82 
THE SPORTSMAN’S AND TOUTIST’S GUIDE. 
f 
Smith, and at which place guides can 
also be obtained. Another route is by 
the Maine Central Railroad to Anson, 
thence by stage and private conveyance 
td the residence of Mr. Kennedy Smith, 
Eustis, Maine, of whom all further infor- 
mation can be had. 
WHERE TO GO FOR GROUSE 
A FEW HINTS FROM A NATIVE. 
In the first place decide what point 
to go to. If you go without any fixed 
point in view you may spend a week -of 
time before you find a good place. In 
Towa this game is abundant over most of 
the western half of the State. From 
Des Moines northwest stop at Grand 
Junction or Gowrie, north of there, or 
at almost any station west of Grand 
Junction. Going west from Des Moines, 
stop at Stuart, and take stage line to 
Fontanelle, twelve miles out. Excellent 
shooting conveniences, and extends for 
twelve miles further. Twelve miles west 
from Stuart is Casey. Take stage from 
there to Fontanelle, twenty-four miles, 
Every foot almost abounds with chick- 
ens, and at almost any station west of 
Casey good sport can be had. In most 
cases it will be necessary to go from four 
to ten miles from the railroad, as the 
birds are 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 num- 
erous ponds by wading the shallow water 
and ‘jumping them up.” About Sep- 
tember Ist they begin to resort to the 
stubble fields morning and evening, and 
make good shooting there. Sandhill 
and white cranes are also there, but very 
shy. The other route abounds in high, 
rolling ground, affording splendid views, 
and is absolutely free from malaria, and in 
almost every hollow clear pure water is 
found. No game there but ‘“ hens” and 
rattlesnakes. They are hundreds of other 
places just as good as those mentioned 
above, but those only are suggested of 
which the writer has personal knowledge. 
The best shooting is from August 15th 
to September 15th. As to dogs, it is 
uncertain about getting them here. If 
you have a good one, bring him. 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 pow- 
der and shot, say 1,000 rounds for a three 
weeks’ shoot. 
Now, supposing you are snugly quar- 
tered 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. Ifthe dog is not used to ‘“‘chick- 
ens” “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 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 fre- 
quently get up gradually, and by the 
rapid use of a breech-loader, most of the 
pack, from six to twenty, may be bag- 
ged. IPfthey get up all 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 
