714 
FOFEST AND STREAM 
§m* §*!! *¥ § m b 
GAME in SEASON FOR OCTOBER. 
Wild turkey, Mel eagrto (lallopavn. 
Pinnated grouse or prairie 
chickens, Cnpldonia cupidn. 
Ruffed grouse or pheasant, So¬ 
nata umhrUus 
Quail or partridge, Oituxntrgini- 
Mooso, Alee Americana. 
Caribou, Kanglfer earth oh. 
Elk or wapiti, Coriius canadensis . 
Red or Vh. deer. C. virpinianvx. 
Squirrels, red, black and gray. 
Hares, brown and grav. 
Reed or rice bird, Dollchcmyx or- 
yztixyrong. 
OfThis table does not apply to all the States, tt. is meant to 
represent the game which Is generally in season at this rime. State 
regulations may prohibit the hilling of some spooies of game here 
mentioned. * 
Personae. —Messrs. W. A. Wheatley and W. A. Wil¬ 
liams, both residents of Memphis, Tenn., who hare for¬ 
tunately been able to absent themselves from the plague 
stricken city during its last affliction, were in Chicago 
last week , having just returned from a two months’ shoot¬ 
ing trip on the Western prairies, They have been in Iowa, 
* Minnesota, and Dakotak since August 1st, and at last ac¬ 
counts were about to depart for Marquette, Wisconsin, to 
pay tlieir respects to the canvas hacks and red head ducks. 
For refugees their lines seem to have fallen in pleasant 
places. Thousands of sportsmen might envy their appar¬ 
ent good fortune. 
Rail Shooting in New Jersey.— Philaddplm., Pa.,Oc¬ 
tober 1 at. —There is a charm in all shooting, but especially 
about that of rail shooting, that is particularly agreeable 
to one whose business subjects him to rather close con¬ 
finement in a busy city, as is the case of the writer. The 
sense of freedom, the pure air, watching the cloud effects, 
and the mere fact of being out ou the marsh, are enjoy¬ 
ments of themselves, as one stands in his little gunning skiff 
with his lightest gun in hand, with a trusty pusher on the 
stem, to whose muscle and keen sight in marking birds 
much is due for a successful shoot. But when to this is 
added the springing of birds, as the skiff starts them, and 
the sharp cry of your pusher of “Mark, right! Mark, 
left I ” as the case may be; followed by the crack of your 
trusty gun, which, if you do not miss, tells of another 
“ dead bird,” Truly, this is sport indeed. 
Having just returned from a successful trip of the kind 
to a marsh on which I have been in the habit of shooting 
for several years, on one of the creeks of Southern New 
Jersey, and of many acres in extent—I write feelingly. 
We had good tides, which are very necessary for good 
shooting, and quite a plenty of birds which were in good 
order; so the sport was good, and I returned to the city 
with some 125 birds, and feeling that it was a good thing 
to have a day or two relaxation from business with one’s 
gun. 
Although rail are an easy bird to kill, their flight, with¬ 
out it is blowing hard, being somewhat sluggish, they 
offer such a variety of shots that, when birds are spring¬ 
ing lively, the practice is very good. With a light gun, 
and cartridges loaded with 3 drachms of powder and 
1-ounce No, 9 shot, it is pleasant sport. B. J. P. 
Notes from Illinois.— Rockford, III., Sept. 30 th.— 
This may seem a distant locality to the people of your 
vicinity — veritably “ The West ”—but to us who now have 
to go some distance further west to get our shooting, we 
appear to live in the centre. The law, regulating the 
shooting of pinnated grouse, was more nearly observed 
and obeyed this season, so far as I know, than ever be¬ 
fore. One reason was that the law was changed from 
September 1st to August 15th—but a more potent reason, 
because there have been several gun clubs formed, the 
members of which are not only willing themselves to obey 
the law, but to see that it is not infringed by others. 
There are some favorite localities within a radius of 
twenty miles of this city where “ chicken ” may be found 
in considerable numbers, as you may be assured by the 
subjoined score of some of our most successful hunters, 
the'loth and 16th of August the present season: Mr. Ed. 
