418 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



a distance of 125 or 150 yards, and then make such 

 long flights that it is useless to think of following 

 them. 



The adult sage grouse is tough and heavily feath- 

 ered, and possesses great vitality. Unless properly 

 hit it will carry away a heavy charge of shot. Young 

 birds, on the other hand, drop to a mere touch. I have 

 killed a great many on the wing with small charges 

 of dust shot. 



Many years ago a correspondent of Forest and 

 Stream declared that, when there is reasonable cover, 

 sage grouse will often lie to a dog better than the pin- 

 nated grouse. He adds what is now well known 

 that the peculiarities of its home do not give the dog a 

 fair chance to work or to do himself or the game 

 justice, since the artemisia grows only upon barren 

 prairies some 4,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level, 

 where the soil is hard and dry, with little vegetation 

 save stunted shrubs, cactus and an occasional clump of 

 wild grass, where rain rarely occurs and there is little 

 moisture in the air or upon the ground. When thick, 

 the tough sprawling crooked evergreen, or rather ever- 

 gray, shrub is often difficult for man, horse or dog to 

 get through. The sage cock is a good skulker and 

 runner, and not easily flushed if it can hide. 



The same idea is suggested in Dr. Newberry's ac- 

 count of his first meetings with this great bird during 

 one of the early explorations for a railroad route. It 

 is in Volume VI of Pacific R. R. Reports : 



"Coming into camp at evening, I had been attracted 



