64 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



TAuG. 30. 1885 



dtife §dg Htfd §m\. 



_ Address all comnmnicatiom to the Forest and Stream JPublish- 

 ing Co. 



SHOOTING ABOUT VICKSBURG. 



PROBABLY there are not a great number of places in 

 the United States more favorably situated for the 

 sportsman than Yicksburg. I read with considerable inter- 

 est and curiosity of men of means thioughout the country, 

 maiuly in the East, forming clubs and spending thousands 

 of dollars for shooting and fishing grounds, erecting expen- 

 sive buildings, and employing men to look after their prop- 

 erty. The grounds are often at long distances from the 

 liomes of the owners, involving expense and time in reaching 

 Ibem. Even then frequently the sport is not first-class. 

 Such a course is to be approved, for it gives relaxation to the 

 owuei-s and protects in a needful way our game and fish from 

 the ravages of the pot-hunter and law-breaker. But here at 

 Vicksburg— and there are other places in the South probably 

 as favorably located— within a radius of fifty miles the finest 

 sport can be had, either in fishing or hunting, with no ex- 

 pense except for transportation, ammunition and camp. 



Quail are abundant everywhere, both in the sedge grass in 

 the hills and in corn and cotton fields of the bottom lands. 

 Doves are also plentiful in certain localities where peas have 

 been sown. North of here within fifteen miles black bears, 

 wild turkey and deer (the last not so numerous since the de- 

 stinictive overflows of 1882 and 1883-4) can be found. Fur- 

 ther on iu the swamps of Yazoo, Big and Little Sunflower 

 rivers, Steel's Bayou and Deer Creek they become more 

 numerous, and the two former quite plentiful, while the deer 

 are increasing. It is no diflicnlt task to get a bear, hunted 

 by a man who understands them, either with doics or by 

 still-hunting. There are planters who complain of'the dep- 

 redations of this animal, for he is fond of a fat pig and gour- 

 mandizes on the succulent corn when in roasting ear. 



I am not a turkey hunter but can call them very well in 

 gobbling time. I have on different occasions had three 

 gobblei-s answering my call at the same time, and have had 

 two noble fellows within thirty yards, side by side, making 

 the deep woods resound to their music as they searched and 

 peered for what they took to be their lady love. From our 

 camp during a ten days' hunt we never failed to get an 

 answer in early morning to our first or second call. I will 

 never tell how many fair shots I had at turkevs that trip, and 

 how many were kiUed. I was shooting them in the body 

 then with BB's, whereas the proper thing to do, as I after- 

 ward learned, was to shoot at the head an'd neck— vital parts 

 — with 4s, 5s or 6s. As to squirrels, they abound in the 

 woods everywhere; in the hills the fox and gray, and in the 

 swamps mainly the black. Mallard, pintail, butter ball, 

 baldpate, green-winged teal and a number of other ducksi 

 this is their winter home. They begin to arrive here in 

 October before frost and remain until in April when the wil- 

 lows are green with leaves. The wood duck, as noble a bird 

 as any of them, both in flavor of meat and beauty of plum- 

 age, breeds here, and can be seen skimming over the lakes 

 and rivers the year round, though they ai-e not shot except 

 in winter. The green-winged teal feeds almost exclusively 

 upon grass seeds and swarm upon the river bars where grass 

 grows luxuriantly at low .stage of water in latter part of 

 summer and fall. The larger ducks feed upon acorns of 

 which the woods are full, and also upon grass seed. The 

 mallard is the most secluded and mainly haunts the dense 

 swamp, finding abundance of food and water there. Tbey 

 are often, however, killed in great numbers by persons who 

 search out their feeding grounds and lie in wait for them. 

 Some marvelous tales ."are told of the number killed at one 

 discharge of both barrels of the gun, which I would not like 

 to repeat. If some of these could appear in your column of 

 "Remarkable Shots" some of the gi'and liars who write 

 therein would be completely overshadowed. The man who 

 froze his bidlet in mid air after having fired it, thawed it out 

 next spring, kiUing sundry things, would be set at rest as a 

 weakling forever. 



