358 
FOREST AND STREAM 
WOODCOCK 
For Forest and Stream. 
IN NEW JERSEY. 
Newton, Sussex County, July lltli. 
Editor Forest and Stream :— 
I hove spent about two weeks whipping the trout streams 
among the mountains in Wayne and Pike counties, Penn¬ 
sylvania, where I found an abundance of the “speckled 
beauties,” but generally of a small size. In former years 
I have fished the Lackawac and Dyberry streams and their 
tributaries with good success, taking an abundance of trout 
of fine size and delicious flavor. The streams, however, 
are preserved by the proprietors, and only a favored few 
have access to them. 
I have travelled, shot and fished in many of the States of 
the Union, but of all the places I have ever been, this is 
the most inviting. While driving along these smooth, un¬ 
dulating slate roads, at almost every turn splendid trout 
streams can be seen winding tlieir serpentine course through 
the valleys, and then the woodcock swales and the par¬ 
tridge brakes on the hill-sides, from out of which, now and 
then, at this seasan of the year, may be seen an old cock- 
ruffed grouse, majestically crossing the road, with tail 
spread and crest erect, and from the several flocks of young 
birds I have met with while woodcock shooting, those old 
fellows have reason for pride. All these things, with the 
picturesque beauty of everything surrounding, warms up 
the blood, and makes me wish that this could be my home 
for a thousand years. For here, too, besides all the loveli¬ 
ness I have mentioned, mav be found good, whole-souled, 
intelligent, hospitable gentlemen, and skillful field sports¬ 
men at that, and such fine, thorough-bred dogs; but you 
have been here, and know how it is yourself. I forgot to 
say that here, too, almost every person is the owner of a 
Hambletonian, a Bashaw, a Star, an Abdallah, or some 
other strain of trotters, and besides these, are a few spans 
of magnificent carriage horses, behind a pair of which, 
belonging to W. D. Dickson, I have just taken a spin over 
the Springdale road, and a more lovely drive it would be 
hard to find. One of them is half brother to Mystic, an 
extra fine horse owned by Mr. James Northrop, of this 
place, which horse recently made a second heat in 2:27L 
The carriage horses above alluded to, are for sale—I think 
at a very reasonable price for such a splendid pair. With 
my friend, Theo. Morford, with whom I am at present so¬ 
journing, and with our mutual friend “Homo,” who, with 
his family, are spending the Summer here, we are doing 
our level best in the way of woodcock-shooting; but last 
Spring, just about the hatching time of this delicious 
game, an almost unprecedented fall of snow, and several 
days of extreme cold weather, overwhelmed all this section 
of the country, and I am astonished to find that even the 
old birds should have weathered such a storm, for just after 
the storm, the grounds hereaway were strewed with dead 
robins, blue-birds, tanagers, warblers, sparrows, &e.; but 
many an old woodcock, after the loss of their first broods, 
have, in a commendable and praiseworthy way, brought 
forth a second brood; yet at least one-half of the woodcock 
crop was cut off by that snow-storm. Now, more than 
half the birds we are shooting are old ones, and the young 
birds we get are generally under size. 
“ Homo,” you know had been extremely ill a short time 
before tlu 4tli inst. (the opening day of the Summer shoot¬ 
ing), but he was convalescent on that day, and determined 
toVave a shoot, if it killed him, and taking into considera¬ 
tion the fact that he had recently been prostrated upon a 
bed of severe illness, and that woodcock are very scarce, 
and he shooting with a Parker gun which he had never 
shot before, he did right well, as he bagged, to his own 
guu, six pair of very fair woodcock, in part of a morning’s 
sh noting. , . 
This reminds me of the woodcock shoot participated in, in 
the vicinity of Blooming: Grove Park, a* few seasons ago, 
when Mr. John C. Westbrook, Mr. John Courson, and Col. 
Griggs were the shooters. The covert there was so dense, 
where they were shooting, neither could tell what his com¬ 
panion was shooting at when a report was heard; yet during 
that day they positively killed about 40 woodcock. 
Horace' Smith. 
