June 12, 1884] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



388 



"hundred yards, and it is unreasonable to ask for greater ex- 

 cellence. 



Now, if 1 wish to make a long shot, and have the pellets 

 delivered within :i small compass, at the instant of the igni- 

 tion of the. powder 1 srivc the gun a sharp and strong push, 

 and in the next fraction of an instant a twirl and a slight 

 Movement backward. The first adds to the force of the 

 powder, the second ;mtl third motions draw tbc shot together, 

 and produce a close pattern. If I wish to get any small bird 

 for a specimen without injuring the skin and feathers, at the 

 moment of pulling the trigger I jump backward, thus dimin- 

 ishing the force Of the charge to almost any degree I desire. 

 In shooting at: a flock, when it is desirable that the gun should 

 scatter, I give the muzzle a flirt from right to left just so far 

 as is necessary as the shot are leaving it, In this way 1 once 

 killed fifteen wood ducks at a shot, though they weresitting 

 on a log lying exactly at a rigid angle with the direct line of 

 Ere. So I once killed" two deer running one behind the other, 

 my rifle being charged with two balls, once a common prac- 

 tice in Adironda when muzzle-loaders only were used. It 

 took nice calculation to get the second ball out at the right 

 instant, but I accomplished it, striking the first deer just be- 

 hind the shoulder, the second in the back just forward of the 

 hips (or perhaps I should say, one behind the fore shoulder, 

 the other before the hind shoulder. As I often read of the 

 fore shoulders of quadrupeds, I suppose they must have bind 

 shoulders). If any one doubts these statements, and some 

 people are forever doubting the most reasonable statement Of 

 hunters and anglers, I can at any time show the guns with 

 which the shots were made, and will be most happy to ex- 

 hibit them to any who call upon me at my house in Adironda. 

 Neither gun, however, is at all remarkable to look at. 

 Yours for the truth, 



Ma,t. Joseph Verity, U.S.H.M. 



Adirokda, May, 1884. 



THE CHOICE OF HUNTING RIFLES. 



Witor Forest and, Stream: 



The discussions in Forest and Stream on the choice of 

 hunting rifles have been very interesting tome. "Penob- 

 scot" wrote a very good article, aDd I corroborate his state- 

 ments in regard "to the .40-caliber. As I have hunted iu 

 Montana, Wyoming and Idaho for over fourteen years— part of 

 the time for market, hides and specimens— I give you my ex- 

 perience 



I have used rifles from .40-caliber up to .65-caliber, and 

 the best killing gun I ever handled was a Sharps .40-caliber, 

 70 grains powder. In 1872 I killed two large buffalo cows 

 with one single shot. The ball passed through behind the 

 shoulders of the lirst and penetrated througli, the heart of 

 the second, thus killing both. I also found this gun (.40- 

 caliber) to be "dead medicine" on bear, more so than larger 

 bores. The reason that most buffalo hunters out West prefer 

 the .40-caliber is easily explained. First, according to the 

 weight of powder and lead, the .40-caliber gives the flattest 

 trajectory as well as best, penetration. Second, a .40-caliber 

 bullet makes a very small hole, where it enters the body, and 

 as bear and most other kind of game are generally fat during 

 the hunting season, the hair and fat plug up the hole and pre- 

 vent the escape of blood outwardly; and experience clearly 

 shows that a wound which bleeds inwardly will kill 

 an animal in less tune than a wound that bleeds out- 

 wardly. Theoretically the largest caliber rifles may be the 

 best killing ones, but practically this is not so(i. e., a .40-cali- 

 ber compared to a .65-caliber). Like "Penobscot" I do not 

 believe in the "shock paralyzing" theory. - I have also used 

 repeaters of .44, .45 and .50 caliber, and have never had any 

 trouble with them. I think that a .40-75-225 or .40 90-240 or 

 300 will be the favorite cartridge for hunting large game. 



At no distant date, the hunting rifles will have to take a 

 resl , as the large game is fast disappearing in this part of the 

 couutry. An Old Hunter. 



