Sept. tt, 1190,] 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



18 9 



deep, with a very iniry bottom. We followed the bank 

 nearly half a mile, came to a strong fence, and crossed 

 without difficulty. Moving down the other bank, we 

 soon found an old trail leading into the woods and fol- 

 lowed it. The woods were open and we decided to move 

 through them down to the river, said to be about four 

 miles distant. 1 branched off and had not traveled far 

 when my dog began trailing, and I saw hi in tree a bird 

 about the size and shape of a pheasant. I approached 

 the tree carefully, and for some time could not make out 

 my quarry entirely hidden in a clump of thick moss. A 

 motion of its head called my attention, and a charge of 

 No. 6 shot sealed its doom. Only for the jet black plum- 

 age I would have pronounced it a pheasant, and I still 

 think it belongs to the species; it proved to be my first 

 ehachalacka. 



Before I had duly examined the bird four shots rang 

 out in quick succession and the fusilade continued for 

 about o minutes. I could not imagine what my compan- 

 ions had run afoul of until the quick stroke of strong 

 pinions above the treetops told the story of their finding a 

 feeding ground for ducks, and thinking that they might 

 need the assistance of my dog to retrieve their" birds I 

 hastened in the direction of the firing. More running 

 than walking, fifteen minutes brought me to a clearing, 

 apparently a flooded meadow, and stumbling out in the 

 open, without a thought of my chances to come to shot 

 myself. I scared a flock of teal, which got away before I 

 could come in range, only to be reached by the murder- 

 ous fire of my companions, who were on the other side of 

 the lagoon and 800yds, away. J followed the lagoon 

 down in the edge of the timber, and coming on a line 

 with my companions shouted to them and proposed to 

 follow the lagoon to its end. We fired no potshots and 

 killed eight teel and two redheads before we got to the 

 end of tne open water, which terminated in acanebrake. 

 I crossed with some difficulty and joining my companions 

 ascertained that they had a small tree hanging full of 

 ducks, some twenty odd they said. It was now near sun- 

 down and we agreed to return to camp. Arrived at the 

 tree we divided the ducks; there were eleven for each to 

 carry, mostly teal. We took the old wood trail to camp 

 and managed to get in at sundown. Pedro showed me 

 two dozen eggs and a bucket of milk, brought to camp 

 by the children from a ranch near by, where he was well 

 acquainted. I gave him a dozen ducks for his friends, 

 added two dollars for the purchase of some corn and hay 

 for his animals, and notified him that we should remain 

 in camp for several days, news which appeared highly 

 to please him 



We had enjoyed supper and were planning the destruc- 

 tion of the turkeys said to be about, when we were 

 startled by the ear-splitting noise, "Chachalacka, ehacha- 

 lacka, cha-cha," so plain that we concluded the source 

 could not be over a quarter of a mile distant. We grasped 

 our guns and were about to leave camp when Pedro, re- 

 turning from his message, called to us, and awaiting his 

 arrival I saw that he was leading two dogs, which in the 

 blaze of the fire developed into two fair looking half- 

 hounds. I told him that we were about to interview the 

 chachalackas. He counseled to postpone the matter 

 until the following evening and proposed a run after wild- 

 cat and coon in lieu. Neither of us old chaps had run coon 

 for ten years or more — it had since become a matter below 

 M.'s dignity — the youngster never had, and the latter 

 declaring his eagerness to see the fun, I rummaged our 

 traps in search of the Ferguson, and after unearthing 

 and getting it in working order, was ready for the open- 

 ing. Our Mexican here explained that there was hardly 

 any call for our leaving camp, that he would cross with 

 the dogs, make a circuit of about two miles and cast them 

 off; he felt positive that they would try to drive toward 

 camp, and once treed, would hold the game until we 

 could walk up at our leisure. This plan suited me admira- 

 bly ; not so the youngster, who wanted to be in the chase 

 from beginning to end, and consequently set off with 

 Pedro, after I promised that I would try to get in at the 

 death provided I would not have to travel too far. 



They started, and after the lapse of about an hour my 

 ears caught the first bay of a hound, then after a few 

 minutes a long drawn howl, the signal of the lead dog. 

 and I knew the chase had commenced, but was not aware 

 of my being in it, until I made a false step in crossing the 

 fence, and found the water rather chilly. Called thus 

 disagreeably to my senses, I became aware that the 

 hounds, whose music 1 heard about a mile away, were 

 not more eager for that pelt than I was; and feeling 

 chilly, I moved off to meet them at a gait I would not 

 have considered myself capable of. I had barely gotten 

 to the edge of the woods when the short and ferocious 

 yelps told me that the pursued, no matter what it was, 

 had either treed or holed; and taking things more 

 leisurely, I got to the tree almost the same time the 

 youngster and Pedro reached it. Lighting the Ferguson 

 and holding it aloft, we made out an animal lying flat on 

 a large branch about 80ft. from the ground , The youngster, 

 who had brought a .32cal. target pistol, undertook to 

 wing the game, so as to give the dogs at the same time a 

 reward for their labor and an easy victory. He managed 

 to shoot the animal, whose head was in full view, through 

 the lower jaw, it jumped, and the dogs grabbed it before 

 it could reach another tree, and made short work of kill- 

 ing it, notwithstanding the most - valorous resistance. 

