328 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Ma? 26, 1881. 



much as the leading sportsmen are endeavoring by hook or 

 by crook to obtaiu the largest bags of grouse poasihle, and 

 last, but not least, that if we fail to grab for this public pie 

 with the rest, we shall not get a piece big enough to swear 

 by; therefore I make' the motion that we establish a fund 

 "at once i.o be appropriated to the purchase of a pack of the 

 best ' trei tag dogs' that can be found, no matter of what 

 breed, pedigree or style so that they procure the ' heavy 

 bag.'" I regret to record that the closing sentence of this 

 harangue was received with shouts of acclamation, and the 

 motion was carried without a dissenting vote. 



Perceiving the urgent need of a little missionary work, in 

 Which these youthful knights of the trigger stood, I took the 

 liberty of introducing myself, and labored long and earnestly 

 to convert them from the error of their ways. It was little 

 use to present the argument that their standing with neigh- 

 boring sportsmen and clubs would be affected by this course, 

 for, said they, ' 'Are they not all in the same ho;] I. with us, Only, 

 perhaps, a little mere sly about it ?" But their main strong. 

 hold that they fell buck on and refused to give up when 

 routed elsewhere, was the fact, that there had been pub- 

 lished in the Forest and Stream for the space of nearly a 

 year frequent letters, giving full directions for the most 

 deadly method of accomplishing the destruction of this beauti- 

 ful game bird by the most ignoble pot hunting, and from among 

 all the numerous throng of the Fomist and Stream readers 

 not a single voice had been raised to plead for fair play for 

 the. king of game birds. Here they had me "on the hip," 

 and I pleaded guilty, hut urged extenuating circumstances in 

 the form of sickness in my family and unusual pressure of 

 business, and also the constant expectation that some noble 

 knight, equal to the occasion, would arise to defend the 

 right, I reminded them that the editor of the Forest and 

 Stream was not responsible for the views of correspondents, 

 and that to my certain knowledge he was the avowed enemy 

 of pot hunting in every form. And as for the authors of the 

 above le'ters, I would guarantee that they would not advise 

 anyone to take measures to exterminate the only resident garne 

 bird in the vicinity. 1 pictured to them the contrast in the 

 feelings of the owner of a pot-hunting ill-Bred cur, and those 

 of the possessor of a finely, bred dog well broken for legiti- 

 mate manly sport, and a constant honor and delight to his 

 mister at home or afield, the exquisite pleasure of seeing 

 such a one at work heightened at each shot by the excite- 

 ment attendant upon all games requiring skill aud " nerve," 

 and the proud satisfaction of having honestly earned their 

 spoils in a fair, manly way. Observing signs of a truce, I 

 dropped the question of right and honor, and brought to bear 

 what proved (Oh, Forest and Stream, how can I confess 

 itl) to be one of the heaviest guns in my armament, by urg- 

 ing that they never, no, never, could become good wing 

 shots, especially on ruffed grouse, if they indulged in even 

 occasional sitting shots. And by further appealing to human 

 nature, 1 reminded them of the fact that if they persisted in 

 their course they might as well bang their new breech-loaders 

 "on a willow tree " for a few years, as such murdering pot- 

 hunting would leave them no use for them. I called their 

 attention to the growing popularity of this bird, as evidenced 

 by our sporting papers of late aud predicted that at no very 

 distant date the party that took Bitting shots at King "Um- 

 bcllus would be shunned by true sportsmen as fully as the 

 pot-hunting quail shooter now is. And finally, by having a 

 good friendly "talk" with them, and promising all the assist- 

 ance in my power to help them on iu this new way, they 

 came to the conclusion that true sport lay only in this direc- 

 tion, and recorded a unanimous vote to " take no tilting 

 nil ota " for one season at least. And, between you and me, 

 if they slick to it for one season, I am not a whit concerned 

 about their taking the back track. Ruffed Grouse. 



Askjield, Mam. 



» ■»■ . 



PENNSYLVANIA WOODCOCK HUNTING. 



