CHAPTER XI. 



DUCKS AND WESTERN DUCK-SHOOTING. 



In the spring of the year, after the ducks have 

 come from their 'wintering-places, there is often 

 some very cold weather, and, though all but the 

 running streams are frozen over, the wild fowl 

 never go back again, if they can possibly avoid it. 

 Their instinct is very strong against turning to 

 the southward at that season of the year. At 

 such times, and at any other times, when the ice 

 is thick, a good blind may be built of it near the 

 open water, and much sport may be had. The 

 shooter must of course expect to be cold, and he 

 will be very cold while waiting for ducks in hard 

 weather, especially when he waits a long time in 

 vain. But the coming in of the ducks in good 

 flights raises the spirits, stimulates the circulation 

 of the blood, and revives the warmth of the body. 

 I have sometimes got so cold that I could hardly 

 charge my muzzle-loading gun; but good sport 

 soon changed that. The shooting along the Illi- 



183 



