Forest and Stream. 



Supplement No. i Duck Shooting. 



A MASTER OF THE ART. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



To the lover of the gun no branch of field sports gives 

 more genuine pleasure than wildfowl shooting. Iu early 

 spring the first flight would make me forsake my daily 

 labor and get out my old uiuzzleloader and invest my 

 scanty means in the purchase of wads, caps, powder and 

 shot. The result very likely was scarcely more game 

 than I bad found room to put in the side pocket of my 

 jacket, after tramping all day through mud and water, 

 at times lying flat down on the. prairie, at others crouch- 

 ing in a fence corner trying vainly to hide from some 

 parsing mallard. 



The Illinois river bottom was my home when I made 

 my first attempt at duck shooting. How many weary 

 tramps I made through that black, sticky mud, tired and 

 worn out, darkness overtaking me often before I could 

 reach home. My game in those days usually gave me 

 very little trouble; two ducks I usually considered a 

 decent average, and five or six something to be carried 

 in full view of the unfortunates who did not have any. 



In 1883 Heron Lake, Minn., became my resting place, 

 and during that fall 1 made the acquaintance of C. W. 

 Hamilton, of Windoin, Minn. While chicken shooting I 

 was stopping for dinner at the house of a German farmer, 

 when Hamilton and Sheriff Barlow, who were also out 

 chicken shooting, came in to have their dinner. Hamil- 

 ton, learning that my brother John owned one the finest 

 duck points on Heron Lake, invited himself to be my 

 brother's guest during the ducking season, and said he 

 would give me some points on duck shooting I did not 

 know. 



A native of Henry, Marshall county, 111., Hamilton is 

 one of the best duck hunters I ever knew. He is a dead 

 shot, and an intimate knowledge o£ the habits of wild- 

 fowl, gained from a life spent in their pursuit, enables 

 him to take the advantage of every trick known to the 

 professional duck hunter; and on "the famous Senach- 

 wine Lake, a few miles above Henry, he shot many thou- 

 sand wildfowl. 



Hamilton made his promised visit to my brother's farm, 

 which lies on a point projecting into the marsh that sur- 

 rounds the open lake. To the north of the house is a 

 large marsh, hundreds of acres in extent, and southward 

 runs the marsh bordering it for about three miles. East 

 of the house the dry land terminates in a point, forming 

 one of the finest duck passes in the Northwest. Hamilton 

 made his appearance about 5 o'clock. The evening flight 

 had set in, and mallard, teal, pintail, spoonbill, gad wall, 

 redhead, canvasback, etc., were flying past in quick suc- 

 cession. After unpacking his tent and taking his boat 

 and gun out of the wagon, Hamilton proposed to go and 

 have a shot on the pass. A shot fired by Hamilton to see 

 if any ducks were on the marsh north of the house, had 

 raised up an immense number of mallards and pintails, 

 and they were settling over the marsh in all directions 

 and settling down again. I was in advance, and on my 

 reaching^ the small creek that runs past the point a mal- 

 lard drake took wing. I thought it was too far away, 

 but Hamilton, from behind me, raised his gun arid 

 knocked it stone dead. "Mark south," from Hamilton, 

 made me crouch among the grass, and looking over the 

 canes I saw about a dozen bluewing teal coming down 

 on our left. J ust before they reached us Hamilton rose 

 up, and jerking gun to shoulder cut down three with his 

 first barrel, and, taking time, brought down two more with 

 his second, after which he quietly turned round and 

 asked me why I did not shoot. Looking south just then 

 I saw a half dozen mallards coming down on our left, 

 with a fine large drake slightly in advance. It is too 

 early in the season for the green on the head and neck to 

 be distinguishable, but the light-colored belly showed up 

 plainly and placed his identity beyond a doubt. "Now, 

 show what you can do," whispers Hamilton, "and be 

 sure to swing your gun on the head and slightly in front 

 of the cluck you shoot at, and he's your duck." On they 

 came, unsuspicious of danger. The drake in front, 

 catching sight of us kneeling in the grass, begins to 

 climb upward; but too late. Hamilton, rising to his feet, 

 throws gun to shoulder, and seemingly simultaneously 

 with report the drake throws head back on shoulders and 

 drops stone dead among the canes. The whole bunch 

 are now climbing skyward for dear life, but not before 

 two more respond to Hamilton's second barrel, and drop 

 from midair to terra firma. 



