326 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
a ae 
* ss 
[Nov. 20, 1884, 
birds not much shot. In a‘word, the not much shot birds 
are snared or trapped ones. There are no Western quail in 
the market here, 
Fairmount Park is thronged with rabbits, and several 
coyeys of quail have selected these grounds asa resort, They 
are Sufe, as no shooting will be allowed there even on the 
outskirts. Homo. 
Novemarr 16. 
HOW SOME PEOPLE DO IT. 
PREPARATIONS, 
} J OVEMBER is upon us. The gorgeous garniture of 
autian purples, scarlets and chrome yellows is pass- 
ing away. The maples are doffing their cardinal hats to the 
chilly north winds, leaving pates as bald as those of Francis- 
can monks. The tranquil pools which so short a time ago 
refiected their inverted beauties are now only dimpled with 
the sombre plumage of the wildfowl. The woods are becom- 
ing sere and leafless, The quail daintily pick their way 
through the copper-colored buckwheat stubbles. The wood- 
cock sucks his julep by the oozing spring, and the grouse 
drum corps awakens the echoes of the mountain fastness. 
It is the giorious anticipation of sport so woven in the 
nature of the Anglo-Saxon race, the healthful recreation of 
shooting; the charming fellowship which exists betwixt 
kindred spirits, and their companionship with their silky- 
coated friends, the setters, that frames in jewel settings 
famous pictures of sport in the minds of three New York 
sportsmen who meet, discuss the game season and in imagin- 
ation return laden with trophies of the field and dell. 
By appointment the trio assemble at the house of the short 
man of the party, to dine and make preparations for a trip. 
The host has thrown out a hint to his friends to say nothing 
of the subject at dinner, ‘‘for fear of alarming his wife, who 
is so dreadfully afraid of firearms.” He neglects to mention 
that he is sure to be boned for a new dress by way of com- 
promise, should the cat get out of the bag. As dinner pro- 
gresses the jolly stout man is continually checking himself 
from exclaiming in a hearty way, “Well, old boy, we'll 
tmaake trouble for the birds next week, won't we?’ The re- 
sult is the forced restraint makes him relapse into gloomy 
silence, and madam wonders how her mate ‘‘can see any- 
thing in tuch a stupid creature.” 
The tall man, on the other hand, at the third glass of 
sherry becomes mysterious in his allusions, and lJater on 
drops into a misehieyous mood, which makes madame prick 
her ears, and causes her husband to shake in his boots. 
Dinner is over at last, and the sportsmen are by them- 
selves. The short man now produces a new blank book, for 
he has appointed himself purveyor and treasurer for the trip, 
and it is necessary to make out-a list of what they shall take. 
He opens his book, and for a time the friends are buried in 
thought, At last the stout man says: 
“Well, I suppose we'll have to take some whisky?” 
“Oertainly,” replies the short man, ‘‘let me see, we will 
be gone two days. We always run short; what with giving 
it all to farmers and people on the cars, what do yer say to 
five gallons; five can be put up in a box?’ And five gallons 
are voted for. 
“What next?” asks the stout man, ‘cigars of course?’ 
and cigars are also put down. 
“How about Scotch whisky for a punch, to stop colds if 
we get wet?” says the tall man, ‘‘we forgot that.” And two 
gallons of Scotch whisky, with lemons and sugar, are added. 
“Smoking tobacco is a good thing,” chimes in the stout 
man; ‘“‘it’s so pleasant fo smoke a quiet pipe by a cosy fire 
after a good, hard day’s shooting.” And tobacco of several 
brands is dotted down. : 
“By thunder!” exclaimed the tall man, with a horrified 
look, “‘bitters have escaped us all. It’s blessed lucky I 
thought of *em. The morning, you know—early breakfasts.”’ 
A bottle is hastily entered on the list. 
“Anything to make sandwiches out of?” Interposes th 
stout man; ‘*‘for my part, but don’t let me influence you, I 
rather think some potted stuff or other, or imported sausage 
is the thing. They beat the beastly ham one gets at a hotel.” 
