September, 1920 
FOREST AND STREAM 
521 
about. The ducks should be shot in the 
air after they have taken to flight at the 
approach of the boat. No sportsman 
deserving of the name would shoot a 
duck on the water, unless it was a 
wounded bird, nor shoot in company with 
any one else doing so. 
Jumping ducks, as it is termed, is a 
favorite method of taking the river- 
ducks. In many of the fresh water 
marshes there is sufficient water to per- 
mit a light-draft boat to move about 
among the tall rushes and wild rice. 
The sportsman takes his position in the 
bow and is pushed rapidly along b y a 
punter who propels the boat with a long 
pole. Many of the ducks feeding on the 
grounds arise within range. 
In this form of sport, much depends 
on the punter. He should know how to 
handle the boat, to send it swiftly 
through the reeds and steady it for the 
shot. He should be able to mark closely 
the dead and wounded ducks. He should, 
of course, be thoroughly familiar with 
the marshes and know where the boat 
can go, as well as where and when the 
ducks are most plentiful. Such men are 
to be found on many of the shooting 
grounds, where their services are in 
great demand during the hunting season. 
A sportsman who is familiar with the 
marsh and the handling of the boat may 
go forth alone to jump the ducks. In 
this case he must be quick in changing 
the pole for the gun as the game flushes. 
I have spent some most enjoyable days in 
the marshes both with a punter and 
without one, but, I believe, I have en- 
joyed more the days when I have done 
my own pushing and shooting — cruising 
alone through the tall, rustling reeds or 
down the clear water lanes between the 
beds of brown rice stalks. 
The river-ducks are often taken by 
the sportsman who walks quietly along 
the banks of the rivers, sloughs or small 
streams and shoots the ducks as they 
take alarm and arise from the water. 
The 12-gauge is the proper gun for 
river-duck shooting, although the heavier 
10-gauge may be used to advantage when 
shooting these birds on a pass, where 
the shots are usually at long range. 
The shot used is generally smaller than 
that used for the sea-fowl since the dab- 
bling ducks, having lighter plumage, are 
less difficult to kill. Generally speaking, 
number 6 shot is the best all-around size. 
Number 4 or 5 may be used when there 
is a strong wind blowing or when the 
shots are at rather long range. On the 
other hand, the smaller number 7’s are 
amply large when jumping the ducks in 
the marshes where the birds arise close 
to the boat. The gun should be full 
choke bored. 
For the 12-gauge, 3 to 3% drams of 
smokeless powder are used for general 
work, while the load is increased to 3% 
drams when long shots are the rule. 
Guns smaller than the 12-gauge are 
sometimes used for ducking. The full 
choke 16-gauge, and even the 20-gauge, 
have proven most effective when in the 
hands of a good shot. Shooting with 
these small guns requires a greater 
amount of skill than is necessary with 
the larger bores since the number of 
pellets contained in the smaller shells 
are naturally less and the killing area 
in SMean Weather 
MASE 
On cold Fall Days with their chill 
rains and penetrating mists, or in 
biting winter winds that nip your 
nose and fingers, you can keep warm 
and comfortable with a 
OUTDOOR SHIRT 
the shirt designed especially for out- 
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tough as iron. Built for action — it 
breaks the wind and protects against 
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Ask your Dealer to show you a Windbreaker 
HILKER-WIECHERS MFG. CO. 
1257 Mound Ave., Racine, Wis. 
Cj 
WARNING: 
"Every Genuine Signal 
•Shirt has this Trade 
Aiahk below the collar 
band. 
Without this Trade 
Mark it isn't a Signal. 
At Our New Store 
GENUINE 
Mannlicher-Schoenauer Rifles 
. . *£0?EL 1903 MODEL 1903 MODEL 1905 MODEL 1910 
6.5 M.M., .256 Bore 8 M.M., .315 Bore 9 M.M., .355 Bore 9.5 M.M., .374 Bore 
All Models $92.50 With Telescope, $150.00 
Light weight. One piece 
stock and forearm. Bolt 
action. Perfect balance. 
V L.& D' 
INCORPORATED 
.New York, 
Double set triggers. Five- 
cartridge revolving maga- 
zine. Checkered half pis- 
tol grip. 
This shipment, the largest yet to arrive, offers a wide range of selection at 
prices that cannot he equalled in America. 
VON LENGERKE & DETMOLD, Inc. 
414 Madison Avenue, New York 
(Note change of address) 
In Writing to Advertisers mention Forest and Stream. It will identify you. 
