400 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



game hunter still delights to photograph his camp with 

 half a dozen deer hanging up in it, or to have his own 

 picture taken with his foot upon the body of the slain 

 bear or moose. 



Twenty years ago, when there were still prairie 

 chickens in Minnesota, and plenty of them, it was well 

 for the shooter to be early abroad. Breakfast must 

 be eaten, the dogs looked after, a drive of perhaps five 

 or six miles made to reach the ground, and it was neces- 

 sary to be called long before daylight to reach the 

 shooting ground as soon as the birds began to move. 



It is hard to leave a comfortable bed in which it 

 seems only a few moments since one settled himself 

 to sleep, but a strong heart and prompt action brings 

 the gunner out on the floor, and a few minutes of activ- 

 ity in putting on his clothes causes him to forget the 

 comforts of bed. Then, how good breakfast tastes, 

 and how eagerly he looks forward to the sport before 

 him. The drive in the dark may be cold and uncom- 

 fortable, but the growing light promises warmth, which 

 exercise certainly will bring. 



In those days chicken shooting was lawful on the 

 1 5th of August, and the nights, though often damp 

 and chilly, were not cold. There was an opportunity 

 when there bred in Minnesota many ducks which have 

 long since been expelled by the farmer, to get an occa- 

 sional shot at teal, shoveller, mallards, and other home- 

 breeding birds; but, after all, the chickens were the 

 important thing. When the ground was reached the 

 horses were put in the stable, or perhaps were driven 



