Dec. y, 1886,J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



S8B 



lying at my feet. Keeping the clog, I started out for 

 another one, which was soon foimcl, as both hunters and 

 game ^vere scattered over the field. As I was becoming 

 some\N ]iat cooler and more level-headed, I tiled to follow 

 Cookie's advice in following a- flying bird until ahead 

 of bim. Although I missed ray next shot I knew I bad 

 acted properly and therefore felt as much pride as if I bad 

 succeeded. The next one I did the same with and brouglit 

 bim do\^Ti. Bv closely noticing I soon fomid out that it 

 paid me to keep on tbe high ground, and I also learned, in 

 the same way. to look out for more bhds wben one got 

 up. HappeiiinA' to look at a bay stack in a neighboring 

 field, 1 saw som(.> bhd sitting in tbe top of it; tbe more 1 

 looked, the more I wanted him. So at last liaving planned 

 a plan, I walked up a hollow in tbe ground, where be 

 couldn't see me, and as I got on tlie bigh ground in view 

 of Mm, I dropped flat, and, watcliing my chances, T 

 crawled toward the stack. As I came in good distance I 

 blazed away, and was pleased to see a great batf ul of 

 feathers fly out of bim, but, nevertheless, away be flew 

 only to come down before the second barrel, which I for 

 the' first time used properly, as I knew. As tbe dog 

 brought the featberless bird to me I recognized it as a 

 prairie chicken, and afterward, as I beard tbe farmer re- 

 mark, "that they were hard to get this time of tbe year," 

 I felt fully repaid for my sneak. 



After being hunted quite a while the pheasants became 

 very shy, and as our host spoke of a good place in a field 

 near by"for quail, we went there. I was given the place 

 of honor, that aloiig au old rail fence where tbe plow bad 

 not rim, and as a result tbe place afforded a well-known 

 shelter for the "partridges," as some call tliem. Hearing 

 a faint noise, which I ibouglit might be some of them, I 

 walked slowly forward and soon a large flock got up m- 

 side of twenty fet from me. They were so closely packed 

 together that they seemed one swiftly -moving, dark red 

 body. Shootuig one barrel only, again 1 stood astonished 

 almost out of my wits to see the feathers fly out of that 

 flock. Being so close together and near to me, I coidd 

 hardly fail to bit them. It was not only feathers that 

 dropped, for hunting around (the others now had tbe 

 dogs) I found three of the best of aU birds. How happy 

 I was. I, a young fellow on his second trip, securing 

 tln-ee quail at "one shot on the wing! But no more such 

 luck did I have that day, although I was offered many 

 and many a chance, which I tiled, yet I would always 

 fail to secure anything. Following the advice to shoot 

 away ahead of them. I would still fail, while I could see 

 the farmer and Cookie fire shot after shot and seem to get 

 something every time. When I joined tbe others I saw 

 our new friend covered from shoulder to waist with 

 pheasants and quad, tied to him by odd pieces of string. 

 On asking bow many be had, be replied, "Twenty -three 

 altogether, and that 'yonng fellow you call Cookie twenty- 

 one. I tell you we had it close; he's a dandy." 



After dinner we once more took our places in the boat 

 and set out for home. On tbe road he told us of tbe 

 weekly trip to town Fridays and remarked, ' 'I'd like to 

 have you fellows come out often with me as I enjoy it 

 as much as you do." Cookie looked at me, winked and 

 said, "You ought to," whereat tbe old farmer laughed 

 and said, "I'U tell you though I did my best to get those 

 two ahead of you and you must be sure to come out, as I 

 want to have more hunts with you." 



This time I walked proudly into the sitting room vsdth 

 my three quail, two pheasants and one chicken. About 

 an horn* after being home I was surprised to see Cookie 

 come walking in and hand me six of his score with the 

 remark, "I didn't like to oft'er 'em to you while the farmer 

 was around as you had refused the ones be ofi:ered you. 

 But you know it's always share alike with every one but 

 'the hog,' I brought these over, with what you got we'll 

 each have about the same number," and oflihe started and 

 I had to keep them. Canvas Back. 