See old Puke in stately statuo 

 Beudered rigid by the scent, 

 And his comrade, youugor Bruno, 

 On a graceful "back" intent. 



WHILE deprecating the fact that the laws of our State 

 allow the hunting of the woodcock prior to Septem- 

 ber 15, at which time both ruffed grouse aud woodcock should 

 become lawful game, yet each 4th of July for the last half de- 

 cade (exepting when the latter date has fallen upon the Sab- 

 bath, and in that case the 5th) has found me in the company 

 of a choice companion at break of day, donned in my cordu- 

 roys with gun iu hand and dog at heel, ready to breast the 

 rank growth of nettles, willows, alders and other varieties of 

 spontaneous vegetation with which the islands of the Alle- 

 gheny River at this season are matted, iu quest of Plriloliela 

 minor. 



Of the nettles let me say that they frequently attain the 

 height of six and even seven feet and grow as densely as 

 stauding wheat. Not seldom have my bauds and feet re- 

 ceived from a dozen to twenty of their aggravating points 

 simultaneously, while the dog, if unused to the ground, will 

 refuse to be initiated. The birds are seldom if ever fouud 

 here, but lying iu the path the nettles must often be passed 

 through. 



The foliage is so heavy that the scorching rays of the sun 

 are excluded, and the ground remains damp and cool, andtbe 

 soil being of a rich, sandy nature, swept over and enriched year- 

 ly by the vernal freshets, requires no manure where cleared 

 for cultivation and is par excellence the feeding ground of the 

 cock, being easy for them to bore, and furnishing Eui abun- 

 dauce of food. There is the towering button ball and lean- 

 ing shady butternut with branches drooping to the ground, 

 beneath which or close at hand it were almost an exception 

 not to flush one or more birds. 



These islands are usually bordered with a matted growth 

 of dwarfish willows which serve to retard the attrition of the 

 freshets, as where the willows whose roots intertwine are 

 lacking these islands yearly decrease in area, and during my 

 recollection of some fifteen years a number of them within a 

 length of fifty miles ou this 'river have wholly disrppeared 

 from the above causes. 



In these willow borders, which are about fifteen yards in 

 width, and through which it is necessary to force a passage 

 at any season, and in which a clear space of a gun's length 

 ■were hard to find, many a noble bird may be flushed before 

 the quivering form of your dog— yes, aud not unpardonably 

 missed, too, but as lie darts over the tops of the willows 

 your companion on the outskirts may cleverly "wipe your 

 eye" as the shot then usually is an easy one. 



Perhaps 25 per cent, of the area of the islands Is overgrown 

 by a particular species of weed of a matured height, of three 

 feet whose name I have never heard. Towering above this 

 are numerous button balls and alders in occasional spots, and 

 among these weeds at certain times the heroes of my tale af- 



five years 

 in their 

 nn abnoiT: 

 der piles t 

 ly refuse 

 The co 

 above 



,i dispc 



affording the easiest of shooting as they 

 ds and present themselves to unobstruct- 

 i excuse for a miss. 



looting as It is found, say September 15, 

 • mis the keenest, most enjoyable sport. 

 nit recovered from the effects of their 

 mg aud old birds are hardly distinguish- 

 ing of the moulting of woodcock, the 

 itieed a diminution of their numbers at 

 ir accustomed ground during a period of 

 itch time he has made a number of trips 

 year; but he has noticed, however, 

 ion on their part to skulk and hide itn- 

 i\\ and weeds from which they stubborn- 



s are then well matured and tower rankly 

 Your dog baa reached the acme of his 

 steadiness, being teuipered by the previous month's sou aud 

 work. The sun' is yet powerful and even more penetrating 

 than in July or August, yet is toned down by the first whis- 

 perings of the fall breezes. Your dog systematically weaves 

 back and forth through the waving grain, which is inter- 

 spersed with barely enough weeds to cover the bird. 



