122 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



kept " cleaned out " near the towns, but in most places a mail route, 

 which carries passengers, extends to some country post-office. On 

 the route northwest from Des Moines good sport is to be had after 

 ducks about the numerous ponds, wading in the shallow water and 

 "jumping them up." About August 20th they begin to resort to 

 the stubble fields morning and evening, and make good shooting 

 there. Sand hill and white cranes are also there, but veiy shy. 

 The other route abounds in high, rolling ground, affording splen- 

 did views, and is absolutely free from malaria, and in almost every 

 hollow clear pure water is found. No game there but Grouse^ 

 and rattlesnakes. There are hundreds of other places just as good 

 as those mentioned above. The best shooting is from August 15th 

 to September 15th. If you have a good dog by all means bring 

 him with you. A dog that has only hunted quail and cock will 

 frequently flush chickens, as they do not lie very well. A good 

 ruffed grouse dog is just the thing if he will only range far enough. 

 Breech-loaders should bring full supplies of everything except 

 powder and shot, say 1,000 rounds for a three weeks' shoot. 



Now, supposing you are snugly quartered at some farm house. 

 After an early breakfast you take thirty or forty cartridges and 

 start for a wheat stubble that is bordered by the open prairie. 

 Walk about thirty yards from the edge and keep your gun ready 

 for instant action. If the dog is not used to " Chickens " " steady " 

 him as soon as he scents the game. The probability is that a 

 number of the birds have been running in all directions through 

 the stubble, and if the dog is a novice he gets confused, and will 

 put them up. A good chicken dog always stops at the first scent 

 and waits for the gunner to come up. If the birds are somewhat 

 scattered they will frequently get up gradually, and by the rapid 

 use of a breech-loader most of the pack, from six to twenty, may 

 be bagged. If they all get up at once, try to mark them down on 

 the open prairie, and when you see them down, be sure you mark 

 the spot by some bunch of weeds or other object ; for if you do not 

 the grass is all so near alike that you can never find the spot after 

 once taking your eyes off it. If there be a slough with grass in it 

 running through the stubble, you may be almost sure of a find 

 along its sides particularly in the evening. The birds always seem 

 to prefer the low ground in a field. By ten o'clock the birds have 



