376 
FOREST AND STREAM 
<mr law makers in 1575 that the shooting of woodcock in July was detri¬ 
mental to the preservation of this prince of game birds, must feel 
deeply disappointed with tile law passed to-day. 
Not woodcock alone will suffer, bntit opens the door for the destruc¬ 
tion ol our partridges, which are just in such a condition as to make 
them an easy prey to unprincipled banters, and doubtless as many par¬ 
tridge will he killed as woodcock. VoN 
We liave expressed our opinion so often regarding sum¬ 
mer woodcock shooting that it is almost unnecessary for 
us to repeal it. If on no other ground, it should be abol¬ 
ished to preserve the young rufTed grouse which are shot 
in immense numbers in July by pot hunters, who are 
privileged by the woodcock law to go into the woods and 
slaughter everything, the young grouse being served at 
watering-place hotels, either openly as chicken partridges, 
or diBguised as “owls.” That woodcock ate not always 
old enough to be shot on the 4l,li of July we have ample 
evidence. A friend tells us that he killed an old bird and 
t hen captured with his hands a young one unable to fly, 
near the Bpct from which the first had flushed. 
—The Board of Directors of the Illinois State Sports¬ 
men’s Association are Edward 0. Waller, Audubon Club, 
88 East Washington et., Chicago; E. F. Gale, Chicago 
Shooting Club; George Sherman, Kennicutt Club; David 
F. Bead, Evanston Gun Club; Harvey Miller, Quincy 
Shooting Club. 
|flwt (fnm mid §iflt. 
GAME NOW IN SEASON. 
Another writing from Hazelton, Pa,, says:— 
“I got tom teen good bitds in font hours.” 
Our accounts from New York Btate are somewhat 
meagre. A correspondent who visited Sullivan County, 
says: “This part, of the eounly, at least, is a sell as far as 
woodcock are concerned. I could have found more birds 
within a mile of home.” A fair number of birds have been 
killed, principally by market gunners, on the north side of 
Long Island, but on the south side birds are very scarce. 
Here is what Mr. Holabird writes us from Indiana-.— 
Valparaiso, July 5th, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream 
I was one of the many thousand, who regardless of heat or rain partici¬ 
pated in the celebration of the opening of the woodcock shoeing aud 
my bag was five fall fledged buds. I might have got more, but eleven 
o’clock found me complelely fagged. It takes close work to stops 
woodcock with u choke-bore, and 1 found it necessary to permit them to 
get as far off as I could see them before shooting. They were delicious 
eating, but I fear that others will kill the birds about here. “The spirit 
is willing but the flesh is weak," aud for comfort’s sake 1 propose that 
the season open August 15th. We unfortunately have no close season 
for woodcock, but out of respect for the bird, and for the influence it 
may have over other sportsmen, I would not shoot them until July 4th. 
A sportsman from New York spent some months here the past spring 
and to my disgust I learned that he was shooting young cocks, in June. 
1 called him a pot-hunter—a disgrace to the fraternity, and suggested that 
he was needed in New York, and he went. I'll not indulge in names, 
for he is a good fellow in a general way and reads the Forest and 
Stream, but he made a mistake shooting woodcock in Jtine in the same 
neighborhood with me. Generally speaking I’m peaceful and not dis¬ 
posed to quarrel, but it made me terribly “riled.” Its only about 
seven years ago that woodcock commenced nesting here, and are now 
becoming more plentiful. A few years more and we will have glorious 
shooting. I am making inquiries as to the chicken shooting and will 
write you again soon. W. H. Holabird. 
New Bedford, July 7 th, ISiB. 
Woodcock, Pldlohda minor. Red-backed sandpiper, or ox-blrd, 
Black-belhed plover or ox-eye, SguOr Trlnga amencaiia. 
tarotahdvetim. , Gnat marbled godwit,or marlin, 
Ring ulover, jSaialUis seminui- Limosa feuoa. 
SL v Willet, 'Manus semipalmalus. 
Stilt, ‘or long-shanks, Himanlopus Tattler, Totanus rnelanoleiicus. 
nvjAcollis. Yellow-shanks, Tulanus flampes. 
Red-breasted snipe or dowitchur, 
MacrorhmnplW arisen*. 
