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RECREATION. 



A CAMP HUNT IN ONTARIO. 



The morning of November 8 Bob and 

 I put out in a skiff from Sheguindah bay, 

 Manitoulin island. We were bound across 

 North channel for a hunting trip on the 

 Canadian mainland. We rowed hard all 

 day through channels between the beautiful 

 pine-clad islands so numerous in those wa- 

 ters. It was late in the evening when we 

 reached the North shore and landed at 

 Flat point. There we pitched tent, pur- 

 posing to remain if we found game abun- 

 dant. 



The tall timber grows to the water's 

 edge at that point; while 500 yards or so 

 from shore a high rock ledge runs parallel 

 with the lake, pierced at intervals by deep 

 ravines choked with underbrush. Altogeth- 

 er it seemed a likely place for grouse and 

 deer, and even for larger game. 



Soon after we turned in, a furious gale 

 sprang up, with occasional flurries of snow. 

 The tent was sheltered from the storm by 

 the ridge behind it, but we were several 

 times awakened by the roar of the wind 

 through the pines or the whistle of some 

 tempest-tossed steamer on the lake. 



At early dawn I heard the flutter of 

 wings just outside the tent. I grabbed my 

 rifle and, telling Bob our breakfast had 

 come to us, stole out. Three grouse were 

 perched in a tree near the tent. A bird's 

 head is a difficult mark in the dim light of 

 dawn. My first shot was a clean miss ; my 

 second scored, and a headless grouse flut- 

 tered to the ground. 



At breakfast we vowed we would have 

 venison for supper, but though we hunted 

 faithfully all day and saw many tracks we 

 had to be content with another bird. 



The second day we had better luck. 

 While cautiously beating up a small ravine 

 I saw a large buck about 50 yards ahead. 

 He was browsing maple saplings and stood 

 almost facing me. Presently he shifted 

 enough to expose his shoulder and I fired, 

 the bullet striking where I aimed and go- 

 ing clear through. 



With a prodigious bound he started on a 

 course that brought him within 30 feet of 

 me. Then I fired again, but the bullet 

 evidently passed in front of him, for its 

 only effect was to turn his rush directly 

 toward me. Whether he really intended to 

 charge me I do not know. At any rate, I 

 gave him credit at the time for that amount 

 of pugnacity and lost no time in side-step- 

 ping. The buck dashed past me and into a 

 tangle of fallen timber, .where he fell. Be- 

 fore he could regain his feet I got in a 

 shot 'that finished him. 



We spent several days at the point, and 

 before they were over Bob also killed a 

 deer. In addition we brought down a good 

 bunch of grouse and other birds. 



L. H. Trotter, Sheguindah, Ont, Can. 



IF YOU WOULD LIVE NEXT TO 

 NATURE, READ RECREATION. 



DUCK SHOOTING ON THE MISS- 

 ISSIPPI. _" 



The April day was fast drawing to a 

 close when I alighted at a little station 

 on the banks of the Mississippi, in Iowa. 

 I was met by Frank and Lew, 2 of the 

 boys who had reached the club house, just 

 across the. river, that same morning. 



Daybreak next morning found us trudg- 

 ing with guns and dogs toward one of the 

 marshes close to the river, there to put out 

 our decoys and await the first streak of 

 dawn and flight of ducks. Just as it was 

 light enough to see I heard Lew's 10-bore 

 and turning saw a flock of cannonballs 

 almost over my decoys. Pulling on the 

 leader I doubled him up at about 50 yards, 

 but scored a clean miss with my second. 

 In a few minutes I heard Frank, who was 

 some hundred yards above me, fire twice. 

 His shots scattered the flock and a single 

 bird headed my way, which I bagged in 

 good shape. After waiting until the :sun 

 was well up we started back, not having a 

 chance at another bird. 



That evening the shooting was equally 

 poor; Frank bagging 2 mallards and Lew 

 one, while I had to be content with an 

 empty bag. 



In the morning we were delighted to 

 find that the rain of the evening before had 

 turned to a fine snow, which promised 

 sport galore for that day. Making rather 

 a late start we headed for Goose pond, 

 back from the river and well sheltered 

 by a thick growth of willows around its 

 borders. At the pond and before we could 

 place our decoys to our satisfaction, a 

 flock of about 20 cannonballs came right 

 over us. Hastening ashore and taking our 

 places a few rods apart, we were soon 

 ready. After a short interval a lone duck 

 came within easy, range and I dropped it 

 with my left. Lew shot almost at the 

 same time at a small flock, making a 

 double. 



By that time the snow was so blinding 

 that we could barely see the ducks as 

 they dropped over our decoys. They were 

 coming in flocks, and we had as lively 

 shooting, for about an hour, as heart could 

 wish. We had been so busy with the ducks 

 that when a lull came in their flight, we 

 were surprised to find the storm had 

 cleared and the sun was shining. We 

 knew that ended the snort for the day at 

 least, and after a short wait we pulled up 

 our decoys and started for camp. A count 

 of birds showed we had 32 ; so concluding 

 we had our full share we decided to break 

 camp the next morning. 



Chas. P. Hanley, Iowa City, la. 



The ad I inserted in Recreation for a 

 hammerless gun found me a great bargain. 

 I entered ad in 4 other sportsmen's jour- 

 nals and find Recreation is the leader. 



C. L. Daugherty, Fairmount, 111. 



