Ducks and geese are so wary that a great deal of judgment is required to shoot them. Open shooting is impossible, and they can only be shot from blinds and over decoys. Blinds either on land or water, are built in various fashions, absolute concealment being the chief requirement.

The best time to shoot them is when they are flying to and from their feeding grounds.

CHESAPEAKE RETRIEVING A DEAD DUCK.

DUCK.

A good retriever is necessary to get the dead or wounded birds, and as the birds will weigh from two and a half to three pounds, a dog with a large and strong mouth is needed to be able to bring a bird without dragging it on the ground.

Either a Chesapeake Bay dog or a water spaniel should be used, as the dog will be in and out of the water constantly.

BRANT.

The Chesapeake is the better dog, for he has a large mouth, is strong, has a heavy coat, is at home in the water, can push through drift, slough grass or deep mud and does not care how cold the water is.

For large ducks use No. 4 to No. 6 shot, for teal and the small ducks use No. 7 to No. 8, for goose and brant from No. 2 to No. 3. In all of these use not less than an ounce and a quarter of shot.