340 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



by pulling up several hills of corn and standing them 

 together ; then set the decoys out a rod or two from the 

 edge of the corn. If a stubble adjoins the field, set them 

 on the stubble. While it is not probable that they will 

 come in directly to the decoys, yet they will be less sus- 

 picious upon seeing what, to them, appears to be another 

 flock. 



In the spring of the year, wild geese are so uncertain 

 in their habits, and so erratic in their flights, in Nebraska 

 and Dakota, that even were not spring shooting to be 

 discountenanced on general principles, it is poor sport 

 hunting them. I have never known them to decoy at 

 this season of the year; and they never seem to be twice 

 in the same place. 



The general directions I have given for hunting the 

 wild goose in Dakota, will apply to Nebraska and all 

 the Western States and Territories, where their habits are 

 nearly the same. Years ago, the best goose -shooting in 

 the United States was to be had along the Platte River, 

 in Nebraska. Aside from excellent stubble-field and corn- 

 field shooting, there was superb shooting on the sand- 

 bars of the river. The usual method of building a blind 

 on a sand-bar is to sink a barrel, or water-tight box, in 

 the sand, around which is thrown pieces of drift- Avood or 

 brush, the whole so constructed as to leave the imme- 

 diate surroundings as natural and undisturbed as possible. 

 If the box is clear from brush or debris, none should be 

 employed in arranging the blind. Into the box a shal- 

 low one can be placed some hay for the hunter to lie 

 on, and around about it are placed the decoys. If the 

 weather is clear and fair, and particularly on moonlight 

 nights, the geese prolong their afternoon visits to the 

 stubbles until late in the evening, and the concealed 

 hunter often gets fine shooting by the light of the 

 moon. 



