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 
15th 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 