“Bay-birds” generally, including various species of plover, Band-piper, 
snipe, curlew, oyster-catcher, suri-birds, phalaropes, avocets, etc., com 
iDg under the group Limacoke. or Shore Birds. 
Editor Forest and Stream.— 
The season for woodcock shooting has commenced, but our long and 
severe drought has rendered tbeir usual haunts much of the nature of a 
city pavement, so that “bill-sticking”is utterly impossible. Gus \Yhito, 
our veteran gunner, in ft day’s hunt only shot seven, and others report 
no birds to be seen. Concha . 
—Our correspondent “Teal” writes from Salem, Mass:— 
“The woodcock season has opened. Advices from Woburn, Mass., 
give as follows: toil buds to two guns, twelve buds to two guns: at 
Salem, one bird to two guns, two birds to two guns. Some of the oldest 
shooters think the birds are In the moult. The grounds are very dry 
aud we need rain.” 
THE WOODCOCK SEASON. 
T HROUGH some error of the act, the woodcock sea¬ 
son opened in this State on July 3d instead of July 
4th, as was evidently intended, and as it does in New Jer¬ 
sey! We are in receipt of a large number of communica¬ 
tions from various parts of both States, from which we 
gather that woodcock are more abundant this season than 
they were last, while owing to the extended drought which 
has of late prevailed the birds have left their usual feeding 
grounds and retired to the recesses of the most impenetra 
ble swamps, and small hags are the result. We have con¬ 
firmation of this in the fact that several gentlemen who 
have penetrated to such places have found birds congregated 
in considerable numbers. With the first heavy raius they 
may he again found in their usual feeding grounds. It is 
a fact worthy of notice, that very many young birds, still 
unable to fly, have been seen, and another argument in 
favor of abolishing summer shooting, or at least extending 
the close season. Another indication of abundance is the 
market price. Woodcock were retailing last week for 50 
cents and 75 cents per pair, and the dealers report that they 
have not been so plentiful for years. Rhode Island is send¬ 
ing a large number of birds to this market. 
Sussex Co., New Jersey, has long been a favorite wood¬ 
cock ground, but a severe hail storm which visited the 
county in the spring, particularly in the neighborhood of 
Newton, killed off many of the young birds. Mr. Theo. 
Morford, of Newton, and son, killed six on the morning of 
the 4th, all but one old birds. The Messrs. Woodruff, of 
the same place, got eighteen. One correspondent writes as 
follows from Hackensack:— 
, tiirda were quite numerous in our neighborhood unlil»ilhio a few 
days, and yesterday, to the disappointment of many sportsmen, they 
had disappeared. My theory is, that the extreme beat and drought has 
driven them Into the mountains. The reports from a number of sports 
men I have spoken with to day all agree that the birds have recently 
moved into other regions. W. n," 
Another writes from Paterson:—“I was out two hoursou 
the 4th. Got six the first time and four yesterday. 
The villainous pot-hunters kill them all off about here in 
June. Lots of quail and partridges in Sussex.” Mayor 
De Russy writes from New Brunswick:—“Only killed nine 
cock on ‘the 4th; since then have killed four or five. Birds 
scarce: ground all dried up." A correspondent wriles 
from Hanover Neck, N. J., a noted snipe and woodcock 
ground;— 
“Daylight was just hovering over the qmet village on the morning of 
the 4th, when I started forth. Though other birds were srarceiy awake 
the woodcock were lively enough but as usual very shy. .J usl as soon 
as I could see clearly I commenced to sboot. Fan and Jeff, my good 
do „ g were eager assistants. By the way. Fan is one of the best English 
setters to be round, and Jeff is one of the Saturn dogs. Before eight 
o’clock I came home with thirteen splendid birds. After breakfast I 
again started, and by noon pro cured six or seven more, and at night I 
had twenty-niue, while a company of seven obtained thirty-six. Yon 
that know nothing by experience or such pleasure cannot realize our 
feelings as wo «a rvi yi-d oor handsome bag of game. BeTore cctnnienc 
ing tile duties of the following day 1 shot nine more, while the company 
referred to above only shot eleven. The nine I gave to tie; poor and 
Dick among my neighbors, so that some good results, or at least some 
oood meals came from my woodcock shooting. By ten o’clock on the 
6th of July 1 hod shot forty-six birds since the commencement of the 
Benson. The woodcock iu this place arc uncommonly line aDd plenty 
this season. A - D. W.” 
