about the aperture, so as to make it resemble 

 that adjoining. Remember that geese have very sharp 

 eyes, and are quick to discover any change in the 

 appearance of a field or sand-bar. When they are 

 feeding some are always on the lookout and act as 

 sentinels, and it is impossible to approach them within 

 range. An ox trained to walk slowly along as though 

 feeding has been used as a blind behind which to ap- 

 proach the birds. 



Geese, like swans, are compelled to arise against the 

 wind, and in California, Mr. Van Dyke says, a wagon 

 may be driven down wind rapidly so as to carry the 

 shooter within range, but the shots must be fired as 

 the vehicle goes tearing along, since there is no time 

 to stop it before the birds are out of range. 



Professional gunners can imitate the call of the 

 geese and often turn them to the decoys by " honking " 

 to them when the birds are passing at long range or 