And these things, too, are added. 
“J suppose we don't want any old Tom and Polly water 
for a gentle fizz?” remarks the purveyor, scratching his nose 
with his pezeil, “but you must remember that you can’t get 
anything fit to drink at these country places.” But as his 
friends deem these naturul life-saving blenders are absolutely 
indispensable, they are also entered. 
‘Now, how about ammunition?” asks thetall man. ‘‘We'll 
want lots of No. 8s for quail, No. 9s for woodcock, No. 7s 
for partridge and some coarse shot for ducks.” The shot is 
recorded, Powder, shells, wads and all the rest are dis- 
cussed and listed, and at length the summary of wants is 
found to be complete, 
For the next three nights the rattle of shot in the soup 
tureen, the scraping of the powder measures in the sauce 
boat, the hammering of wads and the squeaking of the crimper 
keep the stout man’s three olive branches from a wink of 
beauty sleep. 
The day of departure has arrived, The tall man’s tall 
coachman stands waiting in therailway station, while a “‘bust- 
ing fat pointer,” a slab-sided red setter and a shaggy Gordon 
reyolye about him and plat three dog chains into an insoluble 
twist. With rhythmical accuracy they wind in and out of 
the coachman’s legs in a way to remind one of the Morrice 
dancers of old revolving about a May pole. ‘Then the three 
sportsmen arzive with three trunks and three gun cases, and 
the ammunition, both solid and liquid, packed in dog-kennel 
shaped boxes. They have tarried by the way and are 
smoking cigars, and just manage to catch the train. 
‘ AT THE HOTEL. 
‘Air there any quail around here?” reiterates the country 
Jandlord as the three sportsmen are seated at the supper 
table at the hotel. ‘‘Well 1 should smile. Quail? why they 
are knee deep around here. Down in Si Bogenshin’s farm 
there is a drove, but he don’t let no one shoot. He’s down 
on down city folks he sez. ButIcan git you gents some 
guides that know where all the quail, and pheasants and 
‘hares are, and where people don’t care about’em. I don’t 
know where the game is, but the guides does, But you'll 
have to take a team and then youl sit heapson “em.” Dur- 
ing the rest of the evening countrymen in the bar-room 
divide their time between hinting where great quantities of 
game lay hidden and ringing in for drinks. ‘The arrange- 
ments are made foran early start, and the trio stowed away 
in a treble-bedded room, ‘ : 
At 9:15 P. M. the hostler suddenly breaks into their room 
to say the ‘‘pinter” had dug his-way out of the barn, but 
had been captured by him, Drink number one for hostler. 
He returns at 9:30 P. M. to say that the red setter had got 
tangled in his chain and hung himself, but had of course 
heen rescued by him, Drink number two for hostler, 
At 9:45 P. M. he again comes back to say the Gordon 
wouldn't stop howling. Drink number three for hostler, 
who agrees to sit up and pat the dog all night. Drink num- 
ber four for hostler, who shows signs of rapid dissolution, 
and is seen no more after promising to call the party at 6 
o'clock, 10 P, M. asleep. 
At midnight the three sportsmen begin to play peek-a-boo, 
which consists of dodging in and out of bed to consult the 
time, This continues two hours, and sleep has just fallen 
upon them when the stentorian voice of the stout man is 
heard to exclaim; 
“Goodness gracious, hurry up boys and get up, it’s quarter 
past six, we'll be late.” When the trio have hurried on their 
clothes it is discovered that the stout man has looked at his 
watch from the wrong side of the table, and it is exactly 3 
o'clock. It is considered madness to go to bed again after 
having become so thoroughly awake, besides, the short man 
remarks ‘the likes early rising in the country,’’and the short 
one says, ‘‘yes, it gives one time to take a quiet milk punch,” 
ee the tall one adds, “‘yes, and to map out the route for the 
ay. 