 OsOEOLA, lowa^ 



IN TURKEY COVER. 



HIGH POINT, N. C— One day before tbe trials, in 

 company with Dr. Wdliams and Mr. Secbi'est, an 

 old tiu'key hunter, I drove out to the turkey range where 

 I bagged my gobbler last year. Placing tbe doctor on 

 guard at a favorite crossing, mtb stiict injuntions to do 

 his duty without flinching, I skirmished around for sigii. 

 Mr. Secbrest had gone to the lower end of tbe range to 

 make a drive toward us, while the team was sent onto tbe 

 end of the range above us. Looking over some of tlie 

 likely places and finding plenty of sign, I came back and 

 had arrived within about a hundred yards of tbe doctor, 

 when I heard two shots above us, and knowing that the 

 gun was "talking turkey," I strained my eyes in tbe direc- 

 tion expecting every moment to see the noble game com- 

 ing in my direction, but alas, my spirits fell as I caught a 

 glimpse of an old patriarch silently winging his way over 

 the treetops nearly a half mile away. Soon, however, 

 every nerve was tingling as the report of the doctor's gun 

 awoke the echoes, and as I turned my head in bis direc- 

 tion I saw a black form steabng away through the tall 

 grass about fifty yards to my rigiit, and springing to my 

 feet 1 "put m my best licks" to head her otf, and as she 

 turned from me I drew a bead on her bead and laid her 

 low. Upon examining her I found that the doctor had 

 put one shot through the body that had broken her wing 

 on the other side. That there was joy in camp goes with- 

 out saying. This was the doctor's first shot at tiu'key and 

 his unmerciful cbafiing of my prediliction for the "sport 

 was forever hushed. While we stood talking over the 

 incidents of tbe captm-e we heard another shot, and soon 

 om* companion joined us with a mate to oiu" bird across 

 his shoulder. He and I had fully expected that one tur- 

 key would fall to our lot, l^ut this' was more than we had 

 dared to hope, and we were consequently considerably 

 elated. 



After we bad shaken hands all round and congratulated 

 ourselves upon tbe very successfid result of the hunt, Mr. 

 Sechresfc gave us the particulars of his experience. His 

 dog had struck the trail a half mile beloAv and followed it 

 to where the first shots were fu-ed. It appeai-ed that tbe 

 tm-keys liad shown themselves to our driver near where 

 tbe team was standing, and as be ran toward them they 

 took ^vmg with the old gobbler in tbe lead. He was "a 

 long distance away, but Mr. Secbrest let him have it right 

 and left just as six or seven more flew over his head 

 witliin ten yards of bim, and with a wistful look be added, 

 "I stood there and never thought to load my gmi, and if 

 you will take me out and kick me I'll give you a dollar." 

 Had he been a bttle fellow I would have undertaken the 

 job, but as he stands six feet two I politely but firmly 



declined. After he had shot at the big gobbler be stood 

 and conmiuned with himself a wldle and then started for 

 one of the birds that had settled in tbe hedge a short dis- 

 tance awav, and as be approached the place the turkey 

 sprang in "air, and be cut loose at her and brought her 

 down. This somewhat consoled him, but tbe loss of tbe 

 gobbler as well as the chance for a ))ea.utifal double still 

 rankled m bis bosom, and he would not be comforted. 



After arranging for a beat through the woods we sep- 

 arated, and when we again met I saw that things were 

 not working just right with bim, but all that I coidd 

 gather from his somewhat mcoberent ejaculations was 

 that his dog had pointed at a brier patch and thinking 

 that a bevv of quail was before him, he took out bis shells 

 that were loaded witli heavy shot and was feeling in bis 

 pocket for some that were charged with fine, when a 

 turkey burst out of the patch within 30yds. of liim and 

 he scored another lost opportimity. Knowing hj sad ex- 

 perience that riK.'re words would not fit his case T left liim 

 arid took ;niothev t,ur]i in the w-oods. Soon after I heard 

 his gun, and wben T returned all traces of trouble had 

 disappeai-ed from liis countenance and another turkey 

 was across his shoulder. I bad no trouble in making out 

 Ins story this time. Bert bad again pointed, and this 

 time thisre was no changing shells, but walking in ahead 

 there was a, confused fluttering in the bushes, a roar from 

 th(.> old gim a,nd our third victim w^as gasping out its life 

 among tbe brown sedge. This was glory enough for one 

 day, and with feelings of contentment and at peace Avith 

 all the world we spread o\\x lunch and with appetites 

 shai-pened by vigorous exercise enjoyed our picnic as only 

 a hunter can. • Shadow. 