Lake Centennial, in front of Vicksburg, formed in 1876 

 by a cut-off of the Mississippi River, has a great extent of 

 willow bars which formed and grew up after the cut-off, and 

 here is a great resort for the green-winged tea! and other 

 species. During the winter thousands and thousands of them 

 can be seen from the city, and many a one has fallen within 

 sight and sound of tue town. When not at the business our- 

 selves, it has been a favorite diversion of my brother (your 

 "B. H. P.")and myself to go upon the gallery at sundown, 

 and from our elevated position on the hill, some 350 feet 

 above the water level, watch and listen as dusk sets in for the 

 firing of the numerous guns as the local sportsmen dealt out 

 death to the gamy teal as they came in to roost. Then, and 

 at early dawn the shooting is best, though it is often excel- 

 lent throughout the day, particularly in stormy weather. 

 The best shooting is to be had over decoys, though the large 

 majority of sportsmen take their chances without this aid, 

 making often creditable bags. As an instance of what can 

 be done, I will give you the record of the shooting by 

 •'B. H. P.," and another, generally myself, in December and 

 January of 1883 4, as I copy it from the record which we 

 keep of all our shooting: Dec. 6, 30 ducks; Dec. 7, 13; Dec. 

 8, 21; Dec. 11, 14; Dec. 17, 58; Dec. 18, 34; Dec. 22, mon- 

 keyed around northeast shore and got 5; Dec. 25, evening 

 shoot, 40; Dec. 26, morning shoot, 75; Dec. 27, 65; Dec. 31, 

 18; Jan. 1, 50; same day in the afternoon, 39; Jan. 8, 

 retrieved 64, got frozen in the ice, abandoned 8 or 10, and 

 had great difficulty getting out of the ice into open water, 

 not reaching home until 10:30 P. M., where we found Mrs. 

 P. a shade nervous; Jan. 34, 5. This shooting was done 

 over decoys by killing single birds. Nearly all were the 

 green-winged teal, as sweet and juicy a duck as ever fell to 

 crack of gun. Last winter shooting on this lake was not 

 nearly so good, the bars having been covered with water too 

 late in the season for maturing grass seeds. We got some 

 fine shooting though by going a little distance away, though 

 at some ill-convenience for transportation. We found that 

 if we could go just at the right time, when the weather was 

 stormy or cold, or, what is better, both the stage of the river 

 being right — for giving access to certain grassy localities 

 where the birds delight "to splash and feed— we could gener- 

 ally get what we wanted, and have excellent sport. 



Now I will tell you something. A party of about four of 

 us have made an arrangement by which we espeet to be 

 able to get there just in the nick of time. It may be at 

 Kent's Island four miles below. Delta Bar two miles below. 

 Block Island eighteen below, Pawpaw twenty above, the 

 "towhead" in Old River, or Steel's Bayou nineteen miles 

 awa)% or some places further we know of; we expect to 



travel on the same schedule time with the ducks. Powell 

 & Dougla.'!, of Waukegan, HI., are going to build us a launch 

 with capacity for fom- or more and outfit, and speed sutfi- 

 cient to stem these currents at a Hvely gait. When the 

 ducks get too frisky— saucy with their ex-tra fat and juicy 

 meat— we propose to steam away in the forenoon, examine 

 their maneuvers and locate and build a "daisy" blind just in 

 the edge of the willows, open at the shoulders for wing 

 shooting, put out a snug fleet of decoys twentv or thirty 

 yards away among the floating grass seed, take tliem as they 

 come in from sundown till dark, slowly at first, lively at the 

 close; then take up decoys and a .snug bag, and push for 

 home, enjoying the whole trip, and undergoing no particu- 

 lar hardship. A tent and cooking vessels will be a part of 

 our paraphernalia, but not so frequently used. Thus with- 

 out large outlay for the purchase of grounds or the employ- 

 ment of game keepers, or the fatigue of a 50 or a 100-mile 

 journey on the cars or steamboat, or bv vehicle, we expect 

 to find sport such as can be obtained byljut few. 



