206 



RECREATION. 



and Eastman triple action pneumatic shut- 

 ter; and for a load a No. 4' cartridge is 

 about the proper thing. Any person adopt- 

 ing this method will have better luck and 

 more real sport in 2 hours than if he goes 

 into the woods for all day armed with a 

 more deadly weapon, destroying the lives 

 of every grouse and squirrel he can, and 

 comes home and boasts of being a mighty 

 Nimrod, better known to readers of Rec- 

 reation as a game hog. I have frequently 

 heard people say it is impossible to be 

 a game hog in Vermont. That is not true. 

 As game is scarce here it is not necessary 

 to make so large a kill in order to be brand- 

 ed G. H. as black and deep as where game 

 is more abundant. C. C. Manley, 

 L. A. S. Local Warden, Chittenden, Co., Vt. 



ANSWER. 



You are correct as to your method of 

 hunting grey squirrels, and it is the only 

 way that any man or boy should ever 

 adopt. Fortunately there is no close season 

 on this kind of hunting, and the more peo- 

 ple do of it the better. I offer one amend- 

 ment. Bait the squirrels with corn or nuts 

 in an open place, every day for several 

 weeks, or even months. If you will do this 

 you will find that certain of them will learn 

 to go every day to get their rations. When 

 you have once induced them to visit their 

 boarding house regularly, set up your cam- 

 era, focus it on that spot, attach a long hose, 

 take the bulb in your hand, hide behind a 

 hush or log and wait for the visitors. When 

 one comes press the bulb and the camera 

 will do the rest. 



In this way any man or boy who has a 

 camera may secure a trophy that would be 

 worth more to him than 100 dead squirrels 

 would be, and he can look at it and show 

 it to his friends with a clear conscience ; 

 whereas no man should be able to look on 

 a squirrel he has killed without feeling 

 ashamed of himself. — Editor. 



A PROPOSED GAME PRESERVE. 

 It need not surprise Woodstock's visitors to 

 see in the future a game preserve of 1,800 acres 

 or more within easy distance of the village, and in 

 it all kinds of game adaptable to the Vermont 

 climate. A large tract has been selected in the 

 Southwest corner of the town, 7 miles from 

 Woodstock and 2 from Bridgewater. It is al- 

 ready stocked with fish and game. Three trout 

 brooks run through it. It is believed the enter- 

 prise will interest people with means to push it 

 through, as Dearborn & Co. make a liberal offer 

 of 300 acres of land, including 7 mowing fields, 

 and buildings suitable for the caretakers of the 

 park, at $2 an acre — just what it cost them. 

 They will also sell some 1,500 acres adjoining, 

 of which they have the sale, at what they can 

 buy for, without any commission; much of it at 

 $1 an acre, comprising pasture and woodland; 

 no buildings or highways to buy up. — Woodstock 

 (Vt.) paper. 



The above clipping outlines a scheme in 

 which I hope to interest brother sportsmen. 



Nature and location have combined to 

 make an ideal game park of the land in 

 question. It is a block of abandoned farms, 

 as the still blooming rose and lilac bushes 

 testify. The old orchards are still in bear- 

 ing and wild deer feed on the apples. 

 Twenty-five years ago these hills were 

 covered with sheep, but the great decline 

 in wool put an end to that industry. Since 

 then the land has been permitted to grow 

 up wild. Besides the original forests there 

 are plenty of young spruce, hemlock and 

 shrubbery. 



Adjoining these 1,800 acres are 2,000 

 more that can be bought for $1 an acre, 

 making a park containing 4,000 acres. 

 Enough deer could be enclosed with it to 

 stock it thoroughly. Deer were protected 

 in this State nearly 30 years, and are now 

 abundant in Windsor and Rutland counties. 

 This land is almost in the heart of the 

 deer country. 



I have no dull ax, being interested in 

 the matter only as a sportsman who has 

 known the region from boyhood. I hope 

 a sufficient number of sportsmen may be 

 attracted to this favored spot to make the 

 plan a success. I cheerfully vouch for 

 Dearborn & Co., of Woodstock. They 

 are truthful and honest people, and will 

 answer all letters cheerfully. 



J. H. Hoadley, South Woodstock, Vt. 



' CHILDREN READ RECREATION. 



One of the great problems confronting 

 lovers of game animals is their protection 

 from the bloodthirsty men whose only de- 

 sire is to kill all they can. One thing is 

 certain : Our hopes can be realized only 

 through popular education. To help in 

 this work I have 2 suggestions to make : 



I notice that nearly all children enjoy 

 Recreation. Even my tots, too small to 

 read, will look through my copies repeated- 

 ly. Let each reader of this magazine call 

 his children's attention to the teachings of 

 Recreation. It is an enemy to game hogs, 

 and a manual of mercy to game. I feel 

 sure no child could grow up a slaughterer 

 under such training. 



Let the friends of game protection strive 

 to secure as subscribers the principal hunt- 

 ers of our communities. Recreation should 

 go into the hands of boys and young hunt- 

 ers. Would it not be a demonstration of our 

 sincerity along this line to spend a few 

 dollars if need be in putting Recreation 

 into the hands of some of the young? 

 Mr. Shields' work is an unselfish one. Let 

 us help him. 



F. S. O., Mexico City, Mo. 



BABCOCK AND HIS HERD AT IT AGAIN. 



The guests of E. S. Babcock returned yester- 

 day from one of the best of the season's meet- 

 ings at Otay. Lined on the lake 13 in number, 

 the shooters closed in on the game, which pos- 



