American Game 193 



There are, besides, rabbit, hare, woodchuck, marten, 

 skunk, and squirrel. 



In 1896, William F. Fox, superintendent of the state 

 forests, estimated the number of deer in the great north- 

 ern forest as 30,000. A carefully prepared census for 

 the season of 1895 shows that 4,900 were killed by 

 hunters. Of this number, 2,207 were bucks and 2,936 

 does; 2,694 were killed by hounding, 1,233 by jacking 

 or night-hunting, and 973 by still-hunting. The same 

 authority states that deer are increasing in the Adiron- 

 dack region, owing to restrictions in hunting. 



Of the feathered game, the ruffed grouse is the largest 

 of the common native upland game-birds ; there are 

 some Canada grouse or spruce-partridge. Quail are 

 most common in the southern part and Long Island. 

 Woodcock migrate through the state ; so do the various 

 shore- or marsh- birds, and the migratory duck, geese, 

 and brant. Some wild or passenger pigeon are seen, 

 also the Carolina dove. Woodcock remain in central 

 New York late in the season. The wood-duck breeds 

 within the state, and is quite common in the Adiron- 

 dacks. Warwick in Orange county was once a grand 

 country for woodcock and grouse ; it still furnishes annu- 

 ally a great many. Ruffed grouse are very evenly dis- 

 tributed through Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and 

 Washington counties, though Hamilton and Warren 

 perhaps furnish somewhat better sport than the other 

 two. There are also a few spruce-grouse along the 

 Moose river in Hamilton county. 



For woodcock shooting, Saratoga, Washington, and 

 Warren counties stand best, in the order named, a few 

 birds have been killed along the Indian river in Hamil- 