Suddenly your dog checks his speed into the most careful 

 of gaits, and iu a moment after, as you mechanically throw 

 your gun into position, becomes rigid. Carefully passing 

 ahead, or of necessity slopping directly over him, most likely 

 a few yards to the right or left of where you oxpected, the 

 bird flushes with a twittering whistle and a rustling as his 

 wings strike the leaves, affording but a momentary glance 

 as he barely raises the tops of the corn — nothing but the 

 waving leaves to mark his flight. Quickly, yet not too 

 quickly, but thoughtfully deliberate, bring your gun into 

 hue with the course he has marked out. If a straightaway 

 Bhdt, .'in ■ — yes, a SCOTS of times with barren returns if the 

 man behind the gun be a novice — but to the graduate such 

 shots will lie successful in perhaps three-quarters of the 

 chanc : i fffered. There is an unexplaiuable knack in it, either 

 natural or acquired, and when the latter you fail to sec the 

 difference in your shooting, excepting that now you kill when 

 before you missed. Should the bird cross on either hand, 

 the, most scientific points of your shooting education are 

 called into play. Throw your line of sight to the rear of the 

 bird, guided as before by "the nodding leaves, and pass it for- 

 ward until your " eye of faith" sees the point of his bill, and 

 as you pre?:-' the trigger Sad the charge showers the tassels of 

 the corn, your companion on the opposite side of the field 

 asks, " Did you get him ?" and you answer that you don't 

 know, feeling pretty sure that you did all the same, and add- 

 ing a moment, later/as your dog, knowing fully as well as 

 yourself, rises in Obedience to instructions and goes carefully 

 forward lust another bird lie before him, and returns holding up 

 to your bund the rufus beauty. "Yes, I did get him," at the 

 same time smoothing out the ruffled plumage of the bird and 

 a! partner of your sport or dividing your 



lunch ev< 



Of a go 



disappe 



f woodcock which fell to the writer last 

 ,r cent, were killed fully a second after 



ring amid the foliage, although the writer 



makes no pre'ensions to being a crack shot or a really good 



While disliking to hunt alone, yet it is much preferable to 

 hunt in company with the dog only to consorting with one of 

 those uncongenial spirits (they arc not mythical beings, either) 

 who invariably claims to have killed the bird when both fire 

 together, or who ever betrays au obnoxious ambition to lead 

 the score and is nerer ban-en of explanations as to the reason 

 if he fails in so <h ling. Fully oue-half of the sport consists in 

 a genial companionship. 



A team (two) of hunters are best adapted for this work if 

 well matched in gentlemanly qualifications, especially between 

 themselves, in which case there is hardly a sport comparable 

 to it, and many such a day have I enjoyed, and I hope many 

 are yet in store for me. It hardens the muscles, gives zest to 

 the appetite, clears the brain after months of poring over mo- 

 notonous journals and ledgers, and, well stuck to throughout 

 a hot summer's day, converts straw, or even corn-husks wih 

 an occasional cob (within my experience), intodowny feathers, 

 and, if your sleep has been uncertain, returns at least a night 

 of solid slumber for every day thus invested. 



Reader, go thou in the proper season and do likewise. 



Bell- Muzzle. 



HOUNDING VS. STILL HUNTING. 



WE << mtinue thepublication this week of thenumerous re- 

 plies received in response to our request for experience 

 and observation on the subject of deer-hunting. There is 

 no necessity of calling attention to the value of the data we 

 arc collecting and setting forth here. The views are those of 

 experienced, well-informed observers. The particular points 

 of the inquiry are as follows: 



1st. What ia the character of the country referred to? 



23. What is the prevailing method of hunting deer? 



3d. Describe hounding dear, as practiced in the section referred 

 to. and its effects. Iloos it drive fleer out of the country ? 



4th. Describe in like manner still hunting and ita effects. 



5th. What class of men kill the most deer ?— market hunters or 

 parties of mportBjnen ? — residents or uon-residents ? 



6tii. Would resident sportsmen approve of a law prohibiting 

 hounding deer ? Would the residents assist iu enforcing it ? 



7th. Would they approve of a law permitting hounding, but pro- 

 hibiting tho killing or capturing of the deer after it has been run 

 into the water ? Would such a law be practicable ? 