Lyman brought in 57, as the result of bis individual 
effort; Messrs. Keeney and Lake reported over 36 ; Rob¬ 
inson and Smith, 23 ; besides a few ducks and snipe ; Col¬ 
lins and McToggort bagged about 50 ; others did not meet 
with great success. The gentlemen named ar* all expert 
shots, and know just where to look for game. Of course 
those who get such good shooting must be promptly on 
the ground, before the birds are hunted and thinned out, 
These men met with very different success on subse¬ 
quent trips. The Robinson brothers and Alderman Haines 
and son report a pleasant and successful expedition to 
Newell, Iowa. They found good shooting, bagging from 
thirty to sixty chickens a day. Messrs. Harvey Bears 
(well known as the proprietor of the Chicago Gnu and 
Cutlery Store), A. D. Forbes, a leading manufacturer; 
M. V. Doyle, a retired manufacturer; together with a 
few others of Chicago, have just returned from a de¬ 
lightful trip to the Michigan woods, near Escanaba, where 
they found deer, partridges, and brook trout in abund¬ 
ance. They are conscientious gentlemen, and would not 
kill more than they could make use of, and were too far 
from the railroad to supply their friends. Mr. J. G. Hitch¬ 
cock leaves next week for Grass Hake, McHenry Co., for 
his annual duck hunt. 
“We are only about fifty miles from Koshkonong, Wis., 
tile great resort for duck shooting in the early spring 
and late fall. Several of our hunters will repair there 
when the flight begins. 
There have been a number of friendly contests in glass 
ball and pigeon shooting during the summer. We have 
several men who break twenty-five or thirty -balls in suc¬ 
cession. There is a match to-day on the Fair grounds be¬ 
tween a gentleman from Florida—Senator somebody— 
and Ed. Eyman; the latter, the greatest hunter in this 
section. 
Dr. De Puy, of this city, a retired physician and an en¬ 
thusiastic sportsman, died last July while visiting Free¬ 
port. The Doctor was a genial, warm-hearted man, and 
a " gentleman sportsman” in the strictest sense of the 
term. Some of his intimate friends received presents of 
baudsomfe guns before he died. He had the finest outfit 
I ever knew one man to own. His pride was a “ Scott 
Premium,” 10-bore. His duck gun was a Nichols, with 
two sets of barrels, one 8, one 10, His snipe gun was a 
Scott No. 16-bore, to which he had fitted a Shelton aux¬ 
iliary rifle barrel. He had also a fine Maynard rifle. 
These were all bestowed in gifts to his hunting com¬ 
panions. 
Those who delight, in fishing, and their name is legion 
Ibis city, have had their usual amount of sport during 
the season. The encampments of the Waltonians and 
Nippersinlt Clubs at Twiu Lakes, Wis., were more enjoy¬ 
able than usual this summer. I know both parties had 
grand good times, for I was a guest and know whereof I 
affirm, 
The “ ’76 Club ” were delighted with this year’s sojourn 
at Delavan Lake, Wis. I was there, too. Hundreds of 
members and g-uests each year avail themselves of this 
most rational means of rest and recreation. Could you 
but visit these clubs, while encamped at their beautiful 
resorts, breathe the exhilarating air that is constantly in 
circulation; enter into the sports of camp, and capture 
such strings of black bass as are often brought in as the 
reward of a few hours’ work, you would urge the forma¬ 
tion of many similar clubs, and show your readers the 
great advantages over the crowded fashionable summer 
resorts. Nimrod. 
A Good Plan, —Some distance above Michigan Centre, 
on Wolf Island, in Grand River, Mich,, a hunter’s lodge 
lias been ereoted by the sportsmen of the Commercial 
Hotel. The structure is 12x14 feet, has a good roof and 
floor, and inside is the legend : “ Welcome to all; but do 
not deface or destroy,” It is designed as a refuge for the 
sporting fraternity during unpropitious weather, and its 
latch-string will always be out to all comers. 
Michigan. —Deer shooting is reported excellent in Al¬ 
pena County. 
Cedar Hill Gun Club. —The roll of gun clubs and 
game protective societies is constantly increasing. Penn¬ 
sylvania has added to her long list the Cedar Hill Gun 
Club, of Cedar Hill, Montgomery Co. 