MAINE GAME REPORT. 



THE forthcoming report of the Maine Fish and Game 

 Commissioners is in the hands of the prniter. From 

 advance sheets I am able to state that it is a noble 

 document in spirit, while it contains a fund of informa- 

 tion that can come only of the severest and most earnest 

 experience. Everybody will remember that tbe practice 

 of fish and game protection and propagation is yet in its 

 infancy. The Commissioners of Maine may have been 

 rich m theory m the beginning, but the experience they 

 have had to work out themselves, Tlieir coming report 

 will show that with limited means and Httle of experience 

 they have been wonderfidly successful. The report will 

 set forth the accepted theory that the value of summer 

 visitors and of summer travel'is very great in that State 

 and will say: 



"Five millions of dollars is not too high an estimate of 

 the money expended in our State by our summer visitors 

 in 1885. This year the tide of travel to oui' sporting cen- 

 ters has been far in excess of any ])ast precedent, and tbe 

 press has in one voice pronoiinced it double, as also its 

 consequent expenditures among our people and on om' 

 lines of travel. The primary attraction for tliis living 

 tidal wave has been and is om- fish and game, and wliich 

 would never have found its way here had it not been in- 

 duced by that powerful allurement. The Commissioners 

 have enforced the laws to the full extent of their appro- 

 priation, and have been obliged then and there to stay 

 their hands. The extent of our jmlsdiction is over 35,000 

 square miles of territory. Our duties, to exercise fos- 

 tering care over all the fish and game, and to promote its 

 protection and increase, by rigidly executing such laws as 

 are enacted by the Legislature; to visit all parts of tbe 

 State and note the workings of the laws; to mtroduce new 

 and valuable species of fishes to om- waters; to order fish- 

 ways wherever we deem them necessary, and to see that 

 the wardens do theh duty in enforcing the laws. Our 

 appropriation by the last Legislature was $7,500 per 

 annum for the "^biennial term. This sum gives a small 

 fraction over 21 cents per square mile of our territory to 

 pay for all our work. The boundaries of one-half of the 

 State over which we are expected to extend our 

 protection and care are upon the Dominion of Can- 

 ada and the province of New Brrmswick. To hunt 

 or shoot in New Brunswick requires a license of $.20. 

 Her Indians and her citizens, and tliose of Canada kill 

 our game in close time, crust hunt our moose, break all 

 our laws with impunity a,nd escape beyond the reach of 

 our authority. This is why we requhe a good and efiicient 

 gTiard on our boundaries. Within our own limits our 

 present appropriation of $7,500, which is the largest ever 

 made for our department, is only suflicient to do a little 

 in each county of the State. There has been open resist.- 

 ance to the authority of the State, in Washingion county, 

 by an organized band of outlaws, who culminated their 

 career of cruneby a cold-blooded murder, commenced two 

 years ago in attempting the fives of wardens, in destroy- 

 ing stock, in bm-ning houses and barns, girdling trees, de- 

 stroying gardens and seeking to intimidate by sending 

 letters threatening life if the enforcement of the laws was 

 not discontinued. The dignity of the State demanded a 

 rigid performance of our duty. Two of the criminals 

 have been tried and convicted, and unless gross corrup- 

 tion prevail, wdl be consigned to the State prison at 

 Thomaston. It involved one-half of our whole year's re- 

 sources, and we have been obliged to withhold our annual 

 subscription of $1,500 for our usual supi)ly of salmon eggs, 

 besides other economies and sacrifices necessary to keep 

 within oru' appropriation, even at the expense of oiu- use- 

 fulness. Is there any one interest in oiu' State that pays 

 back dhectly to tbe people so large a yearly return as 

 the depai-tment of fisheries and game? Would an appro- 

 priation of $20,000 be too large a sum to pay out for a 

 yearly return of $5,000,000?" 



