FOREST AND STREAM. 



27 



Cobb's Island, and now here at Capt. Blew's hunting deer. 

 I have never seen anything like the profusion in rny life; 

 the woods are full of them, and it is a common thing for 

 the captain to start up six or eight every day, and ievery 

 morning we go out. A. H. 



PIGEON MATCHES. 



New York.— The long anticipated match at English 

 "bluerock" pigeons, was shot at Saratoga on the 9th inst. 

 The contestants were L. H. Hawaii, of Grand Rapids, 

 Mich.; J. A. Nichols, Syracuse, N. Y. ; W. O. Hall, 

 Toledo, Ohio; E. Hudson, Syracuse, N. Y.; F. J. Abbey, 

 Chicago; Greene Smith, Peierboro, N. Y. ; James 

 Manning, Syracuse, N. Y.; W. King, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; 

 Carroll Livingston, New York city; C. Fellowes, New 

 York city; E. White, San Francisco, and S. H. Ten-ill, 

 Chicago. The conditions were to shoot at ten birds, BO 

 yards rise, field boundary, English rules, three misses out. 

 All but Messrs. Fellowes and Livingston used ten-bore 

 guns, which, under the rules, carried them back to thirty- 

 one yards, the other named gentlemen shooting at thirty 

 yards. The birds were very rapid flyers, not one of them 

 for a moment lingering after the trap was pulled. The 

 stakes were divided into three prizes, the first $300, the 

 second $200, and the third $100. E. Hudson won the first 

 prize by killing eight birds out of ten, and Hascall and 

 Terrill shot off for the second and third, when, making a 

 tie, they divided the money. 



There was also a match on the same day, between Cap- 

 tain Bogardus and Frank Tranx, of Albany, each to shoot 

 at twenty-five birds; Bogardus at thirty yards rise, and 

 Tranx at twenty-five yards, which Bogardus won by a 

 seore of 17 to Tranx's 16. 



Pennsylvania.— A pigeon shooting tournament in 

 which nearly $4,000 in prizes will be given is to be held at 

 Sharon, Pa., on August 16th to 19th. The events on the first 

 three clays are open to amateurs only; the fourth is open to 

 the world, and we learn that Messrs. Bogardus, Paine and 

 South will be present and give exhibitions of their skill. 



Remarkable Shooting.— A Baltimore correspondent 

 sends us the following account of some remarkable pigeon 

 shooting made by two Maryland gentlemen:— 



"About two weeks ago a match was made between Mr. 

 Engle, who claims to be champion of .the State, and Mr. 

 li\, a gentleman from Hartford County, 50 birds each, 21 

 yards rise, 80 yards bounds, li shot, $50 a side: only one 

 barrel to be used, spring traps. Mr. Engle used a moder- 

 ately choke-bored No. 10 gun by W. C. Scott & Son. Mr. 

 K. a gun of the same gauge," choke-bore, made by Mr. 

 McComas, of this city, and a better gun for the purpose than 

 it is I never saw. At the beginning of the match Mr. IT. 

 shot badly, missing three of his first lfbirds; then he 

 killed 27 consecutive birds. (During the match Mr. Engle 

 killed 29 consecutive birds). Result, 46 out of 50 for Mr. 

 Engle; 45 out of 50 for Mr. K. When I state lhat this is 

 besides several which fell dead out of bounds, 1 think it's 

 remarkable. The birds were domestic pigeons, but those 

 Mr. K. had to shoot at (each shooter supplied birds for the 

 enemy) were very strong wild ones. About a week ago 

 the same two gentlemen shot in a sweepstake among others, 

 each of them shooting two chances. On one chance Mr. 

 K. missed his sixteenth bird, so that he had killed in the 

 two chances together 30 consecutive birds. He won the 

 sweepstake on his other chance on his eighteenth bird, so 

 that he had killed 315 out of 84, and as lit; had not oilseed 

 on his second chance there is no telling how many of them 

 he would have killed if he had kept on shooting. The 

 same gentlemen had another match 3 e.sleniay, but both 

 shot comparative])' bad. It is reported anoiher match 

 between them is made up. Except I apt. Bogardus, and 

 perhaps three or four oiiiers, i doubt if two men can be 

 named to beat this Baltimore team, judging by the scores 

 above. T." 



Choke bores vs. Smooth. — There was recently held in 

 England a trial at pigeons of guns choke- bored against 

 those bored on the old cylinder plan. The trial took the 

 form of a match between sides chosen from the fashiona- 

 ble gun clubs, and resulted in favor of the cylinders. 

