n d of the Wild Goose 



visitors a unique glimpse into history. 



The abundance of migrating waterfowl 

 had drawn hunters to the Currituck region 

 since before European settlers arrived. After the 

 Civil War. hunting tales told by Union soldiers 

 inspired wealthy northern businessmen to buy 

 land, construct lodges and open private hunting 

 clubs along the northern Outer Banks. 



In the early 1900s. the shallow sound 

 supported vast wild celery beds that the ducks 

 fed on — especially Currituck's "signature" 

 duck, the canvasback. Scaup, or "bluebill," 

 and migrating Canada geese also were regular 

 winter residents. 



About that time, almost all of Currituck 

 Banks belonged to one of several private hunt 



By Erin S e- 1 i i ft j 



clubs. Club founders were wealthy beyond 

 what local landowners could imagine, and each 

 club had thousands of acres of land. 



"The amounts of acreage under control 

 by some of these clubs was mind-boggling. 

 4-, 5- and 6,000 acres of marsh and open water 

 in cases," says T. Edward Nickens, Field and 

 Stream editor-at-large. 



Continued 



