Forest and Stream, November 12, 1885
SOUTHERN DUCKING GROUNDS.
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FROM several authentic sources it is learned that the prospect for good goose and duck shooting this winter, in the waters of Virginia and North Carolina, is very fair. Already a large number of birds have put in an appearance although the weather has been warm. Many of the birds are young ones, which is considered by the coast gunners as a very good sign. Last year there was little or no shooting for brant along our coast. The Hog Islanders who used to supply our markets with these delicious birds made but two small shipments. This year, however, they say it will pay to follow the birds up, and all hands are busy now painting and rigging up their stools. Below are reports from two of the most important fowling grounds on the Atlantic seaboard:
THE VIRGINIA BROADWATERS.
Geese, brant and black ducks are now quite plentiful in the broadwaters between Accomac county and Hog Island. Off Brant Hill there is an abundance of feed, and the brant are bedding there in great numbers. In Burton's Bay, to the north, a number of young brant have been seen. There are blinds at the mouth of Trout Channel, and already some fair bags have been made. At present the best black duck shooting can be had in Cherry Creek and in the creeks running through Matulican marshes. On these marshes there are also great numbers of curlew and sand snipe. A new gunning club, with Mr. Ben West of New York city, at its head, has located, and built a club house on the marshes south of Burton's Bay. The club has a limited number of members -- all old-time sportsmen.
Owing to the filling up of the ponds on Paramore's Beach the black duck shooting on the island is a thing of the past. The salt pond, however, at the north end of the island, has increased in size, and during the northeast storms is a great resort for geese. A party of Northern gunners have taken possession of Revel Island, which lies to the southward of Paramore's Island, and they have been building bush blinds in all the available sinks in the upper broadwater.
The inhabitants of Hog Island and Cobb's Island are preparing for a big gunning season. They say that a very large percentage of the fowl in the bays this year are young birds. Last season there was but little brant shooting in this section, but there is promise that the resident gunners will make up for lost time this winter.
THE CURRITUCK MARSHES.
During the very hard northeast storm in the latter part of October which occurred along the North Carolina coast, the local gunners who frequent the marshes whenever they get a chance have been guilty of more or less poaching on the ducking shores owned and leased by the different shooting clubs. They are at present threatening the frontier owned by the Palmer's Island club, and occasioning no end of trouble to Mr. William S. Foster, the superintendent, and the under keepers. It has therefore been found necessary to erect look-out houses on the marshes, from which the keepers can have a good view of the outside shores. One house has been erected on the outer point of Horseshoe Island. Everything is being done to keep the law-breakers at bay, but they are very obstinate in their attacks, and in some instances have resorted to night shooting.
From the present outlook the shooting at Currituck will be remarkably good this season. There is an abundance of good food. On Oct. 25 there was a good show of ducks in the marshes, and on the 28th ult. the geese began to circle into the Sound. The weather has been warm, and on the main land there has been a great deal of sickness. There has been no frost as yet, the thermometer ranging from 65 degrees to 85 degrees. The Palmer's Island members are making many improvements. They have been erecting a large kennel house for their retrievers and hunting dogs. The mails run via Snowden's Station as last year, no change having been made in the time.