We have launched it a little heretofore, and have an ink- 

 ling of what is in store in the way of enjoyment. And then 

 we will have events. We have not quite forgotten a certain 

 trip when our tub refused to draw, and we had to tie to a 

 "sinker" in the middle of Old River to rest the concern 

 while a few more pounds of steam were raised, and finally 

 had to move nearer shore, cast anchor, put out the fire, and 

 with a limb clean out the flues before we could budge, fail- 

 ing by a few hours of reaching "McKee's Pocket"— where 

 ducks were in great numbers— in time for the evening shoot, 

 the soot blacking us to such a degree that it required no little 

 explanation to account for our condition at home. Of course, 

 P. & D. will give us a boat that won't use us in that way; 

 but how are they to make one that will not wedge into" a 

 mud bar or climb on "Davy Cake," a buckshot bar in center 

 of Old River. An old pilot told us how to run the river at 

 the "Cake." "Keep the west bank until a certain pair of 

 trees near the edge of the water were reached, then cross." 

 .In daylight going up we dodged this thing, but one night, 

 coming down under a full head of steam with the flues 

 cleaned out, which meant considerable with that boat, we 

 rapidly slid upon that soapy bar and with rather severe sud- 

 denness came to a full stop, drawing about twelve inches 

 less water than a moment before. It took a powerful tug 

 with a long line next day to put us in shape again. 



Not so much power, however, was taken another day in 

 this same old river higher up at the "tow head." The pilot 

 was busily watching a white crane w^hich one of the party 

 aboard was going to shoot when in proper range. In the 

 mean time the boat concluded she wanted a rest and steered 

 slightly to starboard for a soft mud bar, into which she 

 snugly wedged herself. Our general remedy for an ordinaiy 

 "aground" was to syphou out, the leaky old hull generally 

 having a large quantity of water in her. Syphoning failed 

 us this time, as it had on Davy Cake; backing failed, so did 

 rocking and backing. Next the plunder and a quantity of 

 coal were emptied, with considerable labor, into a skift' and 

 dugout which were in tow. Still no relief, the mud clung 

 to the sides with vexatious tenacity. After having backed 

 the engine, combined with rocking and pushing with the 

 skifi: oars without avail, but one remedy for our immediate 

 relief remained. It was a cold day and the water was 

 colder, icy cold in fact, but three gentlemen in no little dis- 

 comfort had to dismantle, dismount, and by lifting on hull 

 and backing the engine, dislodge the vessel, which was finally 

 accomplished with much chattering of teeth. The white 

 crane Avas forgotten temporarily, but he comes back to 

 memory occasionally with a grim humor. More has hap- 

 pened. Some things we never tell. But we will do better 

 with this new boat, avoiding, it is to be hoped, Davy Cake, 

 white cranes, and all such. 



Fish are as plentiful here as game. I could give truthful 

 accounts of catches that would not be believed by the aver- 

 age Northern reader. Many of the lakes are inexhaustible, 

 being annually overflowed and restocked by the Mississippi 

 River. At this time white perch, black bass (trout here) and 

 striped bass are biting freely in Lake Centennial. Four 

 miles away in the swamp, three-quarters of an hour's drive, 

 surrounded by tall timber, nestles Long Lake. Near by is 

 Alligator; further away — seven miles — Thompson's; still 

 further is Bricount's, and so on, all famous lakes to Vicks- 

 burgers. My string is made of lace leather, and is seventy- 

 three inches long. Generally its whole length is not required, 

 not even half its length; but on more than one occasion two 

 of us have been able to completely fill it with white perch, 

 the sweetest of our table fishes. I can take shrimp for bait 

 and fill it most any day with bank pferch of good size, and 

 I am not considered a first-class fisherman either. 



So far 1 have only spoken in general of this locality as a 

 sportsman's paradise. Some of our trips would make each 

 a letter of interesting incidents. Before the following game 

 season closes we hope to find something of interest to detail 

 to FoKEST Stream, giving something in repay for the 

 many enjoyable things we have read in its columns. But 

 please deliver us from the remarkable shot column. It 

 would be a wonderful genius who could distinguish between 

 the lies and truth in that. W. L, P. 



