Goose-shooting 209 



the day came in the evening at the'Club, and with 

 a pipe before the fireplace those birds were all 

 shot over. 



IN THE STUBBLES 



Throughout the West, geese frequent the stub-, 

 ble fields, and here they are often shot from pits 

 or shacks ; pits are by far the most satisfactory 

 means when it is possible to dig them. It is often 

 desirable to allow the birds to feed about the 

 changed surroundings for a time before attempt- 

 ing to use decoys ; then if they happen to come in 

 small relays instead of in a large flock, there may 

 be a good chance. To me this form of shooting 

 is particularly attractive, and I recall many times 

 my first experience in a goose pit. 



It was several years ago, in October, and 

 about the middle of the month, that young Jim 

 Bosworth walked into the kitchen of the Bos- 

 worth farm with the information that there was a 

 big flock of geese feeding on the west stubble. 

 This was news we had been waiting two weeks 

 for. Jim had seen the geese that afternoon, and 

 it was a question if it wouldn't be a good plan to 

 let them alone awhile with a little corn for en- 

 couragement. I had then a first goose to kill, and 

 the thought of putting off a matter of this sort 

 didn't especially appeal. We compromised on 

 one day ; during this time they were to get corn, 

 the next morning Jim was to dig the pit, and the 