New York, July 10th, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I was sorry to read the rather melancholy account of the woodcock 
this season in Forest and Stream. I am forced to admit the truth 
that these fine birds are becoming scarce. However, I had a pretty good 
morning's sport while home for the Fourth among the low lands and 
side hilts of New London county, just north of the old town of Stoning- 
tou. The day was very warm, and my dog, although a good one, was 
nearly used up by noon, and needed all my care to make him attend to 
business. I hunted pretty hard until 12 o’clock, and succeeded in bag¬ 
ging 11 birds, and taking all things into consideration congratulated my¬ 
self*I did pretty well. I have shot a number of woodcock in that part 
of the country, and never before have I seen the birds “start” so hard or 
act so mean. Yours respectfully, A. Reader. 
Some of our friends in the vicinity of Cape May, N. J., have made 
very fine bunches of woodcock within the past week.—E d: 
Portland, Me., July 9th, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
A few words with regard to the opening of the woodcock season in this 
vicinity may not come amiss to some of your readers, aud it is only to 
be wished that the report could be more favorable. July 4th, on which 
day the season began, was a foggy day, followed by 24 hours’ hard ram, 
which, in connection with previous wet weather, has filled the lower 
covers and scattered the birds along the uplands, as a natural conse¬ 
quence of which no large bugs have been reported, with perhaps one ex¬ 
ception. The promise of ruffed grouse (local partridge) for September 
1 st is, however, very good, as the “woods are full of them. ’ 1 have re¬ 
ceived information from many portions of Maine and New Hampshire, 
all of which mention large broods. F< w - 
— ...- ^ i — — 
—The Grand Rigeon Shooting Tournament came off at 
Detroit, Michigan, on July 7, 8, 9, and 10. The shooting 
was open to all amateurs, and to be governed by the 
Michigan State medal rules. Plunge traps, 1J oz. shot. 
The amount of money prizes was $1,000, and the entrance 
fee, $10. The committee of management comprised the 
following gentlemen: W. C. Colburn, John E. Long, the 
celebrated gun-maker of Detroit, Elam Fisher, J. Y. D. 
Eldridge, and E. H. Gillman. The tournament was one of 
the most successfully conducted affairs that ever came off 
in the State of Michigan. The weather was delightful, the 
birds were wild pigeons, fat and fast flyers. The following 
gentlemen were the winners: 
First day, Tuesday, July 7th, 1874, ten single birds—1st 
Killed t 
6 
5 
5 
2 
4 
Killed. 
6 
7 
6 
5 
8 
9 
.10 
10 
8 
9 
7 
8 
7 
5 
6 
4 
9 
prize, $125, Long; 2d prize, $75, Sherman; 3d prize, $5C, 
Hascall; 4tli prize, $30, Hawkins; 5 th prize, $25, Lee; 6 th 
prize, $20, Hall; 7tli prize, $15, Hamilton. 
Second day, Wednesday, July 8 th, 1874, ten single birds— 
1st prize, $100, Hall and Cristy, divided; 2 d prize, $75, 
Smith; 3d prize, $50, Caldwell; 4th prize, $30, Colburn; 
5tli prize, $25, McJanes; 6 th prize, $20, Luckett; 7tli 
prize, $15, Hawley. 
Third day, Thursday, July 9 th, 1874, ten single birds— 
1 st prize, $125, Dubois; 2 d prize, $75, J. J. Hall; 3d prize, 
$50, W. Hall; 4th prize $40, L. Moran; 5th prize, $30, 
L. Horne; 6 th prize, $20, Pinckney; 7th prize, $10, Cad- 
man. 
We shall endeavor to publish next week, if possible, the 
details of birds killed, &c.; of the above tournament. 
Lexington, Ky., July 10, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The shooting toiirnament gotten up under the auspices of the Hunter’s 
Club of Lexington, Kentucky, took place near the city July 7th. 8 th, 
and 9th, of which I send you the following report. The first day the 
judges were Dr. William Pryor, of Franklin county, Ky.; Hon. George 
Fleming, of Fleming; and George Bowen, of Bourbon. The first match 
was a side shoot at four pair*, of birds, 18 yards rise, 100 yards boundary, 
1 J oz. shot, five entries:— 
• Straight. 
M. A. Kenney, Bourbon county, Ky...2 pairs. 
S. W. Bagg, Bourbon county, Ky...1 
R. H. Hicks, Woodford county, Ky. .1 
R. F. Sandusky, Lexington, Ky.0 
Rodenburg, Lexington, Ky.1 
The second and grand match of the occasion was at five pairs of birds, 
18 yards rise, 100 yards boundary, ip oz. shot; seventeen entries; free 
for all:— 
Straight . 
