WATERFOWL IN NEBRASKA. 9 



persal of the water birds over the country than usual, especially 

 throughout some of the more important groups of lakes. As a conse- 

 quence the numbers on any particular lake were nattirally not pro- 

 portionately so large as they otherwise would have been, hence hunt- 

 ing was somewhat more difficult. Another result of the great amount 

 of water in the country was the high stage of most of the streams. 

 This furnished, along the creeks and more sluggish small rivers, a 

 much greater attraction for water birds than is ordinarily the case, 

 since every marsh of any extent along such streams was converted 

 into an excellent resort for the birds. On the other hand, the large 

 rivers, like the Platte and the Missouri, were so full of water that 

 the sand bars, which ordinarily form a resting place for waterfowl, 

 were in large part covered, and the ducks were therefore inclined 

 to seek more congenial feeding grounds in the still water of the ponds 

 in the hills. 



Under normal conditions, October is the best month for waterfowl 

 hunting in Nebraska, but owing to the mild weather and consequent 

 late season, the October shooting of 1915 was largely confined to the 

 birds which bred in Nebraska or in regions not far to the north. 

 The flight of northern ducks was not fully under way until after 

 the first of November, and as a consequence the northern species, 

 which ordinarily flock about the lakes, ponds, and rivers of the 

 State during the latter part of October, were conspicuous by their 

 absence, or their comparative scarcity. During the first half of 

 November, however, the birds were present in great numbers, ap- 

 parently much greater than has been usual for the past few years; 

 and, probably owing to the mild weather which prevailed at this time, 

 tarrieti in the State longer than ordinarily, many until early De- 

 cember. 



Notwithstanding the high water and consequent scattering of the 

 ducks and the lateness of the flight of northern birds, hunting during 

 that month of October was, on the whole, unusually good; much 

 better, I am informed, than it had been for a number of years. On 

 almost all the best hunting grounds it was possible for any hunter 

 without unusual exertion to obtain a good bag of ducks, and a failure 

 was the great exception. This satisfactory condition of the hunting 

 is credited by the gunners and residents of the region to the dis- 

 continuance of spring shooting, by which has become possible the 

 increase in the number of ducks reared both in Nebraska and 

 farther north. In conversation with numerous hunters and others 

 interested in hunting and the preservation of the game supply, it 

 was noted that with comparatively few exceptions all were very much 

 in favor of the prohibition of spring shooting, for it seems that they 

 are now realizing what this means to the future game supply. 