On the subject of landlocked salmon in the Sebago 

 waters the Commissioners will say: 



"Om" only resoiu'ce to save the few salmon left in 

 Sebago waters has been to build a weh, stopping every 

 fish as near the mouth of the river as possible, take the 

 spawn of ascending salmon and hatch the product, all to 

 be tm'ned back in Sebago waters. 



"We have referred to om- being compelled to contrive 

 some method of checkuig the i)oaching on Crooked River, 

 which resulted in om- device of the fence weir built 

 directly across tbe river at the nearest accessible point to 

 its mouth, with a plank walk on top, to enable a man 

 with a rake to clear away any refuse collecting between 

 the rails of tbe fence, endangering the safety of the 

 structure from any suddenly occm-ring autumn freshet. 

 From time immemorial tbe spearing of these fish has been 

 the only method of taking them by tbe local inhabitants, 

 and is continued down to the present day, until the fish 

 have become almost extinct. Om- weir has been amply 

 sufficient to take and hold all the ascending fish. If the 



lake could now number one salmon to an acre of water, 

 we should have required Aveb-s capable of holding as many 

 hundreds as we have now units, on account of the large 

 size of our fish_ taken there, yielding many buncb-eds of 

 eggs per fish more than those at:. Grand Lake stream. 

 We anticipated taking but few fish from which to 

 obtain eggs, inasmucli as there are left but few fish in 

 tbe lake, but our surprise was great wben these lisb, by 

 then- large average size of lOlbs. to all taken, yielded iis 

 the unlooked-for result of 1,000,000 eggs. It may be 

 worthy of note that one female fish in our preserve or 

 pen weighed 25lbs. One huge male fish of wonderful 

 beauty weighed 271bs. From tbe present flattering point 

 of view, appeartmces would indicate that Ave may here 

 look for our future supply of landlocked salmon eggs of 

 increased numbers and less expenditure." 



In tbe way of changes in the laws for tbe protection of 

 moose, caribou and deer, the Commissioners will recom- 

 mend that imprisonment be added to fines for their in- 

 fringement. On the subject they Avill say: 



"We think a term of imprisonment should be added to 

 all om- penalties, as tbe bearing of tbe money penalty is 

 necessarily imequal in its application to all criminals. 

 The poor man is more severely ]3unished by a 81 fine 

 than the wealthy by $100. In these cases imprisonment 

 cures tbe evil. Many of our visitors have the hajxbhood 

 to bring hounds with them into our State, boldly 

 acknowledging that they intend to break our laws. Will 

 not our Legislatnre give us the means to i:iunisb this in- 

 sulting defiance to our State laws? Give us a laAv that 

 will compel them to give a bond of $100 for each and 

 ever dog, with tAvo resident sm-eties, or deposit that 

 amount in the hands of the city marshal, or the game 

 warden or one of the Commissioners. The money to be 

 forfeited if the dogs are used for illegal purposes or sold 

 within the State. We require a square non-exportation 

 law. There are enough deer for all, and the law has 

 made a fair apportionment of three for each. One moose, 

 tAvo caribou and tln-ee deer is tbe apportionment made by 

 om- Legislatm-e for each man. The running of deer by 

 dogs is intended to insure their slaughter without any 

 Avork or skill on the part of tbe hunter. Every deer in a 

 county can thus be killed by a f cav men banded together. 

 Tbe law should be amended by making it punishable vflth 

 fine and imprisonment to kill "a deer in the water, as well 

 as hunting and killing with dogs." 