Obeying Hamilton's directions, I singled out one in the 

 rear of the flock, and swinging my gun on his head made 

 a clean kill with my first barrel; but neglecting to allow 

 for the frightened ducks' upward flight, I shot under 

 with the second barrel and made a clean miss. "I guess 

 that's not so bad," was Hamilton's quiet rejoinder to 

 my congratulations on his fine shooting, ' 'if I can't kill 

 ducks I ought to. I've been long enough at the business, 

 and I think after a while I can make you kill them, too. 

 Sit quite still now, and I will show you how T to kill a 

 single bluewing teal coming down wind." 



The teal were now flying thick and fast, and we did 

 not have long to wait. One was now seen coming from 

 the north up the creek, a brisk wind was blowing, and 

 the bluewing was flying fast but low, and going to pass on 

 our left. Now Hamilton whispers tome: "I will kill that 

 duck by shooting 5ft. ahead." Just before it was oppsite 

 Hamilton rose to his feet. The teal must have seen him, 

 but he kept straight ahead, and at the crack of the gun 

 seemed to collapse as if struck by lightning, plunging 

 forward an inert and lifeless mass into the sawgrass that 

 lined the creek. 



"That's the way to groundsweat 'em," was Hamilton's 

 quiet remark as he coolly took the empty shell out of his 

 gun. " When you go duck shooting there's nothing like 

 knowing how," a remark I fully appreciated. 



The sun was now beginning to get low, and as it was 



his first night in a strange place, Hamilton proposed we 

 go to the house and have supper and make preparation 

 for an all-day hunt on mallard, teal, widgeon, pintail and 

 other shoal water ducks next day. An account of this I 

 may lay before your readers, and I may give them the 

 benefit of many valuable hints I received during a long 

 shooting acquaintance with one of the most expert duck 

 hunters I ever knew. Rustic. 



COMFORT IN DUCK SHOOTING. 



THE prevailing opinion among many seems to be that 

 in order to shoot ducks one must "necessarily endure 

 a siege of hardship and suffering similar to that of a North 

 Pole expedition. Even old sportsmen who have for many 

 seasons gathered in their quota of quail, grouse and wood- 

 cock, I have heard vehemently declaim against duck 

 shooting. That there is a way of rendering this sport re- 

 plete with pleasure instead of suffering I will attempt to 

 prove. 



I have had the pleasure (note I say pleasure) of being 

 one of a ducking party for several successive years, and 

 on each and every excursion I have been exposed to all 

 kinds of weather — fair and wet, niild and freezing, gentle 

 southerly breezes and roaring northwesters. Still, I live 

 to tell the tale, and hanker for more of the same. 



To shoot ducks and enjoy the sport, the very first desid- 

 eratum is to be clad properly, so that no matter how 

 .severe and changeable the weather may be, one's blood 

 can be kept in thorough circulation. Remember if the 

 feet are kept dry and warm half the battle is won. Don't 

 be afraid ef dressing too warmly. 



Our party on Barnegat Bay is ensconsed aboard the 

 shooting scow Halcyon, owned by our host, Mr. G., a 

 most genial and entertaining gentleman. It is one o'clock 

 A . M. as we turn out of our wide, roomy bunks to prepare 

 for the coming day's sport. The wind is howling from the 

 northeast, which, together with the surge and pounding 

 of the seas against the Halcyon's flat bow, is very sug- 

 gestive of discomfort, but also of long lines of honking 

 geese and bunches of fowl. 



Through the cabin windows to the eastward Barnegat 

 light can be seen dimly flashing through the mist and 

 darkness. A slight odor of steaming coffee prevails in the 

 room, while a faint sizzling is heard emanating from the 

 kitchen forward, which betokens that we are not to go 

 away hungry. 



The cabin is warm and I strip off my woolen night shirt 

 and in the buff I go to the wash room and sponge from 

 head to foot with cold sea water, then back to the cabin 

 and rub dow with a coarse towel until all aglow. Two 

 pairs of long all wool knee hose are drawn on over a 

 very thick pair of knit wool drawers, outside of which 

 I wear a pair of long red flannel trunks; old heavy panta- 

 loons complete my lower wardrobe. On my feet are 

 seamless woolen felt slippers worn inside of rubber hip 

 boots, purposely large in the feet so as not to impede cir- 

 culation in the slightest degree. 



