©or. 2«, L8820 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



24 7 



CALIFORNIA NOTES. 



~\\7" E hear a great deal now about game and shooting, and 



TV the signs are plentiful tbat the present foil will be 

 one of great abundance as to deer and birds. Some snows 

 in the mountains have driven down Hie deer toward the 

 foot-hills, and many hare been 960)3 and a number killed. 

 A dairyman residing in Squaw Valley, near Truckcc, killed 

 Seven deer near there one day lust week. 



The Sutler fttmef reports that E. M. Thomas, E. D. 

 Rickets and ffin. Thomas returned from a hunt in the 

 Coast Range last Saturday. They killed thirteen deer and 

 two small brown bears, 



T give some other extracts, bearing on hie abundance of 

 deer, from the loeal papers, just to bear out my statement 

 Hint ihey are plenty. Thus the Calaveras CId-,. ,,;<>!,_ says: 



"Ed. Zumwalt, ' of this place, saw six deer Thursday 

 morning last while out hunting about n mile from town. 

 The late storm probably drove the animals down from the 

 mountains." 



And the Nevada TfraniePtipt has the following: 



"Deei are beginning to come down from the Upper coun- 

 try in search of warmsr regions to spend the winter in. 

 Several have been killed recently iu Pleasant Valley, a few 

 miles east Qf this city. August Rapp got two there the 

 other afternoon." 



Much more to tl e same purpose might be quoted. 



The State Sportsmen's Association have recently appeared 

 as prosecutors in two trials of one F. D. Ross for killing a 

 spotted fuwu in Marin county, such killing being by the 

 statute illegal at any time. 'The jury in both trials dis- 

 agreed, but il is said that the cases will be brought up again, 

 and a strong effort, made by the prosecution to secure a ver- 

 dict. However, the offender has been punished, though not 

 by the law, for the California Gun Club, to which he be- 

 longed, passed upon the case, found him guilty and expelled 

 him. Of course action such as rids is"far more effective 

 than any decision of the courts could be, for the disgrace of 

 such an expulsion cannot fail to ouch a man more deeply 

 rhan any line that might be imposed would. The action of 

 the California (tun Club cannot, be too highly praised, and 

 shows that sportsmen on this coast arc thoroughly in earnest 

 la their attempts to protect the game. A San' Francisco 

 piper voices tha universal sentiment among sportsmen when 

 it says : 



1 "I'fie Club is deserving of all praise for this action, li 

 will have a wholesome effect all over the country, as show- 

 ing our gentlemen poachers that, though they may escape 

 legal punishment of their offenses, there" is still a moral re- 

 sponsibility, among their peers, to be faced which they can- 

 not escape. It is chiefly in this way that our sporting clubs 

 are going'to be beneficial in future". Let the example be 

 followed throughout the State, and the gentleman poacher 

 ■will soon cease to exist. The sentiment created by such ac- 

 tion in our clubs, from which thera is no escape and no ap- 

 peal, is worth a score of legal tribunals, governed by techni- 

 calities, influenced by personal considerations, and' deaf to 

 the claims of justice." 



It is too early yet to say much about the quail and duck 

 shooting, though in Nevada, up among the mountains, the 

 latter is good. Reports of slaughter from Rattle Mountain. 

 JSfcv., come to us here, and it is said that a party of f our at, 

 the sink of the Humboldt killed 652 ducks in thirty hours. 

 I hope thai the story is uot true, hut T fear it is. Will 

 write again later. Kon. 



SVCOAMKNTO, O ct. 15. 



HOUNDING vs. STILL HUNTING. 



\ V IIILE this important subject is being discussed 

 m through the columns of your paper, I beg leave to 

 add my own experience and observations of nearly fort v 

 y-cars. I was born and reared in a little settlement in the 

 heart of the Adirondack wilderness. It being a good lo- 

 calily for deer, they were very plenty. They would come 

 into "the fields of grain, aud" seemed inclined to huddle 

 about the clearings rattier than be frightened awav hv the 

 .settlers. 