But the time drags heavily. At last, however, people are 
heard groping their way about, and a slatternly, sleepy- 
looking servant completely metamorphosed from the pretty 
bright-complexioned girl of the night before, serves an indi- 
gestible breakfast. Result—gin fizzes all around as a bracer, 
The three guides usher in the sun; the tinkling of cow 
bells is heard in the pasture lot; the bobbing lights in the 
stable fade away; the rattling of the teams coming to the 
door disturb the blissful quiet. Dogs bark, there is a great 
deal of hallooing and running about, and then the start is 
effected. Five miles away there is a halt. The wagons are 
unloaded of men and their accompaniments. For the first 
and only time during the day’s hunt, a guide removes the 
top rail of the fence, he ‘‘lets °em climb arter that.” 
The autumn sun which lifts behind the distant woodland 
brings cheery visions of sport and fun. The sparkling hoar 
frost is dispelled beneath its warmth. A robin chirps on a 
neighboring fence. The Gordon, who has been sold to his 
master, the tall man, as ‘the best dog in Connecticut,” spots 
the feathered songster. There is a wild rush and the robin 
isahead. The B. D, I, C. gains on going down the hillside, 
and disappears from sight. The tall man bellows like a fog 
horn, and executes a pas de demon, There is some slight 
conversation and a smell of sulphur pervades the air. For 
the rest of the day’ the tall man and his guide drive the 
horses off their legs in looking for the Gordon, but in vain. 
They once or twice think they haye found the robin, and 
one is slain. 
Returning to the field of sport it is found that as the} 
ready-made canvas hunting suits of their masters are pre- 
cisely alike, their dogs become somewhat mixed as to who is 
who. At last the stout man and the ‘‘busting pinter” are 
found methodically encircling the field. The stout man 
kicks at the brier patches and pokes them with his gun. 
The ‘“‘pinter,” in a stately way, follows at his heels. In the 
meantime the short man and the red setter are worth ob- 
serving. They are conversing; the setter barks and jumps 
about. The short man trails his gun and in an insinuating 
voice says: ‘‘Find’em, Fide; toho to heel; for the love of 
all that’s good don't tlush ’em, boy; hie on; ’ware small 
bird; careful now. c-a-r-e-f-u-l.” The red setter stares 
wildly, hurts his leg in crawling: through a fence, and yells 
with pain. . 
The stout man is observed going on tiptoe toward a 
thicket. Suddenly he stops and beckons in an excited way. 
He creeps on carefully, gesticulating wildly. His knees 
knock together, He reminds one of Humpty Dumpty 
going to steal a sausage. ‘“‘The pinter is on a pint,” whis- 
pers the guide, and urges the short man “‘to hurry up.” He 
runs across two fields and then approaches the pointer with 
the indecision of a man about to sign the pledge. He be- 
lieves only in his own dog’s pointing. Thereis a moment of 
terrible excitement, Guns tremble in the air. A male cat 
at length walks slowly out from behind a log, archesits back 
and spits. All hands collapse. 
The air is perfumed with choice old rye, and the party, 
like amateur Excelsiors, climb an endless hill. A partridge 
soars up a hundred yards away and sails off toward the 
moon. Another gets up a quarter of a mile away, and both 
friends fire this time, The dogs scamper off to retrieve the 
game, but in an hour return with their tongues showing dis- 
appointment. Then some quail are flushed, and a fusilade 
ensues. The birds are swift of wing and save their bacon. 
Then a guide 1s peppered in the lem by the short man and it 
takes $5 to extract the limp. The day is waning. <A merry 
squirrel drops a nut on the stont man’s head. He surrounds 
the tree, while his gun sticks up from his shoulder like a 
liberty pole. In attempting to shoot, he topples over back- 
ward and breaks his gun. The short man then gets in a 
scientific cross shot at a rabbit, but Fide is such a close sec- 
ond that only a piece of his tail is docked. The day is 
spent, Night closes in and the party prematurely return to 
town. 
The account book is inspected on the cars. It makes the 
following showing: 
Whisky, bitters, efe..--.... 2. sapien cas aces 
Cigars and tobacco. . 
