INTRODUCTION. IN presenting this book to the public, it is with the intention of supplying a long felt want, and to furnish, to those who desire such knowledge a complete exposition of the science of Wild Fowl Shooting as applied to inland waters. The grave responsibility resting on me to successfully complete an undertaking of this character is fully realized; for I am aware that with one exception, no American has ever attempted to write a book exclusively on the subject of Wild Fowl Shooting. To do so, and to do it beyond the scope of intelligent criticism, one must be blessed with peculiar opportunities for observation and study, besides possessed of the gift to disclose to others, in a pleasing and instructive manner, the researches of his mind, and the discoveries. of a life-time, in the forests and fields, with Nature and birds. An inherited love for field sports showed itself in early childhood, and I enjoyed nothing better than to wander through the blossoming fields, along the hillsides, or sitting at some gurgling brook, splashing my feet in the limpid water, to study animal and animated life. The years glided by, and my desire to learn more of birds grew with me,-especially was this the case with wild fowl. I tried to learn of them from books, but what I most wished for, to know how to successfully pursue them with a gun, no man seemed to write of. I can recall how often in those early days I searched every book on sporting literature, desirous of learning. something on this subject. But while books have been written ad infinitum on dogs, sporting reminiscences, boats and game birds, yet on this subject, one I longed for most, the scientific hunting of wild fowl, there appeared but short articles engrafted into other books. My secret disappointment, then, was the spur that urged me to this work, for I resolved that what books denied me, I would learn from wild Nature,-she should be my book. And under the broad canopy of the sky, with the trees, the flowers, the grass and the water, as my classmates, I would accept her as my teacher, and become a pupil who would profit by my opportunities. Knowing there are so many young men who feel as I did, anxious to learn the secrets of wild fowl shooting, it affords me pleasure to present this work, for from it they can learn in a few hours, the results of my life's studies. To those who are more advanced in the art, and who have profited by their experience, my fraternal wish is to present in attractive form, and bring back to them, remembrances of many happy days they have passed in wild fowl shooting. For judging them by myself, one of our greatest pleasures is, when some one paints, with words of truth, scenes we have so often enjoyed. Field sports are either elevating or degrading. I choose to make them the former, and the teachings set forth in this book are of that character. Sportsmen are not and should not be prone to selfishness. I speak to him who by the ties of business cares is bound to close confinement, who enjoys the pure air, the refreshing prairie winds, the glad sunshine, far from city life. One should not hunt for the purpose of seeing what havoc he can make among the feathered tribe, nor participate in indiscriminate slaughter on a chosen side, for club hunts are barbarous; rather let him go forth for wild fowl in the crisp October air, when leaves are fluttering to the earth, when the woods and fields assume a sombre hue, when sighing winds breathe through the tree tops, when the acorns are dropping, and the pattering of the shucks beneath some tall hickory tree tells him the fox squirrel is laying in his winter's store. One who cannot enjoy such scenes, destiny did not intend for a hunter. "Come forth into the light of things, One impulse from the vernal wood A creative mind made all animate things subservient to the will of man, and if the amateur hunter will but try, it is within his power to divine the thoughts of wild fowl as readily as the stars are read in the sky. A study is therefore necessary of the habits and resorts of these birds, where they are going and why, their peculiar calls, whether they are cries of fright, or innocent cacklings of satisfaction. As the mallard is the duck universally found throughout the West, it is the one most fully treated of. Snipe cannot strictly be classified as wild fowl, but being found in the marsh I have taken the liberty to write of them, believing the reader will justify me after reading the article. The ornithological descriptions of wild fowl are taken from Audubon and Wilson, but comparatively few sportsmen care for these scientific portraits of the birds, at the same time they are handy for reference, and, as a sportsman friend says, "there is no one thing that affords the same satisfaction to a hunter, after he has fallen over a brush pile, while chasing a crippled duck, as to be able to express his opinion of that duck in correct ornithological language." Wild fowl shooting is a science; and when one considers how little it is understood by those who think they are experts, it is surprising. Many hunters of means give it no especial thought, although they are excellent shots. They have stated times of going, and certain localities to go to; when they arrive at their destination some local hunter takes them where the birds are and their joy is complete. No need of especial thought on their part, for wealth carves the way to success with them. But to the average hunter, his success depends on his knowledge of the habits of the birds, and unless he is skilled in his calling, he is apt to be disappointed over the day's hunt. There is but one remedy for him, that is, study and observation. The sculling of wild fowl is a science of itself. This method of hunting seems confined to a comparatively small territory of the vast West. In this volume it is explained in its many forms. Possibly the reader may think there is mentioned with great frequency the handling of decoys, the building of blinds, and proper aim, but they are the primary studies, the reading, writing and arithmetic of scientific wild fowl shooting, and must be thoroughly understood before one can think of graduating. They cannot be learned too well, and he who desires to become proficient in this line of hanting should commit them to memory, and make them applicable when the occasion presents itself. The mechanical construction and the choke boring of fire arms I have avoided discussing, for they are secrets of the trade, and could be of no possible benefit to the majority of my readers. This book has not been gotten up for the purpose of advertising any particular gun or ammunition, and the reader will find no partiality in that respect, my sincere desire being, to give to the sporting brotherhood, a book instructive and elevating to the young, full of pleasing reminiscences to the experienced, and one worthy of being a fireside companion in every home; one that your wife or your sister can open and see, that a man can be a sportsman and a gentleman. 2 |