Chilled Shot.— Rockland, Me., Sept. 27 th.—1 see in 
your last paper that J. H. P.. of Williamsport, Pa., 
wanted to know why it is that chilled shot carries to¬ 
gether. I have had the same trouble. If he will use felt 
wads and not pasteboard, I think he will find that they 
work ail right. I found it So. R. A. C. 
New York— Shelter Island, Oct, 1st.—Sea, fowl are 
just now making their appearance, and quantities of 
coots are collecting in Gardiner’s Bay : but they cannot 
make much shooting before the middle of October. I 
have seen several very large flocks of black ducks flying 
over, high in air, bound for the South and West: but 
they make no stop by the way. McL. 
Mississippi— Vicksburg, Oct. 1st,—We have rare sport 
here now, between sunset and dark, shooting “ bull- 
bats.” The right kind of a man, behind the right sort of 
a gun, properly loaded, can get into his bag about fifteen 
birds in twenty-five minutes. It is quick work, and re¬ 
quires an expert to make a score of one to three shots 
fired. 1 would be glad if you would tell me what a “bull- 
bat” is? what family he belongs to? and whether or not 
he is considered a game hi id ? He is good to eat 1 ' all 
the samee,” but the ladies object on account of the 
name. Can't you give us a sweeter name for him? 
though J don’t know that that would make him taste 
any sweeter. 
Our correspondent may be pleased with the name of 
night-hawk as a substitute for “bull-bat.” It is known 
to ornithologists as Chordelles popetue, and belongs to the 
family Caprimulgidoi, or goat suckers. It is not ac¬ 
counted a game bird, yet it affords excellent sport. 
Massachusetts— Ashfleld, Sept.20th — Rufled grouse are 
quite pleuty, though thinned out some in this vicinity by 
shooting. There are a good many broods this year, con¬ 
sequently they have not separated as early as usual. I 
have found no ticks on them yet. Woodcock are scarce. 
Ruff. 
Long Island. — Saturday, August 16th, found Fred. G. 
Moore, Chas. H. Davis, and yours truly, all members of 
the Bergen Point Amateur Gun Club, bound for Centre 
Moriches for a week’s stay, We “put up ” at the house 
of Mr. David Robinson, a gentleman whose qualities as a 
genial and generous host are only exceeded by bis ro¬ 
tundity. be weighing four hundred and forty avoirdu¬ 
pois— (“ May his shadow never grow less”), 
Snipe were the order of the day ; and during our stay 
we brought to bag some three hundred, with innumera¬ 
ble wild doves. Our guide, Mr. John Bishop, probably 
known to many of your readers, we found a most thor¬ 
ough and competent man. He he has a staunch boat 
with which to convey parties across the hay, and is a 
crack shot, being able to boast of having taken his fif¬ 
teen woodcock “straight." 
We laid aside a day for woodcocking. After an eight 
mile drive over exceedingly rough roads, during which 
our sylph-like host, who sat. on the front seat, dozed, 
much to our anxiety, we arrived at the reputed “ good 
grounds.” The grounds may have been very good, but 
woodcock were too “seldom;” in fact, I have not seen 
less woodcock “since Hicks was hung.” We turned to¬ 
ward home, after beating over a good stretch of swamp, 
and arrived there hungry, tired, and, if not better, wiser 
boys. Of woodcook snooting we have had enough j but, 
as for the gay and festives nipe, we hope sometime m the 
near future to tackle them again, to sit at the substantial 
board of our more than substantial friend, Mr. Robinson, 
and to “measure” guns with John Bishop. 
Tim. Berdoodle. 
Wisconsin— Milwaukee, Sept. 22th,— Ducks have opened 
up in Wisconsin waters with but little of their old-time 
vigor. A good day’s shooting is hard to obtain, and the 
bags are mostly blue-bills and teal. 
Mallards and canvas-back have been reported at several 
of the lakes surrounding this county, but the actual 
showing up is weak. The season will either be late, or 
ducks will be scarce. Snipe are plenty, and plover suffi¬ 
ciently so to make good sport, The largest flock of ducks 
I have seen this year was on Okonchee Lake, and at least 
half a mile from shore in open water. Partridges are al¬ 
most obsolete in this immediate vicinity, where they 
were once plentiful. I bagged one solitary “ Bob” on a 
high piece of ground lately, and he must have been a 
veritable hermit, for not another has been seen this sea¬ 
son up to present writing. Game is being pushed back 
year by year, and soon the home of the game bird will 
not be ''Wisconsin, L’Eclair. 