Before I was allowed to shoulder a ritlc, iu tending my 

 traps set for mink, around the borders of the woods, I 

 would find many tracks of deer in the fresh snows of No- 

 vember, and would often follow them a short distance, 

 and see them stand, looking at me as if they knew Iliad 

 no gun. O! howl longed to arrive at that 'age when I 

 should be piouounced old enough to handle the ritlc. That 

 age at length arrived, and since that time I have uot 

 missed Hunting more or less during the month of Novem- 

 ber. Although 1, in common with other good hunters who 

 lived in the place, hunted most of the time during Novem- 

 her and December, as the law then allowed, and a great 

 many deer were killed with in four miles of the settlement, 

 Bind six or more hunters were constantly on the ground, 

 yet deer elid uot seem to diminish or leave the neighbor- 

 hood. They were often plenlier at the close of the season 

 than in the early fall, for they would come down from the 

 high lands to winter. The law was against hounding deer, 

 ami the settlers, especially the hunting portion, took good 

 care to have the law faithfully executed" in some way. 



By aud by, people became too indolent to travel the deer's 

 ■native haunts, ind try to match their skill against the 

 cunning wiles of the wary game. They began to think 

 that they must hunt iu a more sportsman-like (!) way. that 

 is. to sit in a boat on some laue or pond, and let the 'hounds 

 dine Uie frightened deer into the water, to which nature- 

 has taught him to (lee to avoid his canine enemy, and when 

 in the water, being deprived of all means of escape, ho is 

 attacked by the sportsman (!)in his boat, and often shot in 

 the head while the guide holds him by the tail. At all 

 events the shooter has him as effectually as if in a trap; he 

 can murder him in any way he pleases. 



But I. have digressed. 



Finally one of thQKS sportsmen moved into the place, and 

 with live or six bounds hunted constantly until the 15th of 

 November, and Hie consequence was that when there eame 

 a good tracking snow, no deer's tracks were to be found 

 within three' miles of the clearings, and when once Started 

 they would seldom stop until they went into water. 1 have 

 a hv;iy- found the deer plenty about this place just in pro- 

 portion to flic amount they had bet n hunted with dogs. I 

 know that hounding deer will cause them to leave their 

 grounds. They have an instinctive fear of the canine 

 species. Who, with any knowledge of the habits of deer, 

 will aay that, a pack of wolves coming into their range, will 

 not cause them to quickly vacate their accustomed feeding 

 grounds for olbci- quarters not infested with their roost 

 dreaded enemy. And it is the same when their grounds are 

 infested with "dogs. 1 firmly believe that still hunting does 

 nor, diive deer from their accustomed haunts. They seem 



to have no intuition that their speed and endurance Is much 

 greater than man's. They will seldom take, to water, unless 

 previously driven by dogs", or lead far away, but play about 

 from hill to hill, depending on their quick ear, keen eye. .iml 

 sensitive nose for safety. And 1 kuow from experience 

 tied these protectors are very effectual. 



I have often, on a poor hunting day, followed 1 he same 

 deet from morning till night, and never have found myself 

 at night more than two miles from where 1 started him. 



I well remember two instances. One ^;is an old buck, 

 making an enormous track, and 1 determined to make a des- 

 perate effort to secure him. I started early in the morning. 

 There was only about, an inch of snow covering the ground 

 aud the leaves w ? ere frozen so that it was very noisy under 

 foot. I started him many times dining the "day. following 

 him through swamps with the water and snow 'both a foot 

 deep, but his ears aud eyes were too much for me. I did 

 not even get a glimpse of bis receding tail until about suu- 

 down, when he crossed a creek, waded down it a short dis- 

 tance, and went out on the opposite bank and began feed- 

 ing. This was my last chance, and I advanced slowly and 

 with the greatest caution. .1 had not gone far on the'traek 

 when a loud snort and the heavy eras'li of his bouuds told 

 me that he had become aware of my presence. I quickly 

 jumped upon a log by me and saw a little hill about a hun- 

 dred yards away, which I kuew he would have to go over. 