8th. What is the open Hoason fur deer? 



9th. What are the winter habits of deer, so far as you have per- 

 sonally- observed them. 



DEEP. IN FLORIDA. 



The communication from Mr. Hughes in your issue of 

 February 24 is well put. I dof not advocate deer driv- 

 ing as the sport par excellence, but why it should be con- 

 demned as illegitimate. I am unable to understand. Certainly 

 the sport attendant is of the very finest. If there is anything 

 more exciting, more thrilling than standing on a runway and 

 listening to the far-away music of the hounds as they scent 

 the game, then, with devious course or direct run, bring the 

 bounding deer nearer and still uearer you, the music mo- 

 mentarily growing louder and more distinct, until the noble 

 game, bursts upon you, to be skillfully dropped or to turn aud 

 fantalizingly wave his flag in your face as ho goes hence, if 

 there is anything more enjoyable than this, some one else 

 must huiit it up. And yet I never shot a deer from a run- 

 way, nor do I own dogs. I came very near getting a shot, 

 or being shot, off my mule once when driving. I was aboard 

 Sampson, a sixteen-hand game-and-gun-shy monstrosity of 

 a mule, whose lively ears would show more game iu field or 

 forest than my eyes ; and a companion afoot was in a strip 



of hammock bordering the river where the does had winded 

 deer. I stopped Sampson, cocked my gun, and awaited de- 

 velopments. The mule's ears worked nervously and I gath- 

 ered the reius. Presently a dog yelped, i lien a rifle cracked 

 and Aleck sung out "Look out," and I heard the shrubs rat- 

 tle and caught a glimpse of a buck as be rose, and Jell among 

 the tall palmettoes, coming directly toward me, but that 

 glimpse was all I got. Sampson whirled, and I pulled, not 

 on the trigger, as I wished, but on the reins. I pulled, and 

 he whirled, until the circus that ensued must have been a 

 funny sight, and I lost all direction of the buck until I got 

 the beast partially slopped, when the deer was a hundred 

 yards away, going like the scared deer he was. I sent a load 

 of buckshot after him, but they failed to find him, and Samp- - 

 son indulged in some more lofty fumbling. 



But, although I never killed a deer on a "-stand." auc| but. 

 seldom indulge in the pleasure of a "drive," 1 can fully 

 appreciate ihe sport that accompanies it. All the deer I have 

 ever killed have been either shot still or fire hunting, both of 

 which I very much enjoy : but if I were in a locality wht-re 

 still hunting were practicable, that method would be my 

 favorite. When a sportsman takes the field, he goes first pi 

 all to get game, that is the primary object, lie may and. 

 ought to combine other pleasures with it— sights aud sounds 

 of "nature, tints of sky and foliage, beauty of bud and blos- 

 som, of shimmering stream and shady wood j but he goes to 

 get game, else would he leave his Scott or old "pot-metal" 

 at home, and enjoy these other things without, impedimenta. 



Now, what success, think you, he would have still-hunting 

 in a Florida hammock, where saw aud cabbage palmetto, in- 

 extricable confusion of vines, bushes and all the rank growth 

 and tangle natural to such places exist, and where deer love 

 to resort after their night rambles ? A deer would hear a 

 hunter long enough before he got anywhere near him to take 

 a nap and think about it before he got up aud off. aud when 

 he did the hunter would be none the wiser. Still-hunting 

 would be folly in such places. In the neighborhood of such 

 spots, from September to March, deer seek the open pine 

 and black jack lauds at night to feed on acorns and such 

 herbs aB they can find, so that they must either be driven 

 with dogs or fire hunted if shot at all. The day finds them 

 securely hidden in the hammock. A method of hunting 

 which will answer in one locality will not work iu another. 



