the minds of ducks \>y their actions, must spend 

 many a day on the marshes. At times some birds 

 will swing in, giving the hunter a long but possible 

 shot. If he hesitates for a minute, his chance is 

 gone; and unless they turn again, he must sit sadly 

 while the flock fades to a dim line in the distance. 

 The greatest fault committed by beginners, how- 

 ever, is that of shooting too soon; and many a 

 splendid shot is lost in this way. There is always 

 a moment when the decoying birds hang for a frac- 

 tion of a section above the stool, or waver between 

 a desire to alight, and a suspicion of their painted 

 dummys. A wonderful picture they make with 

 their graceful necks outstretched, wings bowed, and 

 feet hanging ; and this is the time when the hunter 

 carefully picks out one chosen bird, and swings the 

 old gun into line. 



The beginner will often find to his cost that no 

 matter how full of birds the air looks, the holes 

 between them are still more numerous; and that 

 no matter how large the flock is, each duck shot at 

 should be singled out clearly as the gun is coming 

 to the cheek. 



CALLING DUCKS 



It is possible for the hunter to develop some 

 skill in the use of a duck call. While the call is 

 not infallible in bringing in birds, when used judi- 

 ciously, it will sometimes turn a wavering flock to 

 the stool. Great care should be taken in the use 



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