Vicksburg, Miss. 



THE FAR NORTH. 



EMto7' Forest and Stream : 



It may interest your many readers to hear a word from 

 the far North. I lately received a letter from my brother 

 who was tlieu at Fort Rae, Great Slave Lake. He is with 

 an English gentleman who went there chiefly to hunt musk 

 oxen, and as March is the best time of year for this, they 

 had to winter. His letter was dated November 24, and it 

 took some three months to reach me, coming out by the 

 Hudson's Bay Company's winter packet. After their musk 

 oxen hunt in spring they will descend the Mackenzie and 

 Pells riverS;, cross to the You can, descending it to the sea, 

 thus making the northwest jjassage by land. 



Great Slave Lake was frozen over as early as October 5, 

 and many of the Hudson's Bay Company's boats were caught 

 in the ice at different points owing to the very early season. 



Deer (caribou) are very numerous there, and form, with 

 the excellent fish with which the lake abounds, the sole 

 subsistence of the Indians and the Hudson's Bay employees, 

 the only inhabitants of this far-off region. 



It has often struck me during my long residence in this 

 country, chiefly in the Hudson's Bay service, and conse- 

 quently .seeing many out-of-the-way places, that so few 

 gentlemen visited it with a view to hunting. Of course 

 there would be unavoidable hardship, but they would be 

 sure of splendid sport. One spot I remember on the north 

 end of Great Deer Lake, or J^ac Caribou, as it is called, 

 where the caribou pass in immense numbers just at the 



time when the lake is setting fast. One year the fall was 

 late and a herd of over seventy attempted to cross a large 

 bay near the Hudson's Bay post on the thin ice; this save 

 way with them and consequently they ail drowned and froze 

 there, the train dogs living royallv on them for the most 

 of the winter. So plentiful were they that fall, Mr. D., 

 the resident clerk, shot tbem passing his door, his wife look- 

 ing over his shoulders. 



Leaving Deer Lake and crossing a portage to Lake Woll- 

 aston, the tracks of large game are something to be remem- 

 bered. _ Again on the Great Peace River, which now is 

 beginning to attract some attention from its fertde prairies, 

 you will hardly in the proper season pass a bend of the 

 .^stream without seeing bears of all shades of color, grizzly, 

 cinnamon and black. I have it from the highest authority 

 that forty w-ere counted in an hour by a boat^descending the 

 river. This stream is, alas, the last great stronghold of the 

 beaver, who eventually, and I say it with sorrow, wiU be 

 completely killed out of the country. Trappers, for the 

 sake of his hide, and Indians both for pelt and flesh, give 

 poor Castor no rest. 



A last word about musk oxen. They are now a rare 

 animal, and only to be found in far northern regions. They 

 go in bands. Their robe is most beautiful, the hair being so 

 long that it sweeps the snow. On being attacked by wolves 

 or hunters they form themselves into a circle, placing the 

 young ones in the center, where they are completely hid by 

 the shaggy hides of the old ones. Their skins make beauti- 

 ful robes, a warm wool under long, glossy hair. They are 

 difficult to obtain now, however. Reb. 



ONE DAY OUT. 



Mitor Forest and Stream: 



Your kind wish that I "may find time for the birds" 

 makes me imagine that you would be glad to know that I 

 had, and although it was but one day, its .story may not be 

 without interest. July in New Jersey was hot, and it was on 

 one of the hottest days that I landed at— well, never mind the 

 location — my favorite summer resort near the coast. Sup- 

 per came first, and then I was ready for business. A blue 

 shirt, a pair of trousers and a belt replaced my professional 

 gear, and with my Parker, and a few shells in my pocket, I 

 enter my boat and float down the river with a favoring tide. 

 With now and then a dip of the oar to keep in channels, I 

 float 



"By cedar-crowned bluffs and white-pebbled beacbes, 

 Over clean, sandy bars, through wide meadow reaches," 



now leaning over the side to watch the skurrying crabs or 

 sight the eyes of a summer flounder as they betray his sandy 

 hiding place; now dozing on the stern sheets puffing nico- 

 tine at the mosquitoes and watching the glories of a gor- 

 geous sunset. Speaking of rest— well, there I find it, and 

 amuse myself by pitying the poor fools who put on their 

 starched chokers and waste such an evening as this in small 

 talk around the parlor table, or in perspiring efforts on the 

 ballroom floor. Why do men go to the country and pay 

 high prices for the privdege of doing what they could do 

 much more easily and comfortably at home? 