AMIN VNTEIONT, |). nether sie erie <eee 
One Gordon eetter (owner’s price), ae 
One dog collar.........+ VE foe SPS oa ¥ ween as 41 one 
Traveling expenses, Cabs, dogs, etc...,.......---. 
Damage to eum, poo vider eerecevewewesadsoseiseve 
Damage to guide's leg 
Hotel expenses, including guides’ board....,-..-- 
Two teams and one foundered horse... .......-,- 
Three guides, at fi each.... .......+1-+5+-- apse 
Docking setter’s tail, including loss of prizes at 
ge See Seee 
Sesceesses 
15 00 
future dog SHOWS: <..2...- elses nv enes ei) ede se ss 176 00 
Sundries......-. bef nnor rte ore isola bobs any 713 
By Letd nets ester steg ites eee Satie ees eel tle Sleigh ear tye 41,067 08 
Market value of robin,...,-...+-++--::205s+-+ 3-0 Od 
Balanee charged to sport....,--..,-- --..---- p1,067 04 
LoApine Bucxsnor.—Seville, O., Nov. 10.—Seeing in- 
quiries as to how to load buckshot, I give the best way I 
have ever found. When the proper number to chamber in 
the choke has been ascertained, put them in the shell and 
see that they are distributed evenly on the wad. Then fill 
the spaces between the shot with No. 10 small shot. Repeat 
the process until the requisite number for the load is in, 
press the wad down firmly, and there is the best loaded shell 
for pattern and penetration that I have ever tried. It beats 
putiing a wad between each layer, Try it—CHiPrEWwA. 
Deer hunters should read Judge J. D. Caton’s “Antelope and Deer 
of America.” For sale at this office. Price $2.50.—Adv. 
REMARKABLE SHOTS. 
Hditor Forest and Stream: 
I have read with interest the notes under heading ““Re- 
markable Shots,” and think you have struck a good vein. I 
hope many readers -will contribute their experiences, with 
this proviso, that their relations be strictly true. I send you 
ee following (which fulfills the conditions aforesaid) as my 
share: 
I was sailing for ‘‘coots;’ bore down upon two that were 
swimming some six or eight feet apart, As we came within 
range I put up my gun, hoping they would draw together, 
when the rear one rising, I ‘‘lef go” at him at once. It so 
happened that at that fraction of a second he was directly 
over the one still sitting, say two feet or more above him. 
At the report both birds dived; nothing in sight, and it 
looked as though I was left, Fully a minute passed, when 
one came to the surface dead, and soon after the other in 
about the same condition. A chance pellet falling below the 
burden of the charge had caught the siffing one in the head. 
#. C. BROWNE. 
FRAMINGHAM, Mass,, Noy, 15. 
MOOSE MEASUREMENTS. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
{ haye not time at present to give you an extended account 
of my moose hunt in September, but I send you the dimen- 
sions of four old bulls that were killed by Capt. A. A, a 
and I, each killing two. The captain killed Nos. 1 and 38, 
Nos, 2 and 4. 
No. 1, No. 2. No, 3. No. 4. 
F Ft. In,. Fe. In. Ft. In. Ft. In. 
Height at shoulder............. 6 10 6 8M 6 6 re dek 
Nose to line between horns..... 30 2946 2Th6 27 
Base of horns to tailend.......7 44 Keetasie oF 66 i 44 
Spread of horns......-......--. 4 9 Loja Sono a 2 
Width of track...............-5, 5: 416 Bi) 
Length of track...........-.... 4 36 354 
Length of hoof (fop)...........- 534 5 54 
Across the nostrils:............ : g 634 64% 
I took these measurements carefully so as to compare 
them. In measuring the head I measured from between the 
horns down. oyer the nose to the under side where the hair 
ends and the lip proper actually begins. The height was 
measured by simply straightening the fore lez, not pulling 
it, and starting from the middle of the head with the foot 
bent up toa natural position. It is not proper to pull the 
leg out and measure from the point of the hoof. J think 
the four made as handsome a lot to have been killed succes- 
sively in one short hunt, as two cripples like us usually get. 
