166 WILD-FOWL 



sadly interfere with a good morning's shooting, since 

 the shooting is best in the hour just after sunrise, and, 

 when the blind is some distance from the house, the 

 time consumed in going to it is the time when the 

 shooting should be done. The first few hours of the 

 morning and the last few hours of daylight are the 

 best for duck shooting. The birds are then flying 

 about and feeding and are allured by the decoys. 

 The flight will continue longer on wild, windy, stormy 

 days. On still warm days there is often a poor flight 

 in the morning, which ceases at an early hour, and 

 throughout the rest of the day until just before sun- 

 down not a bird will be seen in the air. At such times 

 the sportsmen may be observed standing up in their 

 blinds and looking at the rafts of ducks which float 

 quietly on the water far out of reach of the guns. 



When a flock of ducks observes the decoys they will 

 often turn and head straight toward them, but usually 

 circle about before alighting. As the birds come near 

 it is of the utmost importance to remain absolutely 

 motionless. The ducks have sharp eyes and will surely 

 see the slightest move on the part of the sportsman 

 and instantly be gone. Should the concealment be 

 only partial when the birds are discovered approach- 

 ing the blinds do not try to better it, but remain ab- 

 solutely still. The fact that the ducks have headed 

 toward the decoys indicates they have not seen the 

 shooter, but if he lower his head or make any other 

 move in the endeavor to better his concealment the 

 birds will certainly escape. 



When the ducks are well up to the decoys, and not 

 before, it is time to shoot. The first shot is an easy 



