Goose-shooting 237 



inside, frequenting protected water and the larger 

 ponds on the marshes. Now is the best oppor- 

 tunity for shooting them. Live Canada geese 

 decoys are staked out in front of the blinds, care 

 being taken to tie them in water they can walk 

 in. The favorite locations are small bodies of 

 water or bays in close proximity to the feeding- 

 ground, or points and bars along the line of flight. 

 Should heavy weather break up the large flocks 

 and drive the birds low down, they come to the 

 stool readily and often forty or fifty are killed in 

 a day. The wild decoy appreciates well his part 

 and uses all the means in his power to allure the 

 on-coming birds, calling to them and flapping his 

 wings. 



In the Western states geese feed on stubbles, 

 and they are shot from blinds or pits. If not 

 much hunted they decoy readily, but soon learn 

 to avoid danger. The bird is very fond of spend- 

 ing the night on fresh-water ponds and lakes, and 

 this habit is taken advantage of. At dusk or soon 

 after they begin to arrive, small flocks leading up 

 against the wind, each in the same line. Honk- 

 ing usually betrays their presence, louder and 

 louder until a black line appears for an instant 

 overhead, and the thud of a falling bird follows 

 the gun's flash. A little of this shooting teaches 

 them to come to their resting-place from various 

 directions, high up, and often noiselessly. 