On the subject of protection to the moose, the Commis- 

 sioners take strong gromid, and ground which is new, 

 and best of all it looks to be reasonable: 



"The slaughter of moose of all ages and sexes the last 

 two years by crust-hunting poachers has been most piti- 

 ful. Thirteen moose hides taken last spring by one Indian 

 giiide Avere lately found in his possession. "The high mar- 

 ket A^alue of the "moose skin is as great a temptation to the 

 idle vagabond poacher as is a well-filled safe to his brother 

 scoundrel the professional cracksman. Many of the 

 guides, ah who are Indian, after earning good wages 

 from their employers, and after the season is over, seek 

 out tbe wiatering yards of tbe moose, and in the snow 

 crust of spring slaxighter all, even down to tbe worthless 

 calf. If the yard is handy to a Avinter camp of lumber- 

 men, the meat is sold. If far aAvay, they are killed for 

 the skins alone. Tire whites and Indians, both of our own 

 or neighboring scoundrels, are engaged in this destruc- 

 tion of om- moose. Tbe fcAv bulls killed by our visiting 

 sportsmen would never exterrainate the race, for rarely 

 is a cow- moose killed, as they do not come to the call of 

 the hunter. It is the destruction of the coavs by the 

 crust-hunter that is to lead to their utter extermination, 

 if not summarily stopped by the enforcement of severe 

 laws. A penalty of $500 and six months' imprisonment 

 should be the mildest punishment for liilling a cow moose 

 at any time." 



In addition to the above recommendations, I have it 

 from the best of authority that the Commissioners will 

 also recommend that the month of September be made 

 an open month for the legal hunting of moose, caribou 

 and deer. They only aAvait certain decisions, and the 

 recommendation may yet become a part of tbe report. 

 The Commissioners are of the opinion that such a change 

 in tbe laws may be made with safety to the game in 

 question, and they are Avilling_ to grant any reasonable 

 license, proAlded those Avho desire the change Avill agree 

 to render implicit obedience to tbe existing close time. 

 Such a change will be most graciously received by many 

 of the sporting fraternity, as well as those interested in 

 summer traArel and summer hotels, and it Avill shoAv that 

 the Commissioners have tbe real good of the sportsmen 

 at beai-t. Special. 



A Scuffle foe Deer Meat.— Tbe Sun's Port Jervis 

 coiTespondent reports that Jonas Shaffer, one of the three 

 well-known Shaffer brothers, two of vaIioui distinguished 

 themselves some time ago by smokiug out five bears from 

 their winter quarters back of tbe High Knob and killing 

 them all, tAA'o of them m hand-to-hand fights, dm'ing 

 Avluch the hunters were stripped of every stitch of their 

 clothing and a good deal of their flesh, also took advan- 

 tage of the tracking snoAv on Saturdav and Avent out in 

 the Wescoline Pond region, three miles north of Lackci- 

 waxen, after deer. Selali Decker, a man named Broft'ett 

 and two others were hunting togethe]- in. the same woods. 

 In the course of the day a big deer came bounding along 

 by Jonas Shaffer. He "put a rifle ball from each barrel of 

 his gun into the deer before it got out of reach and killed 

 it. While he was preparing to get the carcass in shape 

 to carry home, Decker, Broffett and the others of their 

 party appeared on the scene. Decker put in a claim to 

 the deer, on the ground that he had wounded it before it 

 came within range of Shaffer's gun. Decker said he had 

 hit the deer with buckshot. Tlie only woimds in tbe deer 

 were tAvo rifle ball boles. Deckei- claimed that one of 

 the rifle ball Avounds was a buckshot AA^ound, and de- 

 manded half the deer. Shaffer refused to alloAv the claim, 

 and the tA\'o hunters pitched in to fight on the ownership 

 of tbe carcass. The others of Decker's party came to bis 

 aid, according to Shaffer's story, and three of them held 

 Shaffer down Avhile tbe fourth cut the deer in half. 

 They then carried off one-half and left him the other. 

 Shaffer threatens to prosecute the party for aggravated 

 assault and highAvay robbery. 



Montana,— Bozeman, Nov. 15. — Bears scarce. Black* 

 tail deer and elk abundant on tbe borders of the National 

 Park and in the West Gallatin Basin. Himters are com- 

 ing ui every week AAlth wagonloads of elk and deer. 

 Ducks, chickens and geese are very plentiful. Numerous 

 hunting parties are out now killing elk and deer, — G. 