 There were twelve competitors on each side, shooting at 

 seven birds each at 27 yards and a like number at 33 yards. 

 As a matter of curiosity we give the scores at the latter 



distance:— 



SMOOTH BORES AT 33 YARDS. 



Name. Killed. 



Capt. P. Leighton 3 



Mr. Booth I 



Capt. A. Patton ( 



Mr. C. Priae r . 



Mr, A. Coventry 2 



Capt. ( "lark Kennedy 2 



Capt. H. Pane 7 



Mr. A. Grimole 3 



Capt. C. H . Hallett t 



Capt. T, Gist 



CHOKE-BORES AT 33 YARDS. 



Karae. Killed. 

 Mr. E.R. C. Hopwood 3 



Mr. A. Yeo 5 



5 .li. W. Lort 2 



don. F. Benuet 2 



Mr R.J LI. Price 6 



Mr. C. Seaton 1 



Mr. J. H. Whitehouse 4 



M r. P. E . Edkius 5 



Mr. C. J. Chesshyre 2 



lr. J. Waudinghani, Jr -. 2 



Mr. W. S. Salting 3, Mr. T. Lant 3 



Mr. S, E. Shirley SJStr J. Leith 5 



Total i",[ Total 40 



At 27 yards the scores were 59 to 57. 



We do not regard this trial as determining the merits of 

 one system over the other, for several reasons. In the first 

 place, we recognize among the gentlemen shooting the 

 smooth bores the names of some cf the most celebrated 

 pigeon shots in England, while, with the exception of two 

 or three those handling the choke-bores were not regular 

 habitues of Hurliugham or Shepherd's Bush. Then again, 

 concentrators were used in the cylinder bores, which would 

 tend to bring the guns more nearly even. The Field says 

 that the only point settled was that the pigeons killed by 

 the chokes were not riddled with shot. We should think 

 not. A gun would indeed have to be very much choked 

 to riddle a pigeon at 3d yards rise. 



- <*-«••- 



SHOOTING NOTES FROM NEBRASKA. 



Jackson Station, August 8th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Being a subscriber to your valuable paper I send you a few notes re- 

 garding this section of Nebraska. Anyone desiring further information 

 who will write me or make inquiries through the columns of Forest 

 and Stream, will be answered to the best of my ability. I am agent 

 of theTJ. P. K. R. C, and prepared to answer inquiries regarding it in 

 this State, oiUo procure information in regard to any staLioa on line of 

 road. 



Jackson Station, Nebraska, is on the II. P. R. R., 1C0 miles .west of 

 Omaha, situated in the great Platte Valley, one mile north from that 

 fctream, about three miles south of the Loup fork, and about eight miles 



from the confluence of the latter with the former stream. About half 

 a mile north lies a range of hills of slight elevation, which are cut up by 

 numerous ravines and basins, and expending many miles to the south- 

 west, affordins good shelter for wolves, which are very numerous, ante- 

 lopes and deer. The former are found in considerable numbers, and 

 are rapidly increasing, the latter only occasionally near by, but plenty 

 within 25 miles. The late reservation of the Pawnee Indians— now 

 vacant— a fine body of land about 30 by 15 miles in extent, lies 10 miles 

 due west, scarcely any settlers intervening. This large body of un- 

 settled land, lying directly along the Loup Fork cpntiguous to the hills 

 before mention*. d, and well watered, will undoubtedly attract more large 

 game and afford rare sport near at harm. These hills are from one to 

 three miles in breadth, are not desirable for cultivation, and will prob- 

 ably remain comparatively unsettled for years to come. The Pawnee 

 reservation is not yet open for settlement. 



The Platte being wide and shallow seems to be a favorite place of 

 resort for water fowl which feed in the lipids and rest on the sand bars, 

 which form a large portion of the stream. There was no day during 

 the winter of 1 ?5- 6 that good shooting could not be had within 1J- miles 

 of the railroad depot. Geese, ducks, swan, crane, etc. Jack rabbits 

 abound at all seasons of the year. Quail were neaily all killed by the 

 severe winter of '74-5, but are being stringently protected, and this sea- 

 son shows a very gratifying increase. 



The close season for prairie chickens (pinnated grouse) which closed 

 July 31st, has been unusually favorable, there having been no illegal 

 shooting and a splendid season. Their numbers are now legion, nearly 

 full-grown, except some coveys of quite small, which, I think, are second 

 eeason broods. Co\eys numerous and generally large (from 15 to 3 ). 