Ouc Philadelphia correspondent writes:— 
“No respect is felt here for the natural law that woodcock should not 
be k died in summer, and even less, {excuse the Biberuiciem), for the 
egTsUtive law that July 4th shall be the beginning of the time. Those 
who go after the.mud borers anywhere in the vicinity .of Philadelphia 
tjfflflad that few of them have escaped.’ 1 
On Monday evening of this week a Woodcock, not hav¬ 
ing the fear of the skill of the Newark, N. J., sportsmen 
before his eys, alighted ou Pleasant avenue in l.ite midst of 
that city, when it was discovered and brought to hay by 
our shooting friend Mr. Hobart. The bird, although ful¬ 
ly grown, was rather thin iu flesh, in consequence, it is 
supposed, of having been chased up and frequently shot at 
before the season opened by the pop shooters of that city. 
Another woodcock was flushed recently in the centennial 
grounds, in ihe immediate vicinity of our Hunter’s Camp. 
Pennsylvania. —Greenville, Pennsylvania, boasts a 
Sportsman’s Club of forty members. Recently they held 
their regular pigeon tournament,, comprising matches of 
five uuiflen birds', and one at double rises. In the first 
Mr. J. C. Worst took first money, L. B. Arkwright second, 
and J-F. Nelson third. Iu the ten bird match Mr. II. 
Croslhwaite was the only one who killed his ten birds 
straight, Messrs Worst and Nelson dividing second money, 
Arkwright taking third, and Geo. Miller fourth. In the 
double rises at three pairs, H. Adset took first, D. Streeter 
second, and J. F. Nelson third prize. A number of oilier 
matches and sweepstakes wound up the tournament. 
Rhode Island.— Few Port, July 10. The bay birdB 
have begun their flight. A small bag, consisting of yellow- 
legs, fdowitchers, and one Wilson’B snipe, was.made by a 
oart’v on the marsh near Easton’s pond last Friday. 
Shot. 
New Club.—A correspondent writes from San Fran¬ 
cisco Cal., under date of June26: “A Pigeon Shooting 
Club has been established in this city under the name of 
the Forest aud Stream Pigeon Shooting Club, with a view 
to encourage the uso of the gun and to enforce the game 
laws of the State. The club will hold its first shoot within 
two weeks, and the first prize will be a gold medal, with 
the face inscribed as follows: Forest and Stream Cham¬ 
pion Medal, San Francisco, California, 1870.’ The Club 
has adopted the no boundary ;rule, which seems to give 
good satisfaction among the members of the Hit or Miss 
Club of this citv. It has also adopted the U. and T. ground 
traps for the first time in California. 1 will inform you of 
the result of the new club shoot as soon as it takes place. 
Quail." 
PROFITABLE HUNTING IN TEXAS. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
As I contemplate Inking a small party West, iora bant, (mention of 
wlrich ia made elsewhere iu year paper,) I will give you a slight descrip 
lion of my last hunt in that region. Ou August 16th, 1875, a yoaogman 
from the Bast, a young Tesna ranchero, aud myself started from the 
ranch on the Arryo San Geronimo, about thirty miles northwest from 
San Antonio. on our yearly hunt to the clear fork of the Brazos River, 
by way of the head of Rio Medina above Horse Valley settlement. After 
dnu preparations we left the much about 2 P.M. We successively 
crossed the northwest fork or San Geronimo, Bluff Creek, and Pipe 
Creek, along which are some of the finest scenery aud most flourishing 
settlements on the southwest frontier, aud passed through Baudera, the 
county seat, as well as settlements in Monroe and Horse Valley. Wo 
now tirrivod at the liead-watera of the Medina, which is surrounded on 
oil sides by rugged hills with here and there a beautiful valley. Here is 
the home of red deer. Here we passed a few days iu the faschmtir.R 
sport of lining bees iuiiouk the limber, on the low lint menus, taking 
several hundred pounds of ilDe houey in the comb, besides titling many 
deem and bears, and countless turkeys anil partridges. We fouud our 
long range rifles to bo just tbe tiling ou ibis trip, being tbe two banded 
United States needle guns. Leaving the Medi na behind us we crossed the 
Guadalupe to the “Jeeuies,” a branch of the Llano, and also the main 
Btrearn, Sliding an abundance of flue sport and plenty of game, and a 
beanliful country. Leaving tbe Llano we struck out for Camp Concho, 
on the Concho River, a targe United States Post, situated at the southern 
limit of ihe- buffalo country, spending a fuw days at Concho, gathering 
pecans, vlsniug the line springs at Kickapoo, hunting and enjoying our- 
selves generally. Leaving Concho, we struck the buffalo country where 
we spent a few weeks hunting buffalo, poisoning wolves, shooting ante¬ 
lope etc.; and at length, on September 25th,reaehe4 Griffin, the last. 