As to dogs running deer out of the country, I do not be- 

 lieve it. Deer become accustomed to dogs easily, and well 

 understand how to double and outwind them. Two years 

 since while still-bunting in the more open country south and 

 west of here, I heard, oue evening when returning to camp, 

 the notes of a hound some distance away, and iu a few 

 moments three deer appeared on my left, running on a 

 course at right angles to mine, and about a hundred yards in 



front. 1 stopped and watched the game in progress 



deer were in no hurry at all, but loping easily along, stopping 

 now and then to feed a moment, and listening to the dog 

 (which was a slow one) about a quarter of a mile in the rear. 

 When he got where they thought he was close enough, they 

 loped on easily, and after a while stopped again. They were 

 having their 6wb amusement with that dog, but they were 

 nearing me, and when they were directly in front 1 dropped 

 one with a single shot rifle, and the other two left there at 

 once. The dog came up soon and shortly turned back, as it 

 was nearly dark. A swift dog would have stirred the deer 

 up in a more lively manner, but I doubt not (bey would 

 have got away easily without greater alarm. D.;er will not 

 so readily leave their haunts. 



If deer cannot be got except by hounding, and that is 

 prohibited, what good are deer to men? As Mr. Hughes 

 says, sportsmen will resort to such arts and implements, as 

 experience and observation show, are most efficacious in scour 

 ing game. So long as methods are lawful and seasonably used 

 all are alike legitimate. If one method is (inadvisable in cer- 

 tain localities it does not follow that it is in all, and should 

 not be sweepingly condemned. S. 



Twin Lake*, Fla. 



THE ADIEONDACTKS — "FLOATING." 



I wish to indorse the views of "Adrian Oudack" as enibi illi <'• 

 iu the article which appeared over his signature in your i-stte. 

 of March 10. The article is evidently the offspring of prac- 

 tical experience and honest convictions. Many incidents 

 tending to prove the correctness of his views occur to me, 

 but I will relate only two. 



I was stalking deer in Oceana County, Mich., during the 

 month of November, 1878. One morning I was cautiously 

 "working up" the trail of two deer when a hound came in 

 hearing, "and a few minutes later a deer went crashing by 

 about twenty rods from the place where I stood, followed in 

 due course of time by the hound in full cry. 



After listening until the cyoice of the dog was lost in the 

 distance I threw off all caution, and pushed forward think- 

 ing that bad the deer I was working On been anywhere near 

 the clamor of the chase would certainly have stampeded them. 

 However I had scarcely taken half a dozen steps when, with 

 a snort and crash, they sprang from their beds not over eight 

 rods from the trail on which the hound had gone past them. 

 This circumstance would seem to show that deer care very 

 little for the presence of hounds when they are not the ob- 

 jects of their pursuit. 



During a fall hunt on the Cedar River, Hamilton County, 

 N. Y., a party of which I was a member drove no less than 

 seventy-five races .from one mountain (Old Koundtop). 

 There could not have been over a dozen deer on the moun- 

 tain when we commenced operations and I think there were 

 about that number on the mountain when we Stopped exer- 

 cising them. I also think that the deer we left were the. same 

 we first experimented with. Certain it is we failed to kill any 

 before the hounds, and just as surely as wc drove a deer from 

 the mountain just as surely could we fiud a fresh track lead- 

 ing up the side of the mountain on the following mornlug. 

 This circumstance would seem to show that when deer are 

 driveu from their chosen hauntB by hounds they soon return 

 to them again. It would also seem to show that "hounding" 

 iB not a very destructive method of bunting deer. 



In point of destructiveness I think there is not much 

 difference between these two methods, when both are 

 practiced by experts in a locality alike favorable to bulb. 

 Personally I can kill two deer stalking while I would be try- 

 ing to kill one before the hounds, and as to sport, it affords me 

 more pleasure to stalk one than to stand on a runway and 

 shoot a dozen. The mere act of pulling the trigger -and 

 sending the charge into au animal as big as a jacka,8S Is oJ 

 secondary importance to me. It is the sharp struggle be 

 tween human muscle, skill and cunning and the keen sense* 

 and instincts of the animal that afford me my greatest 

 pleasure. . 



I agree with "Adrian Qndaok "Jin thinking our present deer 



