SHOOTING THE WOODS GROUSE 385 



along the mountain side, make it seem much more a 

 bird for sport than the larger sage grouse, which is 

 found on the dry, hot, open prairie. 



In these days, when cities, towns, villages and farms 

 are scattered all over the range of the dusky grouse, 

 there must be a multitude of men who follow this bird 

 with dog and gun, and shoot it much as people in the 

 Eastern States and the Mississippi Valley shoot the 

 ruffed grouse ; yet, curiously enough, we hear very little 

 of killing this bird in a sportsmanlike manner. 



Shooting the dusky grouse before the broods are 

 full grown, and when they are more or less scattered 

 out to feed, is but tame sport. The birds lie like stones, 

 and fly straight and easily, dropping at a touch of the 

 shot. In September and October, when they are full 

 grown, it is quite different, however. Then they are 

 strong of wing and fairly well able to take care of 

 themselves ; all the birds are large, and while they still 

 present a fairly easy mark, they fly with great swift- 

 ness, and from the situations in which they are often 

 found the shooting calls for readiness and care. 



In the old days, when no one in the West thought 

 of carrying a shotgun, it was often necessary to kill 

 birds for food, and then the young broods of dusky 

 grouse often gave one a little practice as they stalked 

 ahead of one up the valley or stood on the branches 

 of the trees of the mountain side. At a distance of 

 twenty or thirty yards, provided one thoroughly knew 

 his rifle, it was considered fair shooting to knock the 

 heads off four out of five of these young birds. In- 