frontier settlement of nny size east of Llauo Eetacado, After a short 
stay at Griffin, we started Tor home, Ootober 1st, by Camp Colorado, ar¬ 
riving safely after some twelve days travel with 550 buffalo hides Worth 
about $2.50 each; 61)0 wolf sitius worth $1,50 each; 200 deer hides worth 
$1 each; 150 pounds of honey worth IS* cents a pound, and sundry deer 
hams dried and smoked, which in all netted ns rhe snug little sum of 
$2,500. The trip was highly enjoyed by all, and we were well satisfied 
with the profits. I am about reluming with a friend or two to take very 
nearly Ihe same trip, and there is a chance for two or three more sports¬ 
men to join the putty according to the notice inserted in another column. 
OaMT Brady . 
Creedmoob. —The event at Creed moor on Saturday was 
the eighth competition at short range for the Turf, Field 
and Farm badge. The weather was so unbearably liot 
that tbe number of competitors was smaller than is usual 
in tire contests for this trophy, bat. twenty-eight appearing 
at tbe firing point. The conditions were ten shots each at 
200 yards, off-hand. Mr. D. F. Davids was the successful 
man, with a score of 44 out of a possible 50 points. The 
total scores were as follows:— 
Name. 
D F. Davids_ 
W. Robertson. . 
D. E. Venuett... 
C. E. Hnntingioi 
Henry Fulton... 
Total. I Name. 
.44 W. B. Farwell. 
.41 Thou. Lloyd. 
.41 W. C. Clark. 
.40 II. W. Goufley. 
.4U J W. Tudd. 
.S'J T. M.Richards.. 
,« J. Shield. 
Alexander Pyle.. 
J. N. Bruyn . 
L. C. Bruce. 
J. A. Gee. 
J. E. Irwin. 
W. H. Cochran... 
..3!i 
wis Cm 
. . I.. Allen. 
G. F. Merchant.. 
E. H. Madison... 
Geo. Waterman.. 
New' York.— At tho shoot of the Saratoga Ritto Club ’ 
on the 4th inst., prizes were won as follows:—Badge for 
200 yards, off-hand, Wimbledon targets, by N. F. Howard-, 
score, 42 out of 50. Badge of Honor, by Jerome Pitney; 
distance 500 yards; score, G9 out of 75. Bull’s-eye Badge, 
for the greatest number of bull’s-eyes, at 800, 900 and 1,000 
yards, by Odell Gates. 
Rifle match at Blooming Grove Park, July 6th, 1876, 
200 yards, off-hand. Prize, army pistol:— 
Name. Score. Total I Name. Score. Total. 
H. Kltinhftns. 3 4 0 7|J. Avery . 4 2 0 fid 
J. Atkinson..,.. 5 4 2 lljG. JI. Glenney. 5 3 3 Iff 
B F Van Etlen_ 4 4 3 JI M. Nucassorich. 8 0 3 fin 
L.Wetitlmiok. 3 3 2 8|Dr. Houghton. 3 3 0 0 
Score. Total, I 
Etlen. .. 2 itoO 4 
Illinois. —The Chicago Rifle Club contended on the/ 
18th inst. for three prizes of law books, oJIercd by tlic firm 
of B. Callahan & Co., aud valued at .$50. The shooting 
was off hand, at 200 yards, 3 righting and 15 scoring shots. 