Myself and a party of four, with thrte worthless dogs, hunted about 

 five hours August 1st, and two hours on the morning of August 2d, mak- 

 ing a bag of 120 chickens and 10 jack rabbits. This is by no means a 

 large bag, but taking into consideration the fact that we were practi- 

 cally without dogs, thus- causing the loss of many birds, and that the 

 shooting was all within two miles of the railroad depot, which was our 

 base of operations, it speaks loud for the resources of this vicinity. 



I make no claim to being a crack shot, but will wager that with a good 

 dog I can make as good a bag, even over the same ground. Thos. L. 

 Kimball, General Ticket Agent of the U. P. R. R. C. with a party, 

 were at Columbus, August 12th and bagged about the same number lhat 

 we did. 



Some person not having the fear of the Lord before his eyes poisoned 

 my 1 iver colored pointer, Dixie, a thort time since, leaving me discon 

 solate, as I find it impossible to replace him. Taking him all in all 

 nevei saw his equal, I would feel under obligations if some of your 

 readers (m this vicinity) who have pointers would correspond with me. 



Antelopes are reported in immense droves along the railroad between 

 Sidney and Cheyenne. Deer and elk plenty in Boone County and west. 

 1 would be pleased to meet, sportsmen f rorn abroad, (yourself included, 

 Mr. Editor), and would f how them around here or accompany them into 

 the upper western country after large game. Think I can safely promise 

 a pleasant trip, to say nothing of its profitableness. R. G. Coveier. 

 *-••»- 



SQUIRREL SHOOTING. 



Editor Fosest and Stream.:— 



I write to uphold a class of shooting spoken but little of in sporting 

 books and sporting journals. A class of shooting where the quarry, al- 

 though not game according to Forester and Hawker, yet requires a keen 

 eye, a ^.ood piece, and what all sportsmen need, patience, to successfully 

 bring to bag. I lefer to that nimble little gymnast, the squirrel, in his 

 three vaiieties of black, gray, aud fox. In one or more of the species 

 you will find him in every State east of the Mississippi, ana where you 

 find him abundant there you will find sport. 



No costly pointer or setter is needed in his pursuit, but the bettev the 

 gun you carry, the better your chances of success. Take along your 

 Scott or Tolley; they wont suffer by the contact, and when you can 

 bring him whirling thiough the air, stopped in mid-leap between two 

 giant oaks, or 10II him from a rail fence as he dashes along the riders, 

 with a speed the eye can scarcely follow, 'ell me if your London gun is 

 in small business or if you are belittleiug jourseif, or doing anv thing un- 

 vvortny that name you prize so much— a sportsman. 



As the time is approaching when the pursuit of the squirrel can be 

 carried on with pleasure and profit, perhaps a few suggestions in regard 

 to the best methods of pursuing and bringing to bag would not be out of 

 place. About the middle of August when the beech mast is tender and 

 succulent, when grain is cut, this litttle nut gatheier and gleaner, is full- 

 grown, fat, and gamy. You will fiid him in the ear'y morning among 

 the wheat-stubble, at the edge of the \vc.t'-.i.a,i. , ,»i«nv oaxijasjy, for 

 you have a wary little beast to capture; the crackling of a stick, or blun- 

 dering exposure of the body would be the signal for a stampede and 

 away he would go, out of sight and shot in a moment. You are now 

 in the sassafras bushes bordering the forest; there are two nibbling the 

 grain just out of shot, directly in front of you, now rise, and as they 

 rush obliquely for the woods give it to them. Tneie theygol bang! 

 bang! right and left; a black and a gray, while another shell slipped 

 hastily in, cuts down number three, who was eating beyond out or sight. 

 Very good. Now for the beech woods at the foot of the hill. As you 

 approach you hear the nuts patter like rain on the leaves below, and the 

 tremulous qua quas tell you the squirrels are there; more caut.on, more 

 shots, more squirrels, more sport, and you sit down better pleased with 

 two hour's shooting than you were last month, when after traveling all 

 day through mud, mosquitoes, and stifling heat, you showed with pleas- 

 ure three couples of woodcock, weighing in the aggregate perhaps thirty 

 ounces. 