But the roar of the breakers tells me 1 am near the sea, 

 and as I look ahead I see a large waterfowl which I have 

 startled dropping behind a point of sedge. Wliy did I bring 

 my gun if not to shoot, and even out of practice as I am 

 this looks like a mark I might hit. With one oar as a paddle 

 I scull my skiff toward the screening sedges, resolved that if 

 it is an edible bird that rises he is mine. Sure enough, 

 and as I thought, with a flap of mighty wings a bhic 

 heron upsets my nerves, and a load fi-om' my right goes 

 harmlessly between his dangUng legs. But I think the "blue 

 jimmy" is a good bird when the moon is big, and having 

 overcome my ague, my left brings him to the water wing- 

 tipped, if 1 was green I would row quickly to him, reach 

 out and attempt to grasp his neck, but as 1 have seen his 

 methods of using that loug eel spear which he carries for- 

 ward, I prefer to dislocate its handle with a stroke of the oar 

 before inviting him on board. It is getting dark, and leaving 

 my craft I conclude to wait on this strip of beach to see if the 

 moon will rise, or anything else appear to be shot at. Here on 

 the top of a sandy knoll I find a hole that some snipe shooter 

 has scooped for his blind. It is dry, and as I stow myself in 

 it I find that it fits to a nicety my weary bones. 



A cool breeze from the sea drives away the gnats and gives 

 me but poor excuse for another smoke, the waves sing a rest- 

 ful melody, and I lie prone upon my back looking into the 

 furthest depths of the blue sky between the stars. I count 

 a group of them, and then go over the count to find that 

 new ones have come. By and by I find my eyes are closing; 

 then I wink and go to counting again. Am I dreaming? 

 What are those cloud spots which seem to be sailing right up 

 against the stars? The question must answer itself, but in- 

 stinctively I gather my gun from across my knees and point- 

 ing it at the darkest part of the cloud mass, I pull the trig- 

 ger. A whirr of wings, a shrill "quak," and the thud of a 

 bird within a rod of my lair tells me of my success and its 

 result. There are worse birds than a night heron when the 

 moon is big. I wait in vain for another shot, although the 

 bats are flitting and the sand plover whistling near me. 

 Home, to bed and to sleep. That is all I could tell of the 

 rest of the night. But the dawn wakes me, and a good- 

 natured cook gives me the coffee and other trifles, which, 

 trifles though they are, a man must have before he is worth 

 anything in the morning. 



Now for that well remembered .spot where I always find a 

 woodcock or two in July, a spring hole at the head "of it and 

 a bog crowded with alders below. It is but a few rods from 

 the house, but I know it has been protected, and as I step 

 under the gum trees at the spring — there, one, two, three, 

 four, five— what do you think of that? Do you know how 

 many men paid their car fare out to the island or to Jersey, 

 and with a hundred dollar clog or two tramped all through 

 the hot day over the meadows, and only got a half dozen 

 birds or less? Well, liere I have five marked down in this 

 cripple, and although I have no dog 1 shall take them one at 

 a time, and get them. And when I have done with this 

 little place 1 know another not a half mile away equally as 

 good. It is not 7 o'clock when I am back at the house ready 

 for my regular breakfast. A^''hile I was resting in a grove 

 after my last shot I answered the call of a Bob White in a 

 stubble across the slough. At my second challenge he rose 

 and came for my retreat like a bullet, striking the ground 

 within a few feet of me, buthurriedly taking wing on finding 

 that I was not the impudent rival he was after. A red squir- 

 rel amused me by his saucy antics until the cries of distress 

 fi-om a group of redwings told me that he was up to some of 

 his old tricks, and then I stopped his kidnapping. After 

 breakfast, an hour or two in the channels among the placCj 



