FOX, COOX, SKUNK, OFOSSUM, BABBIT 
A MANUAL OF WILD-FOWL SHOOTING 
(continued FEOil PAGE 593) 
flight the dnck will into the charge. 
The point of aim should be yards, not 
feet, ahead of a duck passing at fairly 
long range. Very few birds indeed are 
missed by “leading” them too much, 
many are lost by shooting behind them. 
Sculling for ducks is an interesting 
form of sport to»those who prefer pursuit 
to ambush. A small, light boat is used. 
The decks are covered with rushes or 
grass to conceal it and hunter within 
from the sharp eyes of the ducks. The 
hunter propels the craft by working an 
oar from the stern. Much skill is often 
required to get within range of a flock on 
the open water. Although this method 
is not productive of as many birds as 
shooting over decoys, it is exciting sport, 
nevertheless, where experience plays 
a large part and where there is oppor- 
tunity for healthful exercise. 
The shooting from a line of boats and 
the tolling of ducks with dogs will be 
described in connection with the birds 
so taken. 
Sailing after ducks was a method used 
on the Long Island bays and elsewhere, 
but this form of pursuit was found to 
drive the fowl away. It is now generally 
prohibited. 
S EA-DUCK shooting calls for warm 
flannels, heavy corduroys, rubber 
boots and water-proof coats and caps. 
The clothing should by all means resemble 
the marsh grass or other natural cover 
in color. 
It was the fashion some years ago to 
use large gauge guns and large shot in 
hunting ducks. The guns and sizes of 
shot used today are generally smaller. 
8-gauge and 10-gauge guns were the 
popular bores in the past. Even the 
mighty 4-gauge was used at ducks, as 
well as in swan and goose shooting. It 
is admitted that these big guns, loaded 
with heavy charges of powder and 
large shot did do wonderfully effective 
work on the wild fowl. But there were 
many more ducks then than there are 
now. Sportsmen did not consider game 
conservation then, nor did there seem any 
need for it as there is today. 
The 4-gauge is practically never seen 
today The 8-gauge is generally con- 
fined to a few blinds on the bays and 
sounds in shooting geese. The 10-gauge 
is more often seen but even this gun is 
fast giving ground to the standard 12- 
gauge. There are now laws in some 
states prohibiting the use of guns 
larger than the lO-gau.ge. 
The 12-gauge is large enough for gen- 
eral purposes. A strong shooting, full- 
choked gun of this bore will, in the 
hands of a good shot kill enough ducks 
to make the bag limit as now provided 
by law in many states. Smaller gauges 
than the 12 are sometimes used in shoot- 
ing ducks but with the use of these 
guns there is always the chance of wound- 
ing birds which may not be recovered 
and a sportsman wishes to kill outright 
every bird shot at if possible. 
Number 4 or 5 shot is the proper size 
<or the sea-ducks. Where the snooting 
is at unusually long range or when there 
is a very strong Vv^ind blowing, number 
2 or 3 will prove more effective. The 
velocity of the heavier pellets is greater, 
they are less effected by a cross-wind, 
and the Idliing range is increased. 
On the other hand, the smaller pellets 
make a better pattern and the chances 
for striking the duck in a vital spot is 
increased. I have used B B shot and 
2’s on the sea-ducks, and at other times 
as small shot as number 7. From 3^/i 
to 3% drams of powder is used in the 
12-gauge, and as much more as the gun 
will shoot to advantage in the 10-gauge. 
A retrieving dog is sometimes used in 
duck shooting. The Chesapeake Bay dog 
is the best for this purpose. This breed 
is a powerful water-dog, able to stand 
the roughest weather and coldest waters, 
and to find a wounded duck or goose in 
the thickest rushes. These dogs are own- 
ed by some who shoot on Chesapeake 
Bay, Currituck Sound and elsewhere. 
They are trained to remain motionless 
in the blind until ordered to retrieve. 
The wild ducks pass through the United 
States in the early spring on their way 
to the North where they build their nests 
and rear their young. In the West many 
ducks breed within the northern boundary 
of our states, while many more go far 
within the Arctic Circle. 
It v/as formerly lawful to shoot ducks 
in the spring, hut this practice was ex- 
tremely destructive and unsportsmanlike 
and has been prohibited throughout the 
country. With the stopping of spring 
shooting, the number of ducks which 
bi'eed within our borders is increasing 
each year. 
In the fall the ducks, with the young 
of the year, return to the United States 
and move on southward with the advance 
of winter and the freezing over of the 
waters. 
