WATERFOWL IN NEBRASKA. 9 
persal of the water birds over the country than usual, especially 
throughout some of the more important groups of lakes. As a conse- 
quence the numbers on any particular lake were naturally not pro- 
portionately so large as they otherwise would have been, hence hunt- 
ing was somewhat more difficult. Another result of the great amount 
of water in the country was the high stage of most of the streams. 
This furnished, along the creeks and more sluggish small rivers, a 
much greater attraction for water birds than is ordinarily the case, 
since every marsh of any extent along such streams was converted 
into an excellent resort for the birds. On the other hand, the large 
rivers, like the Platte and the Missouri, were so full of water that 
the sand bars, which ordinarily form a resting place for waterfowl, 
were in large part covered, and the ducks were therefore inclined 
to seek more congenial feeding grounds in the still water of the ponds 
in the hills. 
Under normal conditions, October is the best month for waterfowl 
hunting in Nebraska, but owing to the mild weather and consequent 
late season, the October shooting of 1915 was largely confined to the 
birds which bred in Nebraska or in regions not far to the north. 
The flight of northern ducks was not fully under way until after 
the first of November, and as a consequence the northern species, 
which ordinarily flock about the lakes, ponds, and rivers of the 
State during the latter part of October, were conspicuous by their 
absence, or their comparative scarcity. During the first half of 
November, however, the birds were present in great numbers, ap- 
parently much greater than has been usual for the past few years; 
and, probably owing to the mild weather which prevailed at this time, 
tarried in the State longer than ordinarily, many until early De- 
cember. 
Notwithstanding the high water and consequent scattering of the 
ducks and the lateness of the flight of northern birds, hunting during 
that month of October was, on the whole, unusually good; much 
better, I am informed, than it had been for a number of years. On 
almost all the best hunting grounds it was possible for any hunter 
without unusual exertion to obtain a good bag of ducks, and a failure 
was the great exception. This satisfactory condition of the hunting 
is credited by the gunners and residents of the region to the dis- 
continuance of spring shooting, by which has become possible the 
increase in the number of ducks reared both in Nebraska and 
farther north. In conversation with numerous hunters and others 
interested in hunting and the preservation of the game supply, it 
was noted that with comparatively few exceptions all were very much 
in favor of the prohibition of spring shooting, for it seems that they 
are now realizing what this means to the future game supply. 