Bozeman, Mont. 



TEXAS GAME PROSPECTS. 



I HAVE just passed through four counties of North Texas 

 and took my time to notice our prospects for next Sep- 

 tember. Fort Worth was my starting point. 



All through Tarrant county quail are breeding, and Bob 

 White is heard on every side. Prairie chickens are not doing 

 so well. 



In Cook county, quail are abundant, along the creeks they 

 swarm, and are to be seen running along the roads just before 

 the sun goes down. Pinnated grouse are more plentiful than 

 in Tarrant county, and good shooting can be expected. 



My next county was Montague, the noted home of Bob 

 White. As usual, I found him on all sides. Creeks appear 

 lined with them and the post oaks, known as "the cross tim- 

 bers" are literally alive. I do not know of any county so well 

 stocked. Whenever I pass through Montague county, it re- 

 minds me of Norfolk, England, and their large preserves. 

 One thing, a sportsman once be finds Montague, cannot go 

 amiss. Through the timber along the prairie creek, among 

 the farms with a good dog, you are bound to fill your bag. 



The next county is Clay, and the beautiful little city of 

 Henrietta, the home of Northern Texas cattle kings. This 

 is a prairie county. Young chickens are numerous, and 

 next August they will be in good shape. Chicken shooting 

 will be my first out, and Clay county I have concluded to 

 make my grounds. The county is just fenced up into large 

 pastures, and land that was cultivated turned into grass. 

 These old fields 1 examined and found young chickens just 

 hatched. I just put these fields down as where young 

 chickens will lie like rocks. I have commenced to count 

 the days so as to have the dogs ready. It is hard work in 

 August, but our Gulf wind makes it cooler than the North- 

 west States. Along the creeks I also found quail doing well, 

 and what little timber the county has is alive with quail. I 

 put in half a day looking up turkey on Big Wichita and was 

 surprised at the number left over to breed. I saw droves of 

 them, and flushed several hens from their nests. Young 

 turkey I have down on the Big Wichita for next November 

 I passed through into the Indian Nation and saw several 

 bauds of antelope. Took a look at Beaver Creek, and found 

 turkey doing well. Went up to Cash Creek, and there 1 

 saw too many signs of old camps and turkey feathers scat- 

 tered around'. 1 put Cash down as shot out. 



On my return home, 1 look a look at Red River. There I 

 saw a little more corn planted than can be gathered. I put 

 that down for geese next December, I liave marked out 

 my blinds, and if the driver kills any more geese with No. 

 10 after 1 have shot BBB I have made up my mind to keep 

 quiet about it. I shall also mind and hold my old gun 

 steady when drivers are around. 



I took in Red River and found chickens very numorous, 

 the dry season having driven them along the well-watered 



Red River Valley. Passing down the Little Wichita, I 

 noticed the duck lakes well filled up and "youkerpius" in 

 bloom, showing plentiful feed for ducks. I turned back over 

 the rolling hills into Henrietta well satisfied with the pros- 

 pect of North Texas, and considered myself lucky to live iu 

 a, country so plentifully supplied with game. Almo. 



Henrietta. June, 188*.. 



AMATEUR DEER SHOOTING. 



FOR the ordinary sportsmen it is generally best to possess 

 himself of the services of a guide, if be is set on killing 

 game. But it sometimes will happen that no guide can be 

 procured, and the sportsman must turn his back to the 

 woods and count his journey and expenses a dead loss, or 

 rely on his own undeveloped resources. Iu company with 

 several other congenial spirits, I was camping on the 'shores 

 of Connecticut Lake (second lake). Deer were numerous, 

 but wary, because of the constant jack-shooting that had 

 been going on. Several deer had been secured, none of them 

 with antlers, however— all does. The old "snorters," as the 

 guides called the bucks, suddenly withdrew at the sight of 

 the familiar torch, leaving the sportsmen to take up with the 

 unsuspecting females as his only reward in the chase. All 

 the shooting had been done with buckshot, and, of course, 

 at close range. It had occurred to me, on taking in the 

 situation'', that a change of tactics might bring better results. 

