1 6 The Water-fowl Family 



a pass where the shooting is fast there is no time 

 to mark and pick up fallen birds at once, and as a 

 result many are lost. 



During all this fusillade our vehicle with its 

 trusted pair had remained as still as any dead 

 duck ; but for some reason our approach changed 

 their ideas, and to our utter consternation they 

 were actually walking off with two dogs tied to the 

 wheels, protesting. We ran, we yelled, we cursed, 

 did everything to frighten a team that didn't need 

 any stimulation. They broke from a trot to a 

 dead run. Fortunately the dogs had broken loose. 

 My last glimpse of that outfit was a small black 

 spot on the horizon, going like " hell bent." The 

 sequel to our first day's duck-shooting in North 

 Dakota was one night in a haystack. 



OVER DECOYS 



No form of duck-shooting is so common as 

 that in which decoys are used. The habit our 

 wild fowl have of flocking together makes the 

 wooden images, even in places where gunning 

 is constant, irresistible. In our more popular 

 resorts, however, wild ducks are wary, perhaps 

 warier than ever, but there are few that do not 

 sooner or later yield to the attractions of a decoy. 

 Often, though, little defects in the decoys are 

 noticed and incoming birds appreciate the mis- 

 take in time to turn off ; hence the greatest care 



