FOREST AND STREAM. 



207 



letter in the northern part of the State, as far as grouse 

 and woodcock are concerned. 



I hear of several parties that have been to the Hacken- 

 saek after the rail, but with poor success compared to the 

 sport the rail shooters at the southern part of New Jersey 

 have been enjoying. On the Maurice River the shooting 

 has been goon, and the abundance of rail in the Philadel- 

 phia markets last week shows some one has been having 

 Eome fun with thenli 



From Canada 1 have several letters from shooting 

 friends that the woodcock and snipe shooting to the west 

 of Quebec has been very fair for some days past. The 

 snipe are shot in the furrowed pasture lots and on the low 

 flat lands, while the cock are found in the covers border- 

 ing the many in and lakes. 



An old shooting companion who resides in southern 

 Illinois writes me that there are plenty of quail this sea- 

 eon in southern Mis ouri and Arkansas. A good shot 

 with a trio of well- trained dogs CoU kill from thirty-five 

 to sixty buds day in and day out. The big bags will be 

 made immediately after heavy rains. Two dogs should 

 be used and alternated with the fresh one left at home. 

 The cool snap will hurry the mallards along, and when 

 the West does begin to have rain, the protracted season 

 of drought will be succeeded by some big flights of fowl. 

 For those who like rutumn mallard shooting, I would 

 suggest the Illinois River above Liverpool for comfort and 

 fair bags, and the ponds bordering the Wabash River for 

 roughing it and sport. When an overflow occurs at this 

 jseasbn there is no finer mallard shooting in the world 

 than the locality I have mentioned. 



Mr: Arthur L. Sewell went down to the meadows back 

 of Mantoloking; N. J., on Sept, 20, and bagged six Eng- 

 lish snipe in two hours: Mr. SeWell is an ardent sports- 

 man and one of the best all-round mett with gtyn and rifle 

 in America. He has had great experience in Canada, 

 and is one of the finest caribou hunters in the Dominion. 

 He is an admirable conversationalist, and camp life in his 

 company is one of the pleasures to look forward to. I 

 know of no one who can more graphically describe the 

 winter pastimes of Canada more agreeably. 



Charles F. Murphy, of Newark, famous as the inventor 

 of the split-bamboo "rod. is not happy. He has been out 

 shooting twice recently, with poor success. He says that 

 game has gotten so scarce in Essex county, on account of 

 increasing the size of Newark, Orange, Bloornfield and 

 other game destroyers, it is time for men to stop hunting 

 and to sit clown" and cuss. He went the other day to 

 where he had killed thirteen gray squirrels last year, and 

 only saw one. Then he went English snipe shooting 

 back of East Newark and saw two birds drop in. Just as 

 he was going to do them up he saw a black duck coming 

 along. The duck passed far out of shot over his head, 

 but lowered over the base ball grounds, where an early 

 gunner was standing on the home place, swiping his gun 

 around and making phantom home runs in his mind. 

 The duck came within 15ft. of the baseballist and was 

 pulverized. Then the gunner spied out Ma*. Murphy and 

 went over and shot one of the snipe while the old veteran 

 killed the other. Mr. Murphy says he never saw such a 

 fool of a duck in all his life, and he will not go shooting 

 there any more. 



Up to the rain of last week Peter Langstaff and his son 

 Henry, who are continually on the Newark and Elizabeth 

 meadows, had only killed ten English snipe up to date 

 this autumn. All the birds pitched inland this season. 



On Sept. 30 a large migration of all kinds of birds 

 passed down the New Jersey coast. Some friends who 

 were on then steam yacht to see the "outside" Thistle 

 and Volunteer race, said a number of big yellowlegs and 

 a few grass plover could be heard away out to sea all day 

 beating about in the fog. 



The Big Piece at Pine Brook, N. J., bar. been too dry 

 until the past rainstorm for birds, either woodcock or 

 snipe. There is, however, some very fine ground between 

 the Two bridges and Horseneck bridge in Norris county, 

 along the north side of the Passaic River. It is four miles 

 in 1 ngth and is controlled by a company who send and 

 receive cattle there to pasture. Until recently no objec- 

 tion was made to those wdio went there to shoot; but now 

 no one is allowed to go hunting there. This change of 

 affairs was caused by some gunners (said to hail from 

 Patersoh) who either shot the cattle because they chased 

 their dogs, or did so accidentally, the stock not being 

 seen in the brush. At all events the cows were badly 

 peppered. Their owners sent for them and got them 

 home to a place of safety, while the company who leases 

 the land has forbidden all shooting in the future. Thus 

 it is that every now and then something is coming up to 

 prevent shooting in the Eastern States, and in the major- 

 ity of cases the gunners have only themselves to blame. 



The Wise Acre. 



New York, Oct. 3. 