 In an instant he was at the top and halted a moment to look 

 back, lie was so covered with trees and bushes that I 

 could see only a small spot the size of one's hand. In an 

 instant I brought my rifle on to this spot aud pulled 

 the trigger, and the' dark spot quickly vanished, f 

 Went to where the deer stood and was delighted to find hair 

 on the snow which had been cut off by the bullet, 1 fol- 

 lowed him a short distance and found him stretched upon 

 the ground, one of flic most noble specimens of its kind I 

 ever saw. O, tliethiill of pleasure and satisfaction I then 

 experienced. An all day's tramp, wading through the 

 snow with moccasins, wet and cold feet, were all forgotten. 

 1 felt more than rewarded as I viewed his noble form and 

 wide spreading antlers, which I cut off and preserved, and 

 shall be happy to show them to any of the readers of Forest 

 and Stkeaji who may favor me yvith a call. 



Another instance: I followed a young buck all day, and 

 just at night got a shot and killed him within one hundred 

 yatds of where I had started him in the mornins:. I fully 

 endorse the opinion of "Cap Lock" and " Forrv-f our, " and 

 agree with "D. R. B." that if the hound is used at all the 

 hunter should watch on the runway and catch the deer on 

 the jump. But do not, for Heaven's sake, murder him in 

 the water. Why, I would a.s soon set a steel trap for a deer 

 and then knock him in the head when he is struggling for 

 his liberty. I do not see much difference between the two. 

 Lewis Cocxty, N. Y.. Oct. 16. MrrssiT. 



Over THE Range.— Wilmington, Del., Oct. 13.— Your 

 issue of the f2th inst , containing a communication from 

 "R. T.," of Del Norte, Col., has to me peculiar interest. I 

 should much like to make the. acquaintance of "R T.," and 

 from him learn more of the present Del Norte, and partic- 

 ularly of a 6ft, Sin, auctioneer, whom 1 formerly called 

 Uncle Frank. He called several times daily at our camp on 

 the north or east side of the Rio Grande, by which means we 

 became quite well acquainted. Perhaps '''R. T." can place 

 kim, when I say his language was not always fit for ears 

 polite, but was expressive withal. The communication 

 alluded to brings forcibly to my mind an experience, cover- 

 ing, among others, his section in 1874. Being then iu 

 Denver, Col., and desiring an extended hunting and fishing- 

 trip, we outfitted April U, and started to Baker's Park' 

 We crossed the Sangro de Christo range over the Moscow 

 pass, into St. Louis Valley, thence west of Old Baldv, left 

 Fort Garland to our left, and eventually arrived at, Lima 

 and Del Norte. For a side issue several of us started north 

 and visited the "city" of Sagwache. From Del Norte we 

 weut tip the Rio Grande twenty-, seven miles to Wagon 

 Wheel Gap, catching a few trout and killing a few sandhill 

 cranes. "R. T." says there are hot springs at Wagon Wheel 

 Gap. I can corroborate that, as 1 tried the pool where it 

 was dammed for bathing, and got out with alacrity. After 

 remaining at the Gap for a few days, we pushed on to 

 Antelope Park, killing on the way some geese, grouse and 

 ptarmigan. Here we were compelled to leave our wagons 

 and pack for Baker's Park. Without egotism I can say I 

 have been in every State, and with one or two exceptions, 

 every Territory ill" tills United States, have thoroughly tried 

 the roads of the John Brown Tract and South Woods, and 

 I think I know something about bad roads, and I am will- 

 ing to be placed on record, that the worst road I ever did 

 see is over the Cunningham Pass, over the main range. By 

 referring to my diary, I find some twenty-seven of us built 

 a bridge over the Rio Grande before reaching Antelope Park. 

 While at work on the bridge, our most successful hunting 

 afternoon netted us one goose and seven grouse, with two 

 ptarmigan. With me on this trip were some excellent 

 sportsmen, notably Bill Crandall of Detroit, John Gunther 

 of Dayton, Tom Walker of Prince Edwards Island, and 

 Jonathan Paxon of I never knew where, all good campers 

 out and caterers. I should like to meet them agaiu. I trust 

 to live sufficiently long to again try a hunt in Colorado and 

 Montana, and to kill sufficient only for necessity. — M. II. 



SliKAT. 