 Why not use a rifle at long range and try them at daylight 

 — say the early morning? The plan seemed feasible to all 

 the party. I only waited a good opportunity to execute it. 



I had possessed myself ol a repeating rifle of .38-caliber, 

 with which. I was tolerably famihar. and a cedar boat, too 

 large, however, for shooting purposes, but very light con- 

 sidering its size. 



It was on a Monday morning, a heavy fog was brooding 

 over the lake and surrounding woods; guides and sportsmen 

 were wrapped in happy dreams as 1' sallied forth. Iliad 

 called a mate, who, though he could neither shoot nor paddle, 

 was taken along as a passenger. About two miles from 

 camp, near the foot of the lake, a deep bay, undisturbed by 

 campers, became my objective point. My* plan was to allow 

 my companiou to row me down the lake; but, judge of my 

 surprise, when, after going, as I thought, the required dis- 

 tance, I came in sight of the shore not far from where I had 

 started. We bad been moving about in a circle. This was 

 not our only discouragement, however, for the loons allowed 

 us to come provokingly near, and several times I brought my 

 rifle half way to the shoulder with hopes of quieting their tell- 

 tale screams. 



Takiug a fresh start, for we were not to be discouraged, 

 we at length came within half a mile of the shore I 

 had selected, when, requesting my friend to lay aside his 

 oars, I took the paddle, and, without lifting it out of the 

 water, sent it slowly but surely toward the bay. The fog 

 had now lifted, and in a half hour more the sun would be 

 above the treetops, and the case began to look hopeless; but 

 on rounding the last point that hid the bay from sight my 

 friend gave a start, as if he had come in contact with an 

 electric battery. He was sitting in front of me, so that what 

 he saw I saw not. On we went, however, till within forty 

 rods of the shore, when, seeing nothing, I whispered my in- 

 tention to go on and examine the shore for fresh tracks. It 

 was now my turn to be startled, for my friend answered back 

 in a hoarse whisper that seemed as loud as thunder, "For 

 heaven's sake, look at that deer!" 



Turning the boat a little, sure enough there stood before 

 us a noble buck, regarding us with the greatest apparent in- 

 difference. On, on we went, my companion looking for all 

 the world like a figurehead to a ship, so still and rigid were 

 his muscles, though differing from most figureheads in that 

 he wore a large white hat set well back on his cranium. I 

 had now shortened the distance say ten rods, when the buck 

 in his quiet feeding gave me an excellent shoulder shot, so 

 letting my paddle slip into the water, I brought the Win- 

 chester, which had been resting across my lap, to a steady 

 aim and fired. By good fortune the ball entered the spine 

 and down came the noble game, to rise no more. 



"Wal, now, boys," said Uncle Tom, speaking half to us 

 and half to the guides who had come down to the boat land- 

 ing to see our prize, "Wal, now, boys, that is the finest 

 specimen of a deer that has been shot on this lake for many 

 a year." 



THE SNIPE HUNTING TRICK. 



YT7ITEN I came to this State three years ago, being fond 

 \ t of sport and having been born with a rod and gun in 

 my hand, and accustomed to handle both on all legitimate 

 occasions wherever sport was to be had, I lost no time in 

 making inquiry as to where I could find some shooting. I 

 may say that I was then in Sacramento. Having been 

 directed to the tules, about forty miles from the city, but in 

 what direction i do not choose to say at present, and, being 

 accompanied by a friend, 1 took up quarters at a hotel in the 

 neighborhood and proceeded to prospect. A goodly number of 

 hangers-on were there, hoodlums, ranchers, etc., who, find- 

 ing out that we were strangers in quest of sport, volunteered 

 a prodigious amount of information as to the rendezvous of 

 myriads of geese, ducks, etc. (this was in December). Per- 

 haps we looked a little verdant; at all events, our new friends 

 took it for granted that we were, and. soon ventured to try 

 "tricks upon travelers," like. Shaudy of old. After telling 

 of prodigious feats in the shooting line, including a tale of 

 the fellow who killed 100 geese at one discharge of his 

 8-gauge muzzleloader, and who, it was said, was present, but 

 being modest, allowed his chum to tell the tale. A fellow 

 who claimed to be a professional hunter inquired if we ever 

 hunted snipe. Giviug my companion a wink, 1 replied in 

 the negative, whereupon it was declared on all sides that the 

 best snipe ground in the State was to be found within six 

 miles. We expressed a wish to take a hand in, and the 

 "boys" told us to be ready about dark the next evening. 