As will he seen, Waller Burnham look first prize; 8. W. 
Burnham second, and O. C. Binds mot third. The follow¬ 
ing is the score, out of a possible 75: — 
Name. Total. I Name. Tutsi. I 
Walter Burnham. IKiG. Fuller. .... 
S. W. Burnham.G0JJ. A. Bhailet . 
O. C. Black met..58. B. 8. Thompson.....Hi 
J. W. Roberts.58 U. W. S, Cleveland.4a 
H. G. Howe.58 T. Bnidwcll. W 
Clark Burnham.5(JJ 
Wisconsin.— The sixth competition at 500 yards, for 
the Brodhead field glass prize came off last. Friday, it waa 
the general feeling among the boys that this would wind 
up the competition. Fii lcliug i id Bangs having each won 
the glass twice, both felt sure of winning. Fielding slm ls 
in with two outers and gives it up. Bangs smiles, lie never 
mukes outers; has a sure thing now; that glass will comm 
in handy for the Fourth of July. Just what he needs Cm 
view- the balloon ascension. Turner don’t say much, but 
means business. Now is his opportunity. That glass wclh? 
won is as good as forty dollars saved. He w'orks haul, , 
takes the smile from Bangs, aud wears it, himself. But 
only for a short time. Y’ale came in a little late, but lies 
down at “length" to business; gets away with all the hoys,, 
aud wins the glass once, with a score of 71 out of a pos< 
sible 75:— 
Name Total. I Namev TotfflL 
Fielding ...66|Turner.-... 
Banen.tib. Johnston.:. 
.7, “ ilIVValr. 
I.. m 
JaWley .' 6| WaDWau. 
An International Match. —A match was shot at Os 
wego on the 4th, between teams of six men each, from tllj 
Fortv-ninth Hastings’ Rifles, of Belleville, Canada, ani 
the Twenth*eighth Regiment N. G. S. N. Y., of Oswego 
resulting in a victory for the latter. Seven ahota war 
fired from each range, with the following result:— 
Name. 
I. 8. Barton.. 
A. Cavalier. — — 
L. L. Barnes. 29 27 21 
3eo. White.30 31 20 
AMERICAN TEAM. 
200 500 600 TO I Name. 200 500CWI 
28 26 17 fl j Tames Hall.25 26 12 
31 15 23 B6IC. A. Bcrlon. 30 18 23 
Name, 
t, Marshall 
I. Bennett,- 2 S 
D. Cunningham.3U 
. Hilton.32 
CANADIAN TEAM. 
800 500 600 T’il Name- 200 500 600 
28 23 10 (illa. Tammadge 27 13 10 
nc at 1t3 7’-? K\ r ( 'ai-cnrh M3 
, W. v'ii'r'tiiu 32 28 14 
— . J Total. iso«« 
N. R. A.—We have received the Report of the Nationi 
tifle Association for 1875. Iu addition to the reports L 
he various officers and committees, it contains a list of 
arious matches of the Association, with scores, etc,, nlsOl 
Ue principal matches of affiliating clubs, and a detaUdtt] 
ccount of the last International match at Dollymountj 
vilh diagrams of targets, etc. Much interesting matter, J 
aluable also for reference, is included in the pages of thd 
ast Report. _ 
Horse Laws. — I t has been decided that when a horse ot 
carriage is let out for hire for the purpose of performing ■ 
particular journey, the party lcttjug warrants the horse jB 
carriage fii and competent fur such a journey. If l§j 
hirer {reals the horse or carriage as any prudent man wo 
do, he is not answerable for aDy dunlin'll that either miff 
receive. Bui he must use the horse for the purpose a 
whieh he hired him. For instance, u horse hired for Sffl 
die must not be used in harness. H the hirer violates til 
express condition of tbe contract, he is liable for any daB 
age that may occur. If the horse is stolen through llj 
hirer’s negligence, such as leaving the stable door open j 
„ negligence, -- — — — 
igtit, he must answer for it. But if he is robbed of : 
by highwaymen, when traveling the usual road at tisiu 
hours, he cannot he held lor damages. As these questiur” 1 
are frequently in dispute, these decisions may be 1UU 
ing. 
lueatili 
UiierprijJ 
