1 88 



RECREATION. 



ber ist. Prairie chickens are reported un- 

 usually numerous in the northwestern part 

 of the state. Travelers on the trains of the 

 Great Northern road report seeing im- 

 mense flocks. The food in the grassy 

 ranges is plentiful, and chickens are seek- 

 ing a living in the unsettled sections, rather 

 than among the grain fields, presumably in 

 obedience to an instinct of safety. The 

 Turtle mountain people say there are more 

 pin tailed grouse in that region than were 

 ever known before, and when the ducks, 

 and geese come from the north, sport will 

 be at the best. 



The Supreme Court has decided that the 

 law enacted by the last legislature, requir- 

 ing hunters to take out a $25.00 license, will 

 not be operative before December ist, the 

 close of the shooting season. J. H. T. 



I am going to the mountains, on my annual 

 outing, in about 30 days. I go prepared to 

 enjoy the whole round of mountain sport. I 

 take my family with me and camp till we are 

 all tired. The little trout or the big salmon, 

 the young grouse or the big grizzly, I am 

 prepared to take. The big blue grouse are 

 found everywhere. I get more sport out of 

 this noble bird than from anything else. 

 Hunting grouse is sport, while I balance 

 up the hard work against the pleasure when 

 I hunt big game. The bear js the greatest" 

 of all big animals for sport. He is a fighter, 

 and it makes me feel better to kill a ferocious 

 beast than it does to shoot down a harmless 

 creature. There are many bear in these 

 mountains, but they are not easily taken, es- 

 pecially as my pointers are not trained for 

 them. Newton Hibbs, Lewiston, Idaho. 



salmon trout in Secesh creek, 8 miles from 

 here. I have seen several that were caught 

 there. M. W. Miner. 



Sheridan, Wyoming. 

 A grand shooting tournament will be held 

 here, October 8th, 9th and 10th, on live birds 

 and targets, under the management of 

 Frank S. Crabill and myself. Cash prizes 

 will be added to purses to the value of 

 $250 and we will have the crack shots here 

 from Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, and 

 the Dakotas. Reduced rates have been 

 made on the railroads and shooters will find 

 the best of hotel accommodations. The Sheri- 

 dan Inn will be headquarters for the sports- 

 men and the shooting park is near by. 

 People coming from the east can stay over 

 and get the finest kind of big game in the 

 mountains near here. Mark R. Perkins. 



Warrrens, Idaho. 

 This is a great game country. I may win- 

 ter here. Was over on a fork of the 

 Salmon yesterday and the boys there report 

 elk, sheep and silver-tips numerous. I 

 know the elk are. Friday evening Billy 

 knocked over a black tail buck, on the run, 

 with my little 25^ 25 Stevens, at 150 yards. 

 How's that for a toy gun and- a tenderfoot? 

 Mr. Cary should be here if he wants scenery 

 to sketch. There are lots of 15 to 25 pound 



Ruffed grouse very plenty; lots of squir- 

 rels ; quail scarce; woodcock quite a few. 

 The trappers, who formerly have kept our 

 mountains depleted, do not now dare to show 

 up, owing to the stringency of our game laws 

 and the efficiency of our game wardens, con- 

 sequently the mountains are full of young 

 birds. Good accommodations for sportsmen. 

 D. B. Van Wagenen, M. D., 

 Suffern, Rockland Co., N. Y. 



A sportsmen's club has been organized 

 here, with 41 members, for the purpose of 

 game protection and practice at trap shoot- 

 ing. I had the honor to be elected Presi- 

 dent ; Judge Wm. Neville, Vice-President; 

 A. D. Williams, Secretary; and W. H. Mc- 

 Donald, Treasurer. This club is much 

 needed, for the prairie chickens were nearly 

 all cleaned out last year and are reported 

 scarce, thus far, this summer. The pros- 

 pects for quail are better. 



M. K. Barnum, North Platte, Neb. 



The local papers in the Pecos valley, New 

 Mexico, always parade the names of persons 

 who go there to investigate the country. 

 They formerly gave the addresses as well, 

 but quit this lest some of the victims of the 

 valley — men who have been there, lost the 

 money they invested in lands, and have gone 

 away again, may warn these same prospect- 

 ors that the Pecos valley is a delusion and a 

 snare. Surely it must be rather wearing on 

 an editor's nerves to live in constant fear 

 that some other fellow will tell the truth 

 about his scheme. 



Have just returned from an absence of al- 

 most three years in southern Oregon and 

 Utah. Had a splendid time, with both deer 

 and fish. Was with "Big Injun" (W. A. Mas- 

 sie) one entire year in southern Oregon. Am 

 laying out my winter crusade for trapping 

 the raccoon, mink and otter, along the Okaw 

 river of southern Illinois. 



Daniel Arrowsmith, Ellsworth, 111. 



The St. Paul Gun Club will hold its annual 

 tournament at the Minnesota State fair 

 grounds, midway between St. Paul and Min- 

 neapolis, Sept. 9th to 14th. Reduced rates 

 have been secured on railways, an attractive 

 programme arranged, and a large attend- 

 ance is expected. John P. Burkhard, 57 East 

 7th street, St. Paul, is the manager. 



S. R. Scoggins, of Baltimore, recently re- 

 ceived a white quail in a consignment of 

 game from the west. The bird had the soft 

 whiteness of a dove over all its body except 

 here and there a feather which, in color, re- 