AN ARKANSAS DEER DRIVE. 



BEEBE, Ark., Sept. 18.— On Sept. 1 the season for deer 

 killing begins in Arkansas, but owing to pressing 

 business I was unable to participate in the opening hunt 

 of the season. The day was hot and clear, but because of 

 the long drouth the scent did not lie well, and as a conse- 



auence very few deer were killed, although from earliest 

 ayligh until dark the woods were filled with hunters; 

 and all day long the air was rilled with the music of 

 running hounds and shouts of the drivers, the sharp re- 

 port of the rifle or the louder boom of overcharged shot- 

 guns. So far I have heard of but two deer killed on the 

 day of the opening hunt. In my last article I promised 

 you an account of my first deer hunt. It was the 

 drive of Sept. 15. There were four of us, Walt, 

 Vail and Will Thandschey and myself, Walt and 

 Vdll carrying good double-barreled shotguns, Will 

 and myself armed with rifles, all muzzle-loaders, 

 and not high-priced ones either, but I think you 

 will agree with me in saying that they proved as 

 effective as the highest priced breeehloading guns usually 

 do in the hands of common hunters like myself and the 

 boys who were with me on the 15th. We had three 

 splendid deerhounds, Sailor, Buster and Bummer, perfect 

 little beauties, and as true of scent and fleet of foot as 

 ever struck a trail, and all thoroughly trained. I don't 

 suppose that they would show to much advantage at a 

 bench show, but as you will see they loomed up grandly 

 on this occasion. 



The day was all that could be asked, and before the sun 

 rose above the horizon we were on our way to our day's 

 sport. Will and myself took a stand at a regular cross- 



ing, while Vail and Walt followed the hounds. Will and 

 myself were scarcely at our post at the crossing when we 

 heard old Bummer open his mouth on a fresh track. 

 Sailor and Buster soon took up the cry, and we stood and 

 listened to the sound of the music of "the running hounds 

 coming closer and then receding as the deer doubled on 

 his tracks. In a short time we heard the report of Vall's 

 gun and the hounds suddenly became silent— sure sign of 

 a dead deer. In about twenty minutes we again heard 

 the hounds, this time closer than ever, and coming 

 straight toward us. Nearer and nearer they come, and 

 soon we hear the crashing of the brush as the deer plunges 

 ahead straight to his death. Both rifles are cocked and 

 held in readiness. I looked at Will and saw that he stood 

 like a rock, not the slightest treinor visible in his frame; 

 to judge from his appearance lie was cool as a cucumber 

 in January, while I must confess I felt slightly excited. 

 The crashing of the brush grew louder every second, and 

 at last the largest buck I ever saw broke cover within 

 50yds. of us, and stopped for a breathing spell. Like a 

 flash our rifles came to our shoulders and the reports 

 blended into one. The buck gave a convulsive bound, 

 staggered a dozen paces and fell dead. Well , I will wager 

 that there were two rifles loaded quicker than they had 

 been for many a day; and striding forward we viewed 

 our prize, just kicking his last, surrounded by the hounds. 

 Vail and Walt came up. and we learned that Vail had 

 shot and killed a large doe. Our buck had received both 

 of the rifle balls in vital parts. We now had plenty of 

 venison for our own use for several days, and I was in 

 favor of going home; but after quite a spirited discussion 

 we concluded to make another drive, as it was not later 

 than 8 o'clock, in order to give Walt a chance for a shot, 

 for he insisted that he could kill as many deer as any of 

 us. We hung up our game, took a new stand and put 

 the hounds at work. Deer tracks were plenty, and before 

 an hour's time the dogs jumped a bunch of deer, a spike 

 buck, a doe and two fawns. 



We were all within 100yds. of each other when the dogs 

 jumped the deer and took them past us at a 2.40 gait. 

 Every gun in the crowd was emptied. The spike buck 

 dropped in his tracks filled with buckshot. One fa wn 

 came down to Will's rifle, and the dogs pulled down the 

 old doe 50yds. from the spot where I had shot her. The 

 other fawn got away without a scratch. Walt now rode 

 home for a wagon and soon came back. We loaded in 

 our five deer and got home in time to eat venison steak 

 for dinner. 



I think that in the course of a month or two I shall 

 have a wolf hunt to describe, as they are numerous in the 

 forks and we are making arrangements to hunt them. 



G. J. B. 



CHAT WITH THE DOMINE. 



AS I said before, not a day passes, as I drive through 

 the village, that I don't catch sight of my old friend. 

 The Domine was in his usual reflective mood when I 

 stopped the other day, and asked, "What became of that 

 fellow you called Birt?" "He fell out of a pear tree and 

 died in consequence." "Was he the man that killed 52 

 birds in 51 shots?" "Yes." "Ever see liim shoot?" "Oh 

 yes, been out with him many a time in Connecticut." 