Ceci Cnuay, 
WasHineton, D. C. 
WESTERN BIG GAME. 
| Ea private letters we are permitted to make the sub- 
joined extracts. The writer is Mr, Edward H, Litch- 
field, who, it will be remembered, last winter coutributed to 
these columns a very entertaining account of his experience 
in hunting the grizzlies in the Rocky Mountains, Mr, 
Litchfield writes: 
I have just returned from another hunt among the Laramie 
mountains. I was surprised to see the diminution in the 
amount of game since last year. Elk were nothing like so 
abundant and were much more wild. Bear were practically 
exterminated in some regions, principally by the use of 
strychnine, with which it has become the habil to poison 
carcasses throughout the cattle ranges. The trapping that 
has been done could not have wiped them out so completely. 
A trap can, after all, take but one bear a, night, while a 
whole family can be exterminated by the poison during the 
same time. Elk, deer and antelope are being slaughtered in 
quantities for market, as the U. P. R, R. will now transport 
venison and skins, Atthe present rate of destruction the 
other large game of the West will soon be as scarce as the 
buffalo, 
Linclose a slip cut from Forrest AND SrrREAM of Oct. 30, 
from some correspondent who speaks of experiments he has 
tried in the poisoning line, and asks for advice to assist him 
in further prosecuting them. The fact is that poisoned bait 
kills a larger number of wild animals than the poisoner 
dreams of. Almost all wild animals, excepting those of the 
deer family, will eat dead meat, and I should not be sur- 
prised if even mountain grouse will do so. <A bottle of 
strychnine is now very commonly part of the outfit of a cow- 
boy, and wherever the ranchers reach a corresponding dimin- 
ution follows in the number of game, a diminution that can 
not be wholly accounted for by the shooting for market or 
home use, or for the skins. There is no urgent necessity 
now for the use of strychnine in most of the cattle ranges, 
asin them the large or timber wolf is very scarce, if not 
practically extinct, and the coyotes, or prairie wolves, very 
few in number. I doubtif bears ever trouble the herds very 
much, if at all,"and panthersare excessively scarce any where. 
Furthermore, it is doubtful if panther will touch a dead bait. 
T understand that a large number of elk were killed for 
their skins alone last fall and winter in the Laramie Moun- 
tains. This fall they are being rapidly cleaned out of that 
country by market-hunters, and wagon loads of meat are 
taken to the railroad and sent to Omaha and elsewhere. It 
is impossible not to notice the great diminution in then 
number, Of course each market-hunter feels that as every- 
body is doing it, he is excusable, and perhaps be is. [f it 
were possible to prohibit and actually puta stop to the. 
shooting of the females and young of elk, deer and ante- 
lope, if only for a term of years, | think the problem would 
be solved, and that we would soon see an abundance of this 
game again, In the Adirondacks, where the woods are so 
thick, it would be very difficult to distinguish the sex of a 
jumping deer, and in night shooting almost impossible. But 
out West it is very different; and in my own hunting out 
there I never shoot, nor allow my men to shoot, cow-elk, 
doe-deer or antelope, nor their young, except when abso- 
lutely necessary for food. In the case of gentlemen sports- 
men this necessity rarely occurs. Even with antelope a 
ood hunter can almost invariably tell the buck from the 
does long before he arrives within proper range, unless, in- 
deed, as is 100 often the case, he opens fire on a band at 500 
yards or more, and keeps up this fire from his Winchester 
as long as they are in range, trusting to luck to hit one. 
But this is not true sportsmanship, and is really cruel, as 
many more antelope are wounded and lost than are eyer 
killed and taken with such shooting. 
As to the method of enforcing such a Jaw as I have sug 
gested, 1 do not care to say anything at present, but it may 
be well for our Western friends to try such an experiment 
before it is too late, and they are placed in the absurd posi- 
tion of endeavoring to protect, by the strong arm of the law, 