T. N. Martin, Lexington, Ky.1 
J. W. Kidd, Lexington, Ky.1 
H. G. Craig, Lexington, Ky.1 
A. Jeffrey. Lexington, Ky.1 
T. J. South, Franklin county, Ky.3 pairs. 
R. Church, Franklin county, Ky.4 pairs. 
L. C. South, Franklin county, Ky.5 pairs. 
C. A. Kenney, Bourbon county, Ky.5 pairs. 
W. F. Champ, Bourbon county, Ky.3 pairs. 
L. Trotter, Bourbon county, Ky.4 pairs. 
J. H. Kerr, Bourbon county, Ky.2 pairs. 
J. Cunningham, Bourbon county, Ky .2 pairs. 
J. W. Ferguson, Bourbon county, Ky.1 
J. Anderson, Jessamine county, Ky.2 pairs. 
R. Smith, Scott county, Ky.1 
T. H. Arnold, Woodford county, |Ky. 1 
Tom Mannen, Mason county, Ky.4 pairs. 
C. A. Kenney andL. C. South divided first money. Ties for second 
money shot off by Mannen, 00—0; Trotter, 10 10 10-3; Church, 10 10 
11 — 4 ; who received second money. 
Ties for entrance—Champ, 11 11 11—6; Cunningham, 10—1; South, 
11 11 10—5. 
Second day—First match —Nursery stakes, at three pairs of birds, 18 
yards rise, 100 yards boundary; ten entries: — 
Straight. 
Colonel Frank Waters.2 pairs. 
Colonel W. R. Fleming.3 pairs. 
Win. Dudley.,....2 pairs. 
Captain Phil Kidd.0 
Captain Joe Wolhrer.2 pairs. 
S. Sharp.. pairs. 
Wm. McCaw.3 pairs. 
L. E. Tarlton.0 
H. G. Craig . ••••1 
T. L. Bryan. 1 
Ties shot off—Colonel Fleming. 11—2; Wm. McCaw, 10- 1. 
Second match was six pairs of birds, 18 yards rise, 100 boundary, li oz. 
shot; $5 entrance; two thirds to first man, one third to second man, and 
third to save entrance:— 
Straight. 
T. J. South.5 pairs. 
L. C. South.4 pairs. 
R. Church. 2 pairs. 
L. Trotter.5 pairs. 
J. 11. Kerr.3 pairs. 
T. H. Mannen.-.2 pairs. 
June Smith. 6 pairs. 
Colonel F. Waters.:..3 pairs. 
Dr. Dudlev.3 pairs. 
C. A Kenny.2 pairs. 
R. T. Holloway.3 pairs. 
J. T. Kidd.3 pairs. 
H. G. Craig.1 
First money went to Smith, he killing six pairs in succession. 
Ties for second money shot off by T. J. South, 11 00—2; J. II. Kerr, 
tl 10—3; L. Trotter, 11 11—4; won. 
Ties for third money, or entrance fee—Dr. Dudley, 11 10—3; L. C. 
South, 11 10—4; won; T. II. Mannen, 11 00—2. 
Third day —First match was at three pairs of birds, eleven entries, $5 
each, $20 added by the club; $50 to first, $20 to second, and third to save 
entrance:— 
Straight. 
William* McCaw.3 pairs. 
William Kemp.2 pairs. 
June Smith.. 3 pairs. 
L. E. Tarlion. 
R. Church. 
F. Waters._ 
William Ferguson.2 pairs. 
J. W. K : dd. 3 pairs. 
T. C. Woodford...3 pairs. 
- T. J. South.2 P* 11 ' 8 - 
L. Trotter.....3 pairs. 
L. C. South.. 
Ties for first money—Woodford, 1*1 11—4; Kind, 00 10—1; McCaw, 11 
10—3. South won second money, 4 to 2. 
Second match between Trotter and South; $50 a side:— 
Trotter ... ....J1 11 10 01 If 11 li 11—14 
south .n 11 01 n 11 11 11 n—is 
Third match was a challenge from Hunter’s Club to Nimrod Club of 
Bourbon; four pairs b^rds; four men eaeh; loser to pay for birds:— 
Killed. 
5 
6 
5 
3 
witbd’w. 
5 
6 
2 
3 
3 
Killed. 
H 
10 
withd’w. 
