1 14 WILDFOWL SHOOTING IN THE WESTERN STATES, 



"Not SO. There is lots of f'^n to be had in the 

 meantime. There are plenty o fox sq lirrels to be 

 got if you care about rifle shooting. There are a good 

 many hares in the brush around the winter pasture. 

 A fine sprinkling of duck of all sorts, and snipe by the 

 sloughs, as well as prairie-fowls, and if I mistake not, 

 a good dozen of deer in the big cornfield, that must 

 be fat as pigc, judging from the injury that they have 

 done the crop." 



I never spent in my life — previously or since — a 

 pleasanter five days, for the sport I enjoyed in that 

 brief period was wonderful, not so much on account 

 of the quantity of game killed, as in the variety 

 brought to bag. In my host's cellar, one night after 

 dinner, we had a stock-taking examination. It was 

 more than satisfactory, as the reader will agree 

 when he hears the list. Nicely arranged and hung 

 up were deer, wild turkeys, duck, prairie- fowls, 

 partridges, hares — a true dwarf species of the 

 Icpus family weighing about four pounds — and fox 

 squirrels. 



On returnmg to his comfortable dining-room, we 

 had many a yarn about past shooting experiences, 

 and had reached about the time for our nightcap, or 

 last glass of whiskey toddy, when the sharp, shrill 

 bark of a dog rang out upon the still atmosphere 

 without. Both listened for a few moments, then the 

 angry voice was repeated. 



'' Aye, that's it, is it } '* remarked my host. 



" Wliat } " naturally inquired I. 



" That restless little devil, Garry, has got a coon 

 tree'd in the orchard, I suppose ; it's about the tenth 

 this month ; he can wait. 



" No ! let us go out for the fun of the thing ; re- 

 member, I have not yet got so satisfied with these small 

 incidents not to enjoy seeing the capture of a coon. 

 Don't these beasts play the very mischief with your 

 poultry ? " 