New Jersey State Sportsmen's Association.—T his 
much looked for event will take place from Oct. 21st to 
24th, inclusive,- at the West Side Driving Park, Marion, 
New Jersey. Trains run from Jersey City and Newark 
every half-hour. The meeting of delegates occurs on the 
first day at Ostom’s Hotel, Jersey City Heights, 696 New¬ 
ark avenue. The programme for the succeeding days is 
as follows : 
Second Day— Tuesday.—Meeting of Committee at WeBt Side 
Driving Park at 8 A. M. to perfect arrangements, and receive fur¬ 
ther applications for membership of State Association. 
Shoot. No. 1, at 10 a. it. 10 single rises, SI yards; entranoe fee, 
So and the birds; open to all amateurs; first prize, $100; second 
prize, $76; third pnze, $50; fourth prize, $35. 
Shoot No. 2, at 2 p. m. Open to members of the State Associa¬ 
tion only; 10 single rises, 21 yards ; entrance fee, $5 and the birds. 
First pnze, an extra fine breech-loading shot aun donated hy Par¬ 
ker Bros., Meriden Conn ; value, $125. Second prize, a split bamboo 
salmon rod, 17 ft. 8 In. long; weight, 32 ozs.; German silver mount¬ 
ings, solid reel plate, etc., donated by Boston Split Bamboo Fish¬ 
ing Bed Co., and 2,000 Winchester shells, donated by Winchester 
Repeating Arms Co. value together, $70. Third prize, an extra 
fine sole leather gun ease donated hy Thomson 4: Son's, sports¬ 
men’s goods, 301 Broadway, and four kegs Hazard powder, donated 
hy Hazard Powder Co., 88 Wall street ; value together, $50. Fourth 
E rize, thirty cans Dittmar diamond grain powder, donated hy 
ittmar Powder Co., No. 24 Park Place ; value, $25. 
Third Day—Wednesday.— Shoot No. 3,10 a.m. Open to mem¬ 
bers of State Association only; double bird shoot ; 5 double rises, 
18 yards rise ; entrance fee, $5 and the birds. First prize, an 
extra flue Scott breech-loader, donated hy Messrs. Schuyler, Hart¬ 
ley* Graham, 19 Maiden Lane, New York; value, $150. Second 
I irize, extra fine Fox breech-loader, donated by E. S. Han-is, 179 
Iroadway, New York ; value, $75. Third prize, 2,900 Standard 
shells, donated by Messrs. Sehoverling, Daly & Gales, 84 and 80 
Chambers street. New York; 500 Bogardus' nnd 600 Paine's feather 
Ailed gloss balls; donated by Hagerty Bro's. & Co., 10 Piatt Street-, 
New York; value, $10. Fourth prize, a collection of game birds, 
especiallyjn-epared and donated by J. H. Batty, Sportsmen's Tax¬ 
idermist, Parkville. L. 1.; value, 35. 
Shoot No. 4. at 2 p. m. Open to all amuteurs ; 10 single rises, 28 
yards; use of both barrels ; first barrel must be fired when the 
bird is in the air; second barrel can he fired any where ; entrance 
fee, $5 and the birds; first prize, $125 ; second prize, $75; third 
prize, $50. 
Fourth Day— Thursday.—Commences at 9 a. m. Shoot No. 6; 
10 single birds, 21 yards rise ; entrance fee, $15 and the birds ; for 
the State Association cup to be held each year by the winning 
club in trust, to be accounted for to the State Association; to be 
shot for by teams of three members of any club.belongtng to the 
Association ; said winner to receive the entrance fees at the next 
annual contest To the club making the next highest score, 500 
lbs. chilled shot, donated by Tat, ham Bros., New York. To the 
club making third highest score, 250 lbs. tin-coated shot, donated 
by Leroy & Co., New York. For the fourth highest score, a case 
with Monogram of Eaton’s Rust Preventer, donated by Geo. B. 
Eaton, Jersey City Hights, N. J. 
Shoot No. B at 3 p. m. 10 single birdB, 26 yards rise ; open to all 
amateurs ; entrance fee. $5 and the birds : first prize, 40 per cent, 
of entranoe fees; second prize, 30 per cent.; third prize, 20 per 
cent .; fourth prize, 10 per cent. 