Two heavy all wool undershirts and a woolen jersey 

 are the next to come on, then a blue flannel shirt, and 

 last my brown duck shooting vest and flannel-lined shoot- 

 ing coat, in the pocket of which is a knit woolen scull 

 cap, which permits of being drawn down over the ears 

 and at the same time protect the back of the neck. 

 Lined, neatly fitting leather gloves and a soft hat com- 

 pletes my rig. 



Of course I have a long heavy ulster for special need, 

 but seldom worn while shooting, as it is clumsy for a 

 gunner. The object of wearing so much underclothing 

 is to do away with h«avy overcoats, which impede rapid 

 movements. Woolen wristlets are very comfortable, as 

 by protecting the wrists the fingers are not so easily 

 stiffened by wet and cold. 



I also have a pair of heavy woolen blankets with one 

 of rubber tucked away in my sneakbox, for more than 

 once have I been forced to remain all night on a point in 

 an open boat, the weather being too bad to permit of my 

 returning to the scow. 



Fitted out in this manner, with plenty of dry meadow 

 hay in the bottom of my box, particularly at the stern, 

 to stuff my feet into, I have serenely enjoyed many a 

 cold wet day with the ducks, while my gunner, though 

 toughened with yeaxs of such exposure, would lie there 

 shivering and teeth chattering. 



If by chance I feel that I am becoming cold, I invaria- 

 bly at once get out of my box and take a short run on 

 the meadows, which soon restores the natural heat. By 

 no means wait until you are chilled. And always avoid 

 stepping into your box with your boots clogged with 

 snow. 



Some may think all this clothing superfluous, but it is 

 not in the least while you are lying motionless and un- 

 protected in an open boat. I always remove my coat 

 and vest while rowing to and from the points, thus hav- 

 ing additional clothing to put on upon the relaxation of 

 exercise. 



I remember well, upon my first ducking trip, how, 

 having been warned by the many stories of the hard- 

 ships a ducker was bound to encounter, I had taken with 

 me, as one of the party claimed, enough underwear for 

 three men, and for half a day endured many jokes cracked 

 at my expense, and listened to much sarcasm in the way 

 of remarks reflectingly cast. I did a little joking myself, 

 however, the next day, when these same men of wisdom 

 expressed a desire to borrow an extra shirt or so. 



One very important item is that these garments are all 

 made of pure wool, not merino or of any cotton mixtures. 

 Bear in mind that wool worn next to the skin is at all 

 times most healthful. Hoping that my hints may prove 

 of value to some uninitiated 1 ask the doubters and 

 skeptics to cease scouting the sport of duck shooting and 

 to give my methods a fair trial. Beoaj>bill. 



CAMPING ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 



FOR many miles along the Mississippi Basin, on either 

 side, the river is bounded by a stretch of low swampy 

 land, ranging in width from one to ten miles. This land 

 in certain seasons of the year is subject to overflows when 

 the river gets on a rampage, which, as with the Nile, 

 generally occurs at stated seasons of the year, usually in 

 the fall and spring, but the spring more especially, when 

 the ice and snow melts from the northern latitudes and 

 comes down with a rush. 



Aside from these overflows, the land, being almost on a 

 level with the river, is continually water soaked and 

 covered with bogs, ponds, running sloughs and lakes; 

 and though immensely fertile, it is unfit for any kind of 

 agriculture; but over this wide range of lowland territory 

 a luxuriant growth of wild grass grows in summer, often 

 to the height of a man on horseback, and so thick as to 

 make many tons of hay to the acre. Certain kinds of 

 this spontaneous wild grass is used for hay where it can 

 be got at by farmers and stock feeders when upland hay 

 is scarce, but more commonly the larger part remains on 

 the ground, and is burned off the next spring for the new 

 crop. In summer the ponds and lakes are covered with 

 water lilies, which spread out their broad leaves and 

 always remain flat on the surface, no matter at what 

 stage of water the lakes may be in. They also have a 

 beautiful flower, rarely obtainable on account of their 

 peculiar place of growing. 