11 
11 
12 
12 
9 
10 
withd’w. 
8 
9 • 
6 
Killed. 
6 
4 
. 4 
1 
5 
2 
5 
6 
6 
5 
6 
4 
hunter’s club. 
Straight. Killed. 
Craig.2 pairs 5 
Viley. 5 
Woolf oik.4 pairs 8 
Waters. 4 
Total.22 
NIMROD CLUB. 
straight. . Killed. 
Kerr.3 pairs 7 
Woodford.3 pairs 7 
Kidd.3 pairs 8 
Ferguson. 6 
Total. 
Yours, 
.28 
C. A. Kenny. 
barred. The prizes will amount to $1,000. All shooting to 
be governed by the club’s rules. 
—The pigeon match between Messrs. James Gordon 
Bennett and George Lorillard, took place on the 9th, at 
Islip. Both the gentlemen used Wesley Richard’s breech 
loaders. English rules, thirty yards, 100 birds. Mr. 
Lorillard killed 52 birds, Mr. Bennett 49. Which was the 
better shot was bard to decide. Mr. Bennett seemed to be 
the more unlucky, many of his dead birds falling out of 
bounds. 
Tiffin, Ohio, July 8 th, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
An association, called “The Ohio Association for the Protection of 
Game,” was organized here last winter, having for an object the protec¬ 
tion of game and proper enforcement of the game laws of the State. 
The Association also offers protection to the rights of the farmer, by 
offering rewards for proof which may lead to the conviction of anybody 
who has been guilty of doing damage to farm property or having in any 
way trespassed on farmer’s right'contrary to law. 
This society celebrated the Fourth by holding their First Annual Pic 
Nic and Pigeon Shoot. The pic nic was a most enjoyable affair, and the 
pigeon shoot showed considerable skill on the part of the older and more 
practiced shooters, and must have been quite satisfactory to those ama¬ 
teurs who never “shot on the wing” before this day. Below you will find 
Chicago, July 4th, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The following is the result of a pop at tame birds at Charles Reese’s 
Hyde Park, July 4th:— 
SINGLE. 
Underwood (10 straight).I3i William Chittenden (13 straight).. 15 
Chas. Creighton (3 straight) withd’w j 
DOUBLE. 
Wm. Chittenden (4 straight p’rs)..15. Underwood—..withdrawn. 
Chas Creighton (4 straight p’rs)... 14i 
singles. 
Carson...111-8; Underwood..11 1—3 
Wright....0 0 1—1| 
three pairs . 
William Chittenden...•*.11 11 40—5 
Chit. 
■—The first pigeon tournament of the Cincinnati Shooting 
and Fishing Club will be held at Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 
21, 22, 23, and 24, open to all amateurs; professionals 
the score. Fourteen single birds 
boundary, 60 yards, 1 £ oz. shot: — 
Name. Killed. 
Loomis .. 11 
each, plunge traps, 21 yards rise, 
Name. Killed. 
Buskirk. 
Rncrhv . 7 
Amende. ii 
^ a b u J . .. 0 
SmcRth ,. o 
Harman. 7 
J ones . 13 
Snyder.. .. . u 
Tunison .. 7 
Bloom . 9 
Baldwin . 9 
Gibson . in 
Sftvrnri . 9 
Kaull .. 
Yedder . 11 
Frost . 7 
Total . 75 
Tota! . 78 
Yours truly, 
Derby. 
—Among the first sixty qualified at Wimbledon to shoot 
for the Queen’s prize, are the following Canadians"': Lieut. 
Whitman, of Quebec; Private T. Mitchell, of Ontario; 
Capt. J. P. McPherson, of the Governor-General’s Foot 
Guard ; Color Sergt. Baillie, of Ontario; Major Gibson, of 
Ontario, and Hancock. All of these riflemen are entitled 
to a prize of £12, and to wear the National Rifle Association 
badge. Sergt. Vail was the only Canadian who got into 
the second stage last year. 
In the contest for the Alexandra prize, the following* have 
been returned winners : Capt. Layton, Nova Scotia; Capt; 
McPherson; Lieut. MacNaughton, Cobourg Artillery, On¬ 
tario; Private Dislier, Ontario, and Capt. Morgan, Quebec, 
Creedmoor. —The Amateur Club Badge and the 
Remington Diamond Badge. —Both these events came off 
punctually as to time, on Saturday last, it being the fourth 
competition for the Amateur badge and the third for the 
Remington. The weather, though hot and close, without 
being exactly unfavorable, the sun being at times partially 
obscured, allowed good shooting. The wind was rather 
puffy. The Amateur badge, distances 800, 900, and 1,000 
yards, five scoring shots, two sighting shots, came off at 11 
o’clock. 