How Thev Do It ra Idaho.— In the Wood River (Idaho) 

 Times of September 21, appears an account of the killing of 

 a black bear by a mother and daughter which Well exem- 

 plifies the courage and self-reliance of the women of Lhe 

 mountains. It is as fokiows: "Last-week Mrs, Marston, dur- 

 ing the abscence. of her husband, was doing the week's 

 family washing in the back kitchen of their home, near Ga- 

 lena, 'when she heard a great noise among the pigs in the 

 yard. Opening the door she saw a large black bear trying 

 to walk off with one of the pigs. The other pigs had climbed 

 out of the pen and scattered in every direction, and two 

 large dogs that had been out on several bear hunts stood at 

 a safe distance, perfectly cowed. Airs. Marston rushed f ra- 

 the boiler of scalding water, which she emptied upon the 

 head of the bear while it was trying to retain hold upon the 

 pig, Her daughter attacked the bear with an ax and the 

 two dogs came to their support. Airs. Marston docs not 

 ; it occurred, but in five minutes the bear Was 

 dead, with a dozen deep gashes from the ax in its head and 

 shoulders, its hide nearly peeled off by the .scalding water, 

 both of its eyes scalded and closed, and the clogs hanging 

 t,Q it. That night the old man was risked if he w ould have 

 pork chop or bear steak, arid couldn't, make it out until the 

 affair was described. He now says he will match his wifi 

 and daughter against all as bear-killers, ' 



Ducks AT Masahawksn Bat.— New York, Oct. 21, 

 1883. — On the Kith inst. a double-reef breeze fromtke north- 

 east, brought the ducks down Manahawken Bay in numer- 

 ous flocks, and haviug secured a good point on* the lee s'de 

 of Thoroughfare Island, we prepared to give them a fitting 

 reception. " Wo had enjoyed a good night's rest, mid i-ni."n , 

 good breakfast ou board" the Ark, which was moored in a 

 neighboring creek to be used as our home during the week, 

 and we. felt confident of giving a good account of ourselves 

 should the ducks come within range of our ten-bores. Had 

 the wind bevn more easterly, it would have suited us bettor, 

 but after all. when we had to stop shooting on account of 

 the high tide early in the afternoon, we hod bagged over 

 thirty good fat. ducks, besides loons, cormorants, mid coots. 

 The coming season, or rather the present one. promises to 

 be very good, as plenty of birds are ou the wing, passing 

 up Olid down the bay (trading, the local gunners' call it) to 

 the feeding grounds. Black ducks, especially, are very nu- 

 merous and stool well. The recent very high tides have 

 overflowed the meadows, forming numerous ponds, which 

 are much frequented by the ducks. Plover, yellowletrs, and 

 snipe are also abundant, and we secured a fair share." Only 

 two flocks of geese were seen during our stay, but more will 

 be coming as the season advances, ' The winds and tides are 

 an important factor iu duck-shooting in Mar ahawken Bay, 

 as iu other places, and thrice happy is the man who finds 

 both favorable one day out of three, but that one day of 

 good shooting will fully satisfy any sportsman, and a 'fair 

 shot is pretty sure to secure enough game to supply his own 

 table and that of many of his friends. Frank Oliphant and 

 Dell Crammer have one of .the beet ducking outfita in the 

 bay, and the proximity of their floating home ycleped the 

 Ark. to the ducking grounds, is a great advantage. On the 

 mainland, quail and rabbits are very plenty, so good shoot- 

 ing will be in order after November 1.— J. E. M. L. 



Game Protection rx Wyomiso.— The circular printed 

 below explains itself. It is iu keeping with other good 

 work iu the same direction iu this young but growing Terri- 

 tory, and wc trust that some material' -results may follow 

 the" many promises that have been made about the protection 

 of game'in Wyoming. We believe that such results will 

 follow. The circular is as follows: . 



C'hei'enne. U yo,, Oct. 8, 1SS2. 



Dear Sir —An association has been formed and Incorporated under 

 the natue of "ihe Wyoming Game Protective Association, whose object 

 is tire protection of vvild game throughout our Territory by enforcing 

 our laws affecting the same. You are earnestly invited to aid us by 

 lending your mime to the roll of members. An early answer is re- 

 quested, Respectfully, 



M. C. Baiucwell. Secretary and Treasurer. 



P. O, Cheyenne, Wyo. 



.1. H. Lord, Thomas Sturgis, M. C. BarkweU. Moreton Frewen. 