 After another whiff or two, "Captain, do you believe that 

 story?'' "No, Domine, I do not, but I have made one 

 rule", the results of long experience, I never contradict a 

 man when he tells a story." "Spoils the story?" "Yes, 

 and does the man no good. Why, here the other day I 

 ran across an old whaleman, and he began to tell me 

 how to catch whales in the Polar Sea, and about a man 

 jumping into a whale boat and pulling a 26-foot oar. 

 What, said I, 26ft.? 'Yes, sir, and you ought to have 

 seen him pull.' I gave right up. When I asked the man 

 to cut off about a foot from that oar I made him mad at 

 once. See?" "Well, I believe you're right." 



Knowing my old friend was a perfectly truthful man 

 I said, "A good shot once told me he killed 22 woodcock 

 straiglit, and that I am inclined to believe. Dan, you 

 know, is a grand shot, few better; well, he killed 10 

 straight out of 12. I think the Governor got 12 out of 13, 

 now what's your best; I heard 26. Is that so?" "Yes! 

 round the Delamater Pond." "And you practiced a base 

 deception on the Governor, didn't you?" "Ah me, Cap- 

 tain, that was long ago, and birds were very plenty," 

 said the Domine, laughing quietly to himself in enjoy- 

 ment of his joke, "you see the Governor had Buff and 

 was up on a holiday, and nothing would do but he and I 

 must go hunting. I had old black Ned, father to the 

 celebrated dog I sold Mr. C. , you know. I lived out at 

 Union Corner and had my shop down by the cross road, 

 south end of the pond, and I arranged with the Governor 

 to come out, and we would go round the pond. After 

 dinner we started. 'Now,' says I, 'I will tell you how we 

 will get to the best of the birds. You go up on the east 

 side of the pond, and I'll cross over on the dam and take 

 up the west side, through the brush. When the birds get 

 up they'll be sure to come over your way, and you can 

 nail them as they come across.' My plan seemed" natmal 

 enough, and away we went, I crossed over by the dam, 

 and your brother went up on the east side." 



"I know all that, but Domine, you laid a regular trap 

 for him; he couldn't cross anyhow until he got up to the 

 next bridge and you had all the best ground to yourself, 

 you old scamp. How were the birds to cross over with 

 one of the best shots in the country and one of the best 

 dogs behind them?" 



•'Now, Captain, I'll tell you all about it. I got in and 

 got to work. My gracious! talk about your birds, the 

 w^oods were alive with them. Whang! bang! whang! 

 load, and fire, until my gun got so hot I could't hold it. 

 Didn't a great many get over to the Governor? Not many! 

 So by and by I heard a clattering across the bridge, and 

 the first thing you know the Governor came running along 

 mad enough to eat snakes. 'You thundering old hum- 

 bug,' says he, 'served me right; I might have known 

 better; birds cross over and you right behind them:' and 

 curiously enough," added the old man, looking me in the 

 eye with an expression of countenance that wotdd have 

 done honor to Jingle of Pickwick, "there wasn't one of 

 them buds flew across, not one. 'How many have you 

 got?' says he. 'Twenty-six,' says I, 'and the twenty- 

 seventh fell out there by the pond; I think he's dead, but 

 old Ned can't find him. However,' I says, 'Governor, 

 there's more in here yet, go in and get them.' And he 

 did, all he wanted — staving good shot," added the old 

 man. "It was the best day's shooting I ever did." 



The old hunter sighed, and knocked the ashes out of 

 his pipe, and for a few minutes I smoked on in silence. 



His thoughts were far away. Memory was busy recalling 

 from the long buried past, "old faces, old scenes, hunts in 

 the days when young and strong and lusty as an eagle, 

 no day was too long for him; and now he must have felt 

 as did old Pathfinder, the game all disappeared, the 

 country all cleared tip, and only one or two left who 

 could in any way recall to hbn the days of his youth. I 

 could well understand how he delighted to talk over with 

 me the old time shoots and fight his battles over again. 



"You got a little ahead of my brother," said I, "as I did 

 with you in the Widow's Ash Swamp once. Do you mind 

 the time, old man, I went in there and lost my shot 

 pouch and went back and found it when least expected?" 



"Well, Captain, I can tell you a singular circumstance 

 that happened in that swamp. Lou Pritchard was out 

 with me that day. He Was down there by the old stone 

 wall, and his dog was standing on a bird right between 

 us, so was mine. I called out to him to look out, for the 

 dogs were facing us. The bird got up and went right 

 toward me and I struck at it with my gun. The bird 

 turned and flew straight for Lou, and he poked at him 

 with his gun. 'Hold on,' I cried, 'don't shoot, you'll hit 

 me;' and he struck the bird and killed him dead on the 

 spot, and it was an October bird, too." 



