FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



381 



sand bars, surrounded by shallow water, 

 which is the character of the lighting 

 ground sought by geese. 



Before daylight we were on the river. 

 After rowing a mile, we selected a favorable 

 bar and set the decoys. We next dug pits 

 at a convenient distance from them. Get- 

 ting into these we awaited results. Geese 

 and ducks were flying, but out of range. 

 We stayed in the pits until 11 o'clock; then, 

 being satisfied there would be no shooting 

 that morning, we picked up the decoys, 

 rowed to land and returned to the house. 



Before we had finished dinner, the ex- 

 pected snow-storm broke. Our joy was un- 

 bounded, for this meant good shooting. 

 We again started for the river, but decided 

 on another bar for our afternoon shooting, 

 and were soon ready for business. It was 

 now 3.30 o'clock, so we could expect no 

 shooting for an hour. 



It continued to snow, and a cold, damp 

 wind made it uncomfortable for us. Then, 

 too, a pit, dug in a sandbar in the middle 

 of the Missouri river, is not dry. After an 

 hour of waiting we espied, coming up the 

 river, a mile or so away, a flock of geese. 



Closer and closer they came; then they 

 began to circle. Twice they circled before 

 being satisfied all was well. Then down 

 they swooped, with loud squawks, and 

 noisy flapping of wings. We waited until 

 they were within 15 yards, then jumped to 

 our feet. With my first barrel I hit a big 

 fellow, hard, and with the second dropped 

 another. My companion dropped one and 

 wounded another, which got into the river 

 and gave us a hard chase with the boat, 

 but it ended in his capture. 



We had just got settled in the pit again 

 when straight for us came a flock of teal 

 ducks, out of which we brought down 4; 

 one, however, getting into the river, made 

 its escape. Another flock of geese soon ap- 

 peared, like specks, in the distance. They 

 saw our decoys and made for them, but 

 were suspicious and gave us no shots. 



This flock was scarcely out of sight when 

 another made for the decoys, but we had 

 to take them at long range, and killed but 

 one. 



The next shot was also at long range. I 

 wounded one bird, but my companion 

 missed. 



My bird fell 150 yards away and got into 

 the river. Getting the boat I started after 

 him, but owing to increasing darkness he 

 got away. I was partly recompensed for 

 this loss by bringing down a stray duck. 

 My friend knocked down another goose, at 

 long range, but falling into the river, the 

 bird got away. 



As it was now too dark to shoot, we 

 rowed to the landing, and reached the home 

 of our friend about midnight, thoroughly 

 tired, but contented with the world. 



James F. Prentiss. 



HOW HE WON HER. 



Crawford, Neb. 

 Editor Recreation: As one of your 

 readers, I desire to thank you for your un- 

 tiring efforts, and to congratulate you on 

 your great success, in making Recreation 

 a household pet. In showing Recreation 

 to my friends I always tell them it is the 

 next thing to going hunting or fishing, and 



1 advise all lovers of field sports to sub- 

 scribe. 



My wife and 2 children often gather 

 around and ask me to read the hunting and 

 fishing stories aloud. 



Near Crawford we have 15 lakes (made 

 by irrigation ditches), the largest covering 

 240 acres. These lakes furnish good duck 

 shooting in fall and spring. They are 

 stocked with fish, but these are not large 

 enough to catch. White river runs through 

 the town, and it was stocked with trout, 

 about 8 years ago. Now we have trout- 

 fishing at home. We also planted quails 

 a few years ago, and they are now getting 

 quite numerous; while grouse and rabbits 

 are plentiful near town. 



I will tell how I got my wife's consent 

 to go hunting and fishing. She used to 

 grumble, and consented to my going only 

 on the ground that I needed outdoor ex- 

 ercise. 



One evening I went home and asked her 

 if she would like to take a ride. Of course 

 she consented, so I told her to get the 

 children ready while I hitched up the 

 horses. 



She did not see me put my gun and boots 

 into the buggy, and so did not discover my 

 intentions. 



We drove to a small lake, where I ex- 

 pected to find ducks. I put on my waders, 

 took my gun and asked my boy to go with 

 me. 



I then told her to drive to the next hill, 

 where she would be in full sight of the lake, 

 and she would see us shoot ducks. 



The boy and I went round the hill, get- 

 ting up a flock of mallards. I got 5 with 2 

 shots. The flock circled, and I dropped 



2 more. Then they came past a second 

 time, and I killed another double, making 

 9 altogether. 



Looking toward the hill, I saw my wife 

 standing in the buggy, waving her arms 

 and wildly shouting, " See them fall! " 

 Gathering the birds, we carried them to the 

 buggy and dropped them at her feet. 



" I'll never scold you again for going 

 hunting," she said; "that was more fun 

 than I have had all summer. I am going 

 with you every time I get a chance." 



We drove home, feeling we had had a 

 pleasant ride. I often take my family now, 

 when I go hunting or fishing, and they 

 enjoy it as much as I. 



S. 