 Harry Oelrichs, Board of Trustees. 



Extract from ths By-Laws: Every candidate I'm- membership 



New York.— Fire Island, L. I.. Oct. 19.— Several flocks 

 of geese passed here Oct. 1, and also four brant, There are 

 a great many coots in the bay. Mallards are coming on I 

 bear. They arc very seldom seen here. I saw yesterday 

 (18th inst.) some black ducks and also a. number of. broad- 

 bills, the first I have noticed this season. Sheldrakes have 

 been here since Sept. 10. Prospects are good for plenty of 

 duck shooting in the bay this fall. At Bay Shore, L." I., 

 the nearest station to the bay, good accommodation can be 

 had. and men can be hired with boats and decoys. — B. 



Hornellsville, N. Y., Oct. 38.— Scroh'rels, black and 

 gray, have been very plentiful here this fall. Thousands 

 have been killed within a few miles of the city, but nearly 

 all have now migrated or been killed. Ruffed grouse are 

 very scarce. Several fine specimens of the snowy owl have 

 been shot, and that is said to foretell a cold w inter. My 

 brothershotacraucwho.se yyings spread seven feet eight 

 inches, and my son, eleven yeais old, shot a hawk orbuzaird 

 that weighed nine and a quarter pounds. Silver and C'one- 

 SUS lakes are said to be alive with ducks.— J. Oris Fellows. 



Dakota. — Grow Creek Agency, Oct. 19. — Ducks, geese, 

 and cranes are very plenty at Red Lake. Mallards, red- 

 head, a few canvas-backs, and a number of other varieties, 

 are there in abundance. I have had some splendid shooting 

 there, though at present the birds are a little wild, as most of 

 the ducks living there were bred ou the lake. Tner* is a 

 new flight coming in soon, and if any of the friends of the 

 Forest asu Stream wish to get some good shooting, let 

 them take the Iowa and Dakota Division of the C. M. & St. 

 Paul li. ft, to Chamberlain, D. T. From there it is only six- 

 miles to Red Lake. There is a good hotel at Chamberlain 

 and. plenty of livery teams at the stables. I think 1 can 

 guarantee good shooting to any person that can shoot. I 

 find that my canoe works to a charm. The center of the 

 lake is filled with large weeds and it makes a good blind. 

 There are two or three large points that put out into the 

 lake, and there is good shore shooting from them. Every 

 morning and evening there is fl large flight of geese, brant, 

 and cranes out of the lake to the neighboring corn and grain 

 fields. — Lower Brule. 



Gamp. Cookery.— A reader of Forest asd Stream asks 

 for information on plain cooking without the usual store 

 furniture. Fish and birds require a covering to keep the 

 coals from charring them; paper around the fish will do, to 

 be dipped iu water, theu placed in coals. Clay may be used 

 for the birds; these may be baked with feathers on and un- 

 drawn, if so desired, the feathers coming off with the clay. 

 Clay may be found under gravel on lake shores, also under 

 muck iu swamps. Corn is roasted in the husk. Corn cake. 

 is simply meal, water and salt placed one inch thick on an 

 iron plate before the lire at augle of 45 deg. , turned as it, 

 browns, then wrapped in wet cloth when hot and laid by 

 for a couple of hours to .often by the steam. Miner's bread 

 is composed of flour, water and salt, wrapped around a 

 stick, turned OS it browns until all done. Hawker's advice 

 for tough birds, such as gulls, fishy ducks, and all birds, if 

 time will -\ot permit the natural ripening, is burying in 

 earth ten to twenty hours.— R. II. D. (Canandaigua. N. Y. I 



"floss" id lhe name adopted by Uptoegrave A JtcLellau. of Val- 

 paraiso, In,:!., for on" style of their celebrated Shooliuf Suits. By 

 persistent advertising and good work their suits have become 

 national iu reputation and have many friends in all pa. is of thh 