The number of ducks which formerly 
came to the bays and sounds along the 
coasts is almost beyond belief. Flocks 
of countless thousands were a common 
sight and there were often acres upon 
acres of birds resting on the water. In 
the West, in the great marsiies and lake 
regions of the interior, the ducks were 
as plentiful as they were along the coasts. 
Today they come in sadly depleted num- 
bers. but they are still abundant in cer- 
tain sections. With the passing of wise 
game laws and, what is more to the point, 
with the ever-increasing willingness of 
American sportsmen to give these laws 
their full co-operation, the ducks have a 
fair chance to hold their own, if not to 
I’e-attain their old numbers. 
Jn the forthcomino articles the differ- 
ent varieties of seo-dacks icill he con- 
sidered. [Editoks] 
KENTUCKY’S PRIDE KENNELS OF FAL- 
moiitli, Ky., offers for sale fox, cat, wolf, deer, 
bear, lion, coon, opossum, -varmint and rabbit 
hounds. Also youngsters, all of the best breeds. 
All dogs shipped on trial, purchaser to judge 
quality. Satisfaction guaranteed or money re- 
funded. 
TWO FINE RABBIT HOUNDS, $15 EACH. 
Also young hounds that are trailing, $10 each. 
II. C. Sparks, West Union, Ohio. 
WESTMINSTER KENNELS, TOWER HILL, 
Illinois, offers coon, skunk, opossum and rabbit 
hounds on ten days trial. Dogs just beginning 
to trail ten dollars. Choice pups. We take Lib- 
erty B onds and War Savings Stamps. 
MISCELLANEOUS ’ 
SIX LLEWELLYNS, 3 to 9 MONTHS OLD, 
choicest of breeding, close up to Mohawk II and 
Count Whitestone; large, healthy, farm " raised 
puppies, nicely marked; sure to please and sold 
on approval. V. J, Miclialek, Victor, Iowa. 
MISCELLANEOUS 
BEAGLES, BROKEN RABBIT HOUNDS, 
puppies, coon, fox, skunk dogs, cavies, rabbits. 
Trial. M. W. Baubletz, Seven Valleys, Penn- 
sylvania. 
FOR SALE— RABBITS, ALL KINDS; PEDI- 
gieed stock. Thoroughbred coon and fox hound 
pups. John Julius, Norman Station, Indiana. 
FOR SALE— REGISTERED ENGLISH BULL 
dogs. J. R. Mayo, Cedar Falls, Iowa. 
HOUNDS AND HUNTING — MONTHLY 
Magazine featuring the hound. Sample free.^ 
Address Desk F, Hounds and Hunting, Decatur, 
Illinois. 
MANGE, ECZEMA, EAR CANKER GOITRE, 
sore eyes cured or no charge; write for particu- 
lars. Eczema Remedy Company, Dept. F., Hot 
Springs, Arkansas. 
NORWEGIAN BEAR DOGS— IRISH WOLF 
Hounds, English Bloodhounds, Russian Wolf 
hounds, American Fox Hounds, Lion, Cat, Deer, 
Wolf, Coon and Varmint Dogs; fifty page highly 
illustrated catalogue, 5^ stamps. Eookwood Ken- 
nel s. Lexington. Kentucky. 
TERRIERS 
FOR SALE— IRISH TERRIER PUPPIES, 
three months old, by Balleymooney Fireaway ex 
a Chilmark Mrs. Feely bitch. Excellent specimens. 
Strong and healthy. $50.00 and up. C. A. Long, 
Barrington. 111. 
Ten-A-Scc Farm Kennels 
The Home of 
U. R. FISHEL’S NOTED POINTERS 
The World's Best Bird Dogs, 
offer hich-rlass shooting clogs, brood bitches end 
rliolce puppies. In Studs I offer the World's Best 
Bird Dog Sires. Kvery dog is better than repre- 
sented and satisfaction guaranteed. Am in a posi- 
tion to board or train your dog in the best manner 
possible. Please write for terras and information. 
N'ew catalogues will be ready for raailing about 
November ISth. 
Ten-A-See Farm Kennels, Bex 16S-C, Paris, Tennessee 
W. E. Lucas, Educator 5. Barton Lasater, Prop. 
J. KANNOFSKY 
Practical 
Glass Blower 
SPORTMEN’S HEAD-QUARTERS 
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S lORlbMEN all over AmeilCd will be manufacturing purposes a Bpecialtr. 
interested in the unique “Sports- Send for prices. All kinds of heads and skull* 
men's Headquarters” which has just for furriers and taxidermists. ^ 
been opened in New York, on ^fth STREET NEW YORK 
Avenue at 40th Street. It provides a 
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