The night came and so did the "boys," and my friend and 

 self went off with them. As we were informed no guns 

 were needed, and one. of the boys carrying a lantern and a 

 net we knew something was up, and lay low. After travel- 

 ing about six miles we came to a "slew/' across which we 

 rowed in a flat-bottomed boat, and went on through tules 

 and mud a mile or two further, Here on an open grassy 

 spot a halt was called and our companions, four in number, 

 told us to squat down and hold the net, while they proceeded 

 to beat the grounds for the biids, which we were informed 

 would be attracted and bewildered by the light and would 

 fall an easy prey to the net. We promised obedience and 

 expressed at the same time much curiosity to see how the 

 affair would culminate. 



As soon as our friends disappeared, Tom and ourself held 

 a brief and hurried consultation, the result of which was 



that the lantern was fastened to a pole and we made "tall 

 time" for the boat. Skulling ourselves across the "slew" we lay 

 low again for developments. Soon we beard our friends coming 

 although it was too dark to see ten paces. Tin y were laugh- 

 ing and chuckling in high glee at the trick played upon the 

 "greenies. " The abseuse of the boat caused them a good deal of 

 conjecture, as the lantern being up they supposed we were still 

 holding the net. Being too far off to hear clearly or see their 

 movements, but knowing well that they would have a good 

 eight miles to go round ere they got on the home trail, we 

 left, and before 10 o'clock were snug in bed. 



When we came down to breakfast next morning, the' 

 landlord expressed his intention to do the treating while we 

 remained, and the barroom habitues treated us with marked 

 respect, but no further advice was volunteered. 



About a week after, just before leaving, we learned that 

 the fellows got back about 3 A. M., wet, dirty and full of 

 profanity at being outwitted. 



We spent a few days in that locality and had fine shooting. 



Leon id as. 



Solano County. California. 



TWO-EYED SHOOTING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



la a late issue of Forest and Stream, I note some obser- 

 vations on the subject of "Two-eyed Shooting," or shooting 

 with both eyes open instead of only one. It seems to be dis- 

 covered at last, after centuries of profound ignorance on the 

 subject, that this is the only sensible way to shoot, and it is 

 now in order for all who have practiced two-eyed shooting 

 to come forward and crow. 1 notice that "A Sportsman'' 

 from Georgia crows very loudly indeed. He says he is the 

 only man in the entire South who has ever shot in this way, 

 as far as he knows; in other words, that of all the other 

 millions of shooters in the South, he is the only one who has 

 had sense enough to understand the business, "Faithful 

 among the faithless, only be." 



This is high honor, indeed ; but I can assure the Georgia 

 gentleman that he is not alone in it. I can claim an equal, 

 if not a greater honor than he. I have been a shooter since 

 twelve years of age, and am now almost as old as the hills. 

 I have shot with a great variety of pistols, shotguns and 

 rifles, and have sometimes sighted and fired a cannon. And 

 yet I never fired a shot in my life without holding both eyes 

 wide open. 1 dare say that the Georgia gentleman cannot 

 say as much as that. If he cannot, then I claim a greater 

 honor than he has. If he can say as much, then I claim an 

 equal honor. Moreover, it. is my opinion that I beat him in 

 the honor anyhow, for I cannot, to save my life, shut one eye 

 and keep the other open, I never could do it in my life. If 

 I shut one eye, the other closes simultaneously, in spite of 

 all I can do. Therefore, in my case, "learning comes by 

 nature." At least it is so as regards shooting. When learn- 

 ing comes by nature, it is genius of the highest sort; and 

 genius is much more honorable of all men than mere talent, 

 which has to have the learning driven into it by birch or 

 hazel switches, hard work or long experience. If the 

 Georgia gentleman's two-eyed shooting has not come by 

 nature, 1 am more honorable and admirable than he, in pre- 

 cisely so far as genius is more honorable and admirable than 

 talent. 