On the eastern bank of the river in Illinois, not far 

 from Burlington, la., the river bottom i3 six or eight 

 miles in width and is bordered by a narrow strip of 

 timber along the river's bank. Li this swamp and marshy 

 land wild ducks and snipe in fall and spring abound. In 

 the spring from the beginning of March until the middle 

 of April, and from the middle of August or first of Sep- 

 tember, till the lakes freeze over in the middle of winter, 

 duck shooting is the main sport. The fowl migrate 

 slowly, feeding upon the surrounding country as they go, 

 until the frosts and freezes finally drive them to the 

 swamps of Arkansas and a more southern climate. A 

 few summer species remain with us all summer and nest 

 in their native swamps, but they are only the few and 

 non-important varieties. They stay in the swamps 

 throughout the day and feed upon the wild rice, which 

 grows in profuse abundance along the edges of the lakes 

 and streams, until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when 

 they take their flight to neighboring cornfields, often 

 going many miles beyond the bluffs in their search for 

 this much loved food. They have been known in early 

 days to create considerable shrinkage in the corn crop, 

 but later this shrinkage has lessened with the diminished 

 quantity of ducks, until now it is not perceptible. 



Several years ago, before duck shooting came into so 

 general practice as a sport, farmers and focal sportsmen 

 could easily supply their own tables with this game by 

 invading their feeding grounds in the cornfields of an 

 evening or morning; but later the ducks were driven out 

 and ceased to haunt their old feeding grounds, until 

 to-day duck shooting is almost entirely confined to the 

 swamps and marshes of the Mississippi. 



The boats used are usually skiffs about eighteen or 

 twenty feet long and are made as light in weight and 

 draft as possible, so as to be easily and quickly handled, 

 as they must be carried where the water is too shallow to 

 row. They are commonly made for two men and two 

 dogs. The men sit in the center of the boat back to back, 

 while in either end is an ammunition box or magazine 

 where all the shooting utensils are kept. Many go into 

 camp when the season becomes good and remain for 

 weeks at the time engaged in this sport, from the city of 

 Burlington and the surrounding country in Illinois. 

 Hardly a week goes by in the duck shooting season but 

 what numerous tents may be seen stretched here and 

 there over this wide waste of marshy country. The camp 

 hunt is one of the most enjoyable seasons of the sports- 

 men, and is looked forward to throughout the whole year 

 with an intense longing. When the ducks have come 

 good, as the hunter terms it, immediate preparation is 

 begun. First of all is procured an old box stove with a 

 few cooking utensils, and then he commences with the 

 commissary department. Bread, coffee and other edibles 

 are provided in bulk. On the highest ground nearest the 

 swamps, with provision made for getting wood and fresh 

 water, the tent is stretched , the stove set up, wood hauled, 

 chopped and everything put in order. Generally three 

 or four go into camp together, one acts as cook, while his 

 companions divide up the success of the hunt with him. 

 It often happens that the best cook is the poorest shot. 

 The cook, however, is privileged to hunt when camp 

 duties do not require his time, but this is not a great deal 

 of the time, as hunting creates a huge appetite. In one 

 of these hunting camps a person may sometimes imagine 

 himself on the Western frontier enjoying the full benefit 

 of the camp life of the cowboys and border settlers. 



Should the weather be dry and not too cold, camp life 

 is very pleasant and enjoyable, as the best shooting is in 

 the early morning and in the evening just before sun- 

 down. One who is in camp can get out before daylight 

 in the morning and can remain out as long as he can see 

 to shoot in the evening, thus having advantage over these 

 who come from their homes many miles out and return 

 the same day. Some of the neighboring towns along the 

 foot of the bluff are almost as favorably located as the 

 camps. From the village of Gladstone it is but two miles 

 out to the nearest point on the lake, in ordinary seasons, 

 but when the river rises the water approaches to within 

 less than a mile of the village. Gladstone is on the C, B. 

 & Q. R. R., and is the centering point for sportsmen com- 

 ing from the East. Here they buy their ammunition and 

 hunting supplies; and it is also one of the shipping points 

 for those having game to sell. Oquawka and New Boston 

 f urther up the river are other points. 