But October is the month for this pastime— russet October, with her 

 falling leaves, her purple grapes, her wealth of color: The month of 

 months for the sportsman. How busy his squirrelship is; the nuts must 

 be gathered, for the long cold winter is coming on; he has but little time 

 for play, and yet when an unusually mellow ray of October sunshine, il- 

 lumines and warms his home tree, he will snatch a few moments from 

 the busy day, and with many a graceful flirt and playful arch of his br*ad 

 brush sit in some sunny crotch and chuckle with delight. We 

 must hunt in couples now to be successful; we must understand each 

 other, and each one do his part. The first squirrel treed, I will, to use a 

 common expression among, squirrel shooters, "play dog." That is, a 

 little distance from the foot of the tree you stand fast and I will describe 

 a circle around the tree. Blacky is probably hngging the bark on the op- 

 posite side from us, and as I move around he will be sure to keep the 

 tree between me and himself, all unmindful of you who are standing 

 stock still, with gun ready, tang! and he is jours. Now return the 

 compliment when we tree another, and unless the holes are very plenty, 

 we will have splendid sport. 



The squirrel, like the deer and hare, recognizes man only as an ani- 

 mate object; keeping perfectly still, he will peel a chestnut on a stump 

 not twenty feet from you, with a nonchalance surprising, but only wink 

 an eye and he is gone. This fact makes still hunting a very successful 

 method of capture. Find a favorable runway, cr in case you are unac- 

 quainted with the woods, select a position favorable through the many 

 oaks and hickory trees in the vicinity; you need not be careful to keep 

 hidden, only be quiet and avoid moving around; bushy-tail will soon 

 appear, and as a reward for your patience, oftentimes a grouse will stalk 

 out within shot, or a sly Reynard go sneaking by. O, squirrel shooting is 

 glorious in all its phezes! I don't wish to carry the idea that I consider 

 it better sport than grouse, quail, or woodcock, shooting; fai from it. 

 These last require a skill and coolness, easier written about than practiced 

 and I am confident that there are thousands of men to-day, who this fall 

 will tramp through field, and worm through cover, behind blood dog, 

 missing their nine out of ten shots, and coming home at night tired 

 and disgusted, who if they would conquer their predjudices, sell their 

 dogs, and enter into squirrel shooting with a zest, would find a real en - 

 joyment in it, And if after becoming adepts, they try the field again, 



they would find the experience acquired in cutting down Bunny in mid- 

 air of incalculable value when the bevy arose. D » 



—The VAvenia Militaireoi France, in view of the fact that 

 since 1871, great interest has been taken in rifle practice in 

 France, and that a large number of rifle organizations 

 have been formed which have more or less communications 

 with kindred organizations in England, Belgium and 

 Switzerland, proposes that an international shooting match 

 should be held on the occasion of the International Exhi- 

 bition in 1878. 



— The Winchester Arms Company, of New Haven, now 

 have over 900 hands at work, being a larger force, it is 

 claimed, than were ever before employed by any single 

 manufacturing concern in that city. They are about load- 

 ing a 1400-tou steamer, the "King Arthur," for a foreign 

 port with their goods — being the first steamer ever loaded 

 in New Haven for a foreign port. The exports of the 

 Winch&ster Arms Company have moreover equalled in 

 two years the entire foreign w exports of New Haven. Here 

 are three good news items for the statisticians. 



Creedmoor.— But one match was shot at Creedmoor on 

 Saturday, but that one was one of the most popular in pro- 

 gress and brought out a large field of riflemen. The Turf r 

 Field and Farm badge is shot for at 200 yards, off-hand, 10 

 shots. Any rifle within the ru'es is allowed, and the State 

 model is largely used. On the present occasion Mr. E. C. 

 Pinney, the winner, shot with an ordinary weapon, while 

 Mr. Hyde who tied with him used his long-range iiiie with 

 a heavy charge. The following are the names of the com- 

 petitors and their scores- — 



Name. Total. I Name. Total. 



B.C. Pinney 44 J. B. Holland 35 



P. Hyde 44 J.E. Irwin 35 



R. H. Keene 43 W. C. Roddy 35 



L. C. Bruce 42 0. P. Robnin* 34 



Win. Robertson 41 W. G. Dominick 34 



Isaac L. Allen 41 J. C. Abrams 34 



F. P. Millen 40|J. Ee Boutillier 31 



J. P. M. Hichards 40 J. W. Gardner 34 



D F.Davids 401 J. L. Killinger 33 



H. M. Burdett 8U{ J. Shund. 33 



T . W. Linton 3fc| 0. E. uveebaugb 33 



H. Punke, Jr 3.4,11. HTsher 32 



D. F. Vannet 38 O. 1L Eaale 32 



D. Chauncey, Jr 88 G. A. Ron flier 31 



W. B. Farwell 3- S. T Etnbnaid, -Jr 30 



S. Sargeant 37 C. E. Truelow 20 



J. L. Price 8i L. Cass ....26 



J. L. Farley 36|R. 1 I . Williams 19 



J. P. McUn^h 36','J. P. Lather 13 



J . W. Todd 35jC . M. Williams 13 



The Centennial Team.— Tuesday and Wednesday are 

 the regular practice days of the riflemen who are to shoot 

 in the International matches. Last week the shooting was 

 very much better than it had been before. We append 

 Wednesday's scores: those made the day previous were 

 even superior. The number of shots tired at each range 

 was fifteen: — 



Name. 800 Yds; 