It is my opinion that his two-eyed shooting did not come 

 by nature, because he maps out a line of argument by which 

 he reached the conclusion that it is the best way. No line 

 of argument was needed to teach me that, it came the first 

 time 1 pulled a trigger, by nature or genius. The Georgia 

 gentleman and all other youths should take this considera- 

 tion into their breasts and cherish it: namely, that find as 

 great a man as you may, you will, if you look around, find 

 some other man somewhere, who is just as great, if not a 

 little greater than he. If they cherish this consideration it 

 will probably prevent them from making humiliating ex- 

 posures of themselves. Greatness is by no means singular. 

 There's lots of it in the world if one will only look around 

 to find it. It is this consideration which withholds me from 

 making too great a boast of myself, for while it is true that 

 I do not know of another person in the entire South, or else- 

 where, who is a two-eyed shooter by nature or genius, yet I 

 am sure if I should boast of it I should find hunch eds and 

 perhaps thousands coming forward to dispute with and 

 humiliate me. Therefore I wear my honors meekly, pre- 

 pared to surrender them at any moment to some greater 

 person who may prove himself to bs so. 



In regard to accuracy of fire, while I do not claim any- 

 thing exallive, yet it is due to science and the small brother- 

 hood of two-eyed shooters to state the absolute fact that I 

 am a good shot with pistol, shotgun, rifle, Cannon or even 

 hand-grenade. 1 have never been with a company of shoot- 

 ers with whom 1 did not hold a fair and even superior hand, 

 so much so as to excite the envy and secret ill will of in; ny. 

 When a boy the other boys soon refused to go squirrel hunt- 

 ing with me, for it nearly always happened that they came 

 back with nothing, or next to nothing, and I with a bag- 

 full. When a Texas Ranger, years ago, I was thoroughly 

 hated by the brag shots of the company, for the reason that 

 they always got left when it came to a trial of skill. One 

 fellow by "the name of John Myers quit speaking to me, and 

 has never spoken to me from that day unto this. Fact is I 

 believe he prayed nightly that the Indians might get my 

 scalp. Poor fellow! "Some years later the Indians got his 

 scalp, while mine is still on my head Even now I never 

 go out with a company ducking, quailing or sniping with- 

 out coming back quite as good a man as the best of them, 

 and often the best. Thus it is that genius sticks to us to the 

 last, while what comes by talent is often forgotten and lost. 



If I have talked too much of myself, it is well understood 

 who is to blame for it. The Georgia gentleman provoked 

 me to it. If I have sinned in this respect, he caused me to 

 do it, and is therefore the bigger sinner. If I am to be 

 blamed, he should Ire blamed the more, and doubtless will be. 

 However, we have both written in the interest of science, 

 and it seems to me scarcely possible to sin in such an inter- 

 est. 



In the same interest I will state that I shoot very quickly — 

 almost the very instant that the gun is brought to the shoulder. 

 If 1 stop to "draw a bead" or take sight, my gun goes to 

 wobbling, and then 1 can scarcely hit the side of a house. 

 If I shoot instantly, the gun has no time to wobble, and then 

 I send my lead to the spot I wanted it to go to. As to 

 whether I take sight or not I cannot say. This is certain, 

 however, that I see only the fore sight, and never see the 

 hind sight. To me the hind sight is a perfectly useless in- 

 cumbrance on a gun. This might not do for very long-range 

 shooting, but it suits all my purposes excellently. 



Now let us hear testimony from others on this subject. 

 How do you aim, with one eye or both eyes? N. A. T. 



PiLESTiNE-.Texas, May 27, 1884. 



