226 GAME. 



Early in the season this grouse affords most admirable 

 sport. They lie well to the dog, and, if approached 

 cautiously, get up very irregularly, sometimes almost one 

 at a time. Once, although using a muzzle-loader, I had 

 sixteen birds down before one was retrieved. The flight 

 is short, and the pack scatter as they settle. Although 

 apparently very strong and swift on the wing, a charge 

 of No. 6 shot is amply sufficient to stop the flight, and 

 the bird is so large, and flies so fairly, that the merest 

 tyro finds it no difficult matter to make a bag. 



In September and later the hunting is a different 

 thing. The pack rises as one bird, the flight is long, and 

 it settles together ready for another flight. It does not 

 lie to the dog unless thoroughly tired, and, after settling, 

 runs with great celerity. Besides all this, they have a 

 way of disappearing entirely, baffling the dog, and 

 exasperating the hunter. On many occasions I have seen 

 a pack marked down by experienced hunters ; yet on 

 proceeding to the spot neither dog nor hunter was able 

 to get one up again, or even to find a trace of them. At 

 this season, therefore, the pursuit of the sage grouse re- 

 quires much more labour and skill than in August. Yet, 

 at any time in the hunting season, when found in sufficient 

 abundance, it yields better sport and a greater return for 

 the labour bestowed than any bird on the plains. 



This grouse is very fastidious in his choice of abode, 

 and must have everything to suit him. The sage bush 

 may be regarded as his home. In it he shelters himself 

 from storms and from the attacks of his enemies. Under 

 it he sleeps in security and comfort. He must have con- 

 venient to him one or more grassy glades where he pro- 

 cures his supply of grasshoppers, and he must be within 

 easy reach of the purest water. 



Fort Fred Steele is a sort of centre of the very best 

 hunting ground for this grouse that I know of. In 1868 

 I took a small party of gentlemen on a short excursion 

 to the ' heads of the Muddy.' We remained but two 