As I clambered up into my cart and Old Blackey was 

 about to walk off, I said: "Domine, you've killed some 

 large birds." 



"Oh, yes! Do you mind that one I showed you, I 

 brought over from the Housitonic ?" 

 "Yes! Most as large as a crow." 



"Nearly. Well my friend in Po'keepsie has a stuffed 

 woodcock, which he killed near the Po'keepsie Eastern 

 Railroad track. The bird when shot fell on the track, 

 and the flagman had to run back and signal the train to 

 stop." "G'lang," and I waved my hand and drove off. 



Capt. Clayton. 



GAME NOTES. 



NARCOOSSEE, Fla., Sept. 26.— Snipe are beginning 

 to return to our Florida marshes, and if they be- 

 come as plentiful as in former seasons we shall have 

 excellent sport. A few ducks also have been seen, and 

 the other evening I heard the well known whir, as a 

 flight passed over my head; but we camiot expect many 

 till the cold weather sets in north. In the meanwhile we 

 must content ourselves with the quail or an occasional 

 shot at a cottontail as he skips through the palmettos.— 

 General. 



Rochester, N. Y., Oct. 1. — The ruffed grouse shooting- 

 is very satisfactory in this quarter of the State this 

 season. Woodcock are not very abundant, but some 

 good bags have been secured. A few gray plover have 

 been shot, and ducks are just coming in.— R. 



Oakdale, Long Island, Sept. 30.— The prospect for 

 shooting on the Island this fall is very good, there being 

 more quail than I have known before, and I have been 

 shooting for the last twenty-one years. Every year 

 brings more protection for the birds. Clubs are "con- 

 stantly forming; three-fourths of the land is posted, and 

 the time is not far distant when Long Island will be one 

 vast game preserve. — A. A. F. 



Elizabeth City, N. C, Sept. 26.— Quail shooting 

 promises to be better this season than for several years. 

 I regret that the crew of the Coot, an account of whose 

 visitation to our little towm appeared in a back number of 

 Forest and Stream, fell in with such a poor class of our 

 citizens, and I think it rather unjust that he should form 

 an opinion of us from the plebian few he met in a bar- 

 room. Let him come again and meet a better class and 

 his bad impressions will remain no longer than a morn- 

 ing's mist.— M. R. G. 



Springfield, Mass., Oct. 3.— The raffed grouse sea- 

 son opened here last Saturday, and though it was a 

 bad, wet day, many shooters were out, and large num- 

 bers of birds (seen) were reported. Some fair bags were 

 made. The cover is heavy yet, though the leaves are 

 beginning to fall. It is generally complained that on 

 grounds' not posted the grouse broods have been broken 

 up by woodcock shooters, the woodcock season having 

 opened Aug. 1. On the other hand, on grounds that are 

 protected the broods are unusually fine. The woodcock 

 season has been a fair one. The grounds have been so 

 wet that the birds were scattered. No large bags have 

 been reported. The crop of shooters is a full one. — Davy 

 Leatherstocking. 



Lexington, Va., Oct. 1. — The open season for deer 

 commenced in this State on Aug. 15, and soon thereafter 

 ar party was organized, which proceeded to a point some 

 twenty miles from here, where deer are sufficiently 

 abundant, but where the country is rough and stands are 

 difficult of access. In this country we always "drive," 

 as the topography of the country is such that still-hunt- 

 ing can be prosecuted successfully by the mountaineers 

 alone. The hunt was fairly successful, three deer being 

 killed. One of them was a complete loss, as the gentle- 

 man who shot took it for granted that he had missed and 

 did not leave his stand to investigate. The carcass was 

 found some days afterward within 50yds. of the stand, 

 spoiled and much torn by dogs. Prospect for birds, quail 

 and grouse good, for the former excellent. I hope to be 

 able to report some good bags.— T. M. S. 



Garysbtjrg, N. G, Sept. 25.— This place is a beautiful 

 village at the jimction of the Atlantic Coast Line and the 

 Seaboard & Roanoke railroads, sixty miles south of Peters- 

 burg, Va., seve-"ty-two southwest of Norfolk, and two 

 miles north of Weldon, N. G, on the Roanoke River. My 

 friend, W. T. Kee, the proprietor of the hotel, is an expert 

 hunter and well acquainted with the haunts of game. He 

 has the control of over forty thousand acres of land 

 abounding in many kinds of game, and he is fully pre- 

 pared to furnish first-class accommodations to sportsmen 

 and their families. This season we have in abundance 

 deer, quail, woodcock, wild turkey, squirrels, sora, ducks 

 and geese. In addition to this, rare sport can be had 

 catching black bass and pike in the many ponds within 

 the radius of a few miles. Our people will give our 

 Northern brothers a cordial welcome to our mild and 

 salubrious county.— J. H. P. L. 