Fifth Day— Friday— Shoot No. 7 at 9 A. si Single bird shoot 
for the championship badge of the State of New Jersey ; 15 birds, 
21 yards rise; open to mem bers belonging to the State Associa¬ 
tion only ; to be held hy the winner each year in trust, to be ac¬ 
counted for to the association ; said winner to receive the en¬ 
trance fee from next annual contest ; entrance fee, $5 and the 
birds. To shooter making second best score, 4 kegs Dupont's 
powder, donated by Duponl Powder Co., New York, and 2,000 
Delaware shells, donated by Jf. P. Moore's Son's, Broadway, New 
York; valuo, $50. „ 
Shoot No. 8 at 2 a.m. Open to all amateurs; 15 single rises, 21 
yards rise; entrance fee, $10 and the birds. First prize, 50 per oent. 
of entrance fee; second prize, 30 per cent,; third prize, 20 per 
special prizes. 
For best average score in shoots Nos. 2, 3 and 6, a fine setter dog 
(thoroughly broken), donated by E. M. Quimby, Morristown, N. 
J.: value, $100. 
For best average score in shoots Nos. 3,0 and 7, an elegant gold 
badge, presented by Forest and Stream Publishing Co., No. ill 
Fulton street, New York ; value, $50. 
For best average score of all shoots combined except snoot No. 
5 , a Remington new model extension rib pigeon gun, 32in. No. 
10 guage, 10 lbs.; donated hy A. Alford, No. 283 Broadway, New 
York; value, $125. 
An Open Encounter with an Alligator.—E ditor 
Forest and Stream .-—Before I became thoroughly 
acquainted with the alligator of the Florida swamps 
I thought him a ferocious and formidable crea¬ 
ture. I never pulled up my pants to wade after a bird or 
to fish without soul-stirring apprehensions of being at¬ 
tacked and gobbled up, for well I knew the ’gator was 
the strongest of animals. I have seen one not four feet 
long wrest a stick from the hand of a strong man as 
no thin g;- The ’gator, to “play himself” must be in 
shoal water— mud rather than hard bottom. They will 
fight when aggravated with a stick, if hemmed. It is 
dangerous for one to attempt to hold to the end of a pole 
when a ’gator has the opposite end in his month. In the 
dry season it is a favorite amusement for the boys to hunt 
their holes and aggravate them with a long pole until 
they become so mad as to clutch the pole and allow 
themselves to be pulled out and their throats cut, never 
loosening their hold on the pole. In this way I have seen 
the alligator killed with a very small pocket-knife. But 
rite story I am to tell is of one I met oh the highway , not 
tremendously large, but good size—nine feet, or there¬ 
abouts. It was where the road crossed a small drain 
which ran from a lake into the bay that I heard the roar 
which told of ltis anger, for he had just been disturbed by 
a lady and her children. I had nothing but a pocket- 
knife, so I provided myself with a stick large as my wrist 
and about three feet long. This would do to kill him 
with, but I wanted to save his head perfect; therefore my 
knife (a small one, three-inch blade) was all I had. Had 
I found him before he became mad I would have had less 
trouble ; but on my approach he showed fight. I knew 
just how to proceed, and cautiously I approached so as to 
avoid a blow from his tail, and aimed a blow just over 
the eyes which caused him to close them and to 
be quiet just a moment, whereupon I drove the knife just 
behind his fore-leg. This woke him up, as it is a tender 
place. Another lick over the head and half a dozen stabs 
and be was too far gone to object to having his throat 
cut. Notwithstanding I had dealt with the ’gator on 
several previous occasions, this time I was fooled, for in 
half an hour, when I returned from my business further 
on, I found him nearly as good as ever. I then repeated 
the former treatment until I was able to take bis head 
without more resistance than I could physically foil. In 
severing the muscles of the neck convulsions of the 
muscles of the whole body would take place. Tins made 
the ’gator appear alive. He would move off, throw his 
tail and roll over and over, yet there was no absolute dan¬ 
ger. So the reader can see how large alligators are killed 
with small pocket-knives, Wm, P. NEELD. 
Pinellas, Hillsboro’ Co., Fla,, July, 1870. 