Lt. Col. Farwell 73 



Major Henry Pulion..71 



R. Rathbonei 74 



Isaac L. Allen til 



L. Weber 61 



ju C. Bruce 60 



Gen. T. S. Dakin....65 



P. Hyde 66 



Lieut A. Anderson.. 67 

 Major G. W. Yale.. 67 

 Major II. S. Jewell.. 69 



C. Hi. Overbauijh 65 



C. E. Blydenburgh..ti0 



New Yoke..— The 4th champion badge match (monthly) 

 of the Jamaica Rod and Rifle Association came off on the 

 9th inst., and resulied in the success of Col. Wm. S. Cogs- 

 well by a score of 46 out of a possible 50. This badge has 

 been won by the Colonel twice and becomes the property 

 of the member who shall win it three times during the sea- 

 sou. The following is the score: 200 yards off-hand, 10 

 shots : — 



Name. Total. I Name. Total. 



Wm. S. Cogswell 46lJno. Fleming 41 



Geo. H. Creed 43|Jno. Crane 41 



Thos. Rogers 41 Geo, A. Hicks 39 



Chas. J. Stewart.. 4l|Geo. W. Damon 38 



These are not picked scores but were made by the eight 

 members who actually entered for this match. 



Canada.— The Quebec Rifle Association began their 

 sixth annual meeting at Pt. St. Charles ranges, Montreal, 

 on the 10th inst. The result of the first match, the Mar- 

 den stakes, 200 yards range, seven shots, was as follows:— 



Name. Points.! Name. Points. 



Private A. Johnson 28 Private H. M. Belcher 26 



Corp. J. Gowan 2tilLance Corp. John Foreman 22 



Private D. M. Patton 26| 



There were 16 entries in the match. 



The Irish Team. — Dispatches from the other side an- 

 nounce that on the 8:h inst. the members of the Irish Rifle 

 Team for America were chosen as follows: J. Rigby, Fen- 

 ton, Johnson, Milner, Cooper, Joynt, Goff, Greeuhill, 

 Thynne, Dyas, Pollock. Two gentlemen who won places 

 in the competition, Messrs. Smyth and Ward, are unable 

 to leave home on account of private affairs. The team will 

 sail for New York on the 25th inst. 



The Australian Riflemen. — One portion of the team 

 of riflemen viz. the New South Wales section, who are to 

 represent Australia in the approaching international 

 matches, arrived in this city on Friday last. A committee 

 of the N. R. A. appointed to meet , them was at the Grand 

 Central Depot at the train they were expected, but they 

 came by the Erie road and the "reception" was held after 

 they had reached the Fifth Avenue Hotel. The other por- 

 tion of the team are now en roy,te for this country from 

 England, where they have attended the Wimbledon meet- 

 ing. Our present visitors have done no shooting since the 

 competition for their selection on the Padclington Rifle 

 Range, near Sydney, in April last. At lhat time their 

 scores stood as follows: — 



POO Yds. 



1000 Yds. 



Total . 



67 



64 



204 



03 



m 



200 



til 



63 



198 



ti-3 



(ri 



188 



68 



58 



187 



67 



5'J 



lttt 



59 



5? 



181 



58 



55 



179 



56 



55 



178 



56 



53 



170 



51 



52 



175 



54 



55 



174 



53 



50 



174 



Name . Total. 



Private J. J. S lade 174 196 



Private Lynch 163 192 



Name. Score. 



Capt. Bmith.... 185 193 



Private Gee ...167 192 



Ensign Maddocks 172 187 



On Saturday the Australians visited Creedmoor and wit- 

 nessed the shooting for the Turf, Field and Farm badge, 

 but took no part in the contest. They will probably visit 

 Canada before our own meetingoccurs, and participate in 

 the Dominion matches now in progress. 



—Returns of rifle practice in the East India armies re- 

 port a marked improvement ia the shooting of the aatiy® 

 regiments over last year , 