SCORE AT 800 YARDS. 
Arm. Scoi'e. 
Sharp sporting.14 4 3 4 4 
Remington sporting.. 4 3 4 ^4 
Sharp sporting. J 4 4 3 4 4 
Remington sporting..' 
Remington military.. 
Sharp sporting. 
Remington sporting... 
Sharp sporting... 
Name. 
G. W. Yale. 
Jobn Bodine. 
L. M. Ballard. 
A. V. Canfield. 
General T. S. Dakin. 
J. S. Coniin. 
Leon Backer. 
General J. H. Hawley. 
E. A. Sanford— .. 
George Crouch. 
L. Deiger 
4 4 3 3 4 
3 4 4 3 2 
2 4 3 3 4 
i 4 3 3 3 3 
4 3 3 3 3 
Remington sporting.. 0 3 4 s 4 
Sharp sport mr.| 2 3 4 3 2 
.. , “ 12 3 4 4 2 
A. V. Davies.| Sharp sporting.| 4 0 4 3 3 
H. E. Fulton.I Sharp sporting.| 30333 
J. Tragesser.j Stiarpsporting.13 3 3 0 2 
J. P. M. Richards.| Sharpsporting.| 0 3 3 3 2 
SCORE AT 900 YARDS. 
Total 
19 
19 
19 
1» 
16 
16 
16 
16 
15 
15 
15 
14 
12 
11 
11 
Name. Score. 
General T. S. Dakin. 33344 
L. Deiger. 3 3 4 3 J 
General Hawley... 34 4 22 
E. H. Sanford. 2 2 4 3 4 
G. W. Yale. 0 4 4 3 3 
A. V. Canfield. 33233 
L. M. Ballara. 2 3 2 4 3 
J. S. Coniin. 4 3 3 4 0 
H. E. Iulton.... 2 3 4 2 3 
.John Bodine. 3033 4 
J. P. M. Richards. 3 0 3 8 3 
George Crouch. 2023 3 
L. Tragesser. 03340 
Leon Backer....I 3 0 0 2 3 
A. Y. Travis. .| 0 0 0 3 3 
SCORE AT 1,000 YARDS. 
Name. Score. 
General Dakin. | 3 3 4 2 3 
G. W. Yale. 3 3 3 3 3 
John Bodine.| 3 3 2 4 2 
E. H. Sauford.! 0 3 4 3 3 
H. E. Fulton....! 434 20 
A. Y. Canfield.j 43230 
J. S. Conlm. 2 2 4 2 2 
L. M. Ballard .| 3 3 3 2 0 
L. Deiger. .1 44300 
George Croucli.I 0040 4 
Leon Backer. j 31002 
General Hawley... | 0 G 3 0 0 
Total. 
17 
16 
15 
15 
14 
14 
14 
14 
14 
13 
13 
10 
10 
i 8 
! 6 
Total. 
15 
15 
H 
13 
13 
12 
12 
11 
11 
8 
5 
3 
In analyzing the scores made, we note the very excellent 
shooting of Messrs. Yale, Bodine, Ballard, aud Canfield, at 
800 yards—all these having made 19 in a possible 20. At 
900, General Dakin came to the front with 17 in a possible 
20, making up for a somewhat lower score at 800 yards. 
At 1,000 yards, the 15 secured by General Dakin aud Mr. 
Yale is excellent shooting, an average of 8, being so far 
considered fine shooting at this long range. In awarding 
General Dakin the badge, Mr. Yale having made the same 
total, 48, the prize was given under the rule of ties, to the 
highest score at the second range. The following is a re¬ 
sume of the two scores; 
Name. myds 900 yds 1000 yds Tota 
General Dakin—. 16 1? 15 48 
G. W. Yale;. 19 14 15 48 
The average of the shooting of the two best shots was 
three-fifteenths better than a centre for every shot. By the 
new rule, allowing the best twelve to compute, Messrs. 
Richards, Tregessin and Davison were excluded, but as may 
