American Game 197 



interferes with the hatching of birds ; but a favorable 

 summer seems to restore depleted covers quickly. 

 Much of the country where quail, ruffed grouse, and 

 woodcock may be found plentiful is posted ; the same is 

 true of the deer-shooting country, though there are 

 many places where sportsmen can hunt without being 

 disturbed as trespassers. 



There are a great many wild deer on Long Island. 

 The law permits killing every alternate two years. It 

 is said they are most abundant within a territory of 

 about sixty square miles, extending from Central Islip 

 on the north, southeast to Bayport and southwest to 

 Islip. A portion of this territory, however, is a club 

 preserve, the Southside Club at Oakdale, which con- 

 trols 5,000 acres where no deer are shot. There are 

 also other smaller tracts leased by sportsmen, besides 

 estates the owners of which forbid shooting. Many 

 deer are killed during the brief open season by sports- 

 men from Patchogue, Bayport, Sayville, and Islip. 



Westhampton, at the eastern end of Long Island, is 

 an excellent place for bay-bird shooting, plover and 

 yellowlegs being most abundant. Shinnecock bay has 

 long been famous for wild fowl shooting, and Good 

 Ground on Long Island is a good place for the sport. 

 Broad-bill, black duck, coot, and sheldrake are perhaps 

 the most common duck killed, although nearly all the 

 migratory duck are shot during the season ; also geese, 

 brant, and an occasional swan. 