 The youngster voted for another run. Pedro also ap- 

 peared to like the fun, I had to wend my way to camp 

 alone, volunteering to carry then quarry, a fine leopard 

 cat, not quite as large as a bobtail, but beautifully 

 marked. 



M. had gone to bed and his sonorous snore guided me 

 over the last quarter mile. The fire, burned down low, 

 gave me no light. I replenished it and then upset things 

 in general, trying to find some dry clothing. This and 

 the chattering of my teeth nearly 'aroused M., who for 

 my special benefit lectured in his dream as follows: 

 "Old idiot. Cast iron constitution all bosh. Drenched 

 to the skin and cold night air. Neuralgia, rheumatism 

 question of time only. Brandy, claret, quail on toast, 

 ehronic dyspepsia, gout — " Iesoapedto the camp-fire and 

 no doetor being available I examined my case carefully 

 and prescribed. Then I enveloped myself in a blanket, 

 Indian fashion, and reclining against a tree with my feet 

 to the fire my thoughts lost themselves in the dim dis- 

 tance, and gradually the curtain rose as it sometimes will 

 on a sportsman's past. At first the scenes, although 

 rapidly changing, were distinct, every actor known, the 

 dogs could have been called by name by the sound of 

 their voice. Gradually the panorama became more and 



more indistinct, until finally the curtain fell just as the 

 advance of the German poet's mythical "Wild Hunts- 

 man" swept on the boards. 



When I awoke I found myself stretched full length 

 longside the embers of the camp-fire, and opposite to me 

 in the same position was the Junior. I got on my legs 

 found them well rested, limber and serviceable, and after 

 an ablution I hunted Pedro, who informed me that they 

 had killed one more cat and two coons and did not get to 

 camp u ntil near sunrise. They had found me asleep, and 

 the other gentleman busily engaged devouring a break- 

 fast of eggs and milk. The Junior had left word that he 

 was not to be disturbed until dinner was ready; the other 

 gentleman, after finishing his breakfast, had shouldered 

 his gun and left without mentioning his intentions. 

 Pedro also told me, that he had passed under a turkev 

 roost, but had not fired at the turkeys because they 

 already had a load, and the dogs were running such a hot 

 trail at the time that the game was likelv to tree at any 

 moment. He volunteered to find the roos"t for me during 

 the afternoon, but I did not like the idea and turned the 

 conversation to chachalackas, ascertaining that they have 

 very much the same habits as the turkey, are, if possible, 

 shypr and harder to approach, that their flesh, if in prime 

 condition, is considered more juicy and of finer flavor 

 than any other fowl, and that the best time to hunt them 

 with a fair show of success is either at daybreak or at 

 sundown. 



I passed the forenoon cleaning and oiling the guns in 

 camp, stretched the skins of the cats and coons, and in 

 the afternoon busied myself preparing a gala dinner, of 

 broiled teal and Saratoga chips (sweet potatoes), baked 

 redhead properly stuffed, and stewed fruit, hot rolls and 

 coffee. While thus occupied M. returned to camp with 

 two young turkey hens; he had heard them call, and had 

 stalked them, getting within 50yds. of quite a number 

 feeding; had killed the two he carried first and second 

 shot, and had not bothered about following up the others. 

 On his way to camp he had seen where several deer had 

 crossed from the island. He felt called upon to make 

 some non-complimentary remarks about our night hunt. 

 This fully aroused the youngster, who was on the point 

 of favoring us with his view of the matter, when I gave 

 them to understand that they had just three minutes to 

 get ready for dinner. They reported promptly, and we 

 seated ourselves to what I knew from experience would 

 prosper a reconciliation had there been, instead of most 

 perfect harmony, serious differences of opinion. 



About an hour before sundown we left camp, crossed 

 over to the island and followed the old wood trail to the 

 canebrake with the intention to shoot chachalackas. We 

 heard the birds call in all directions. They were appar- 

 entlyfeediug in the direction of the open woods, and 

 now and then a call sounded within easy range. We had 

 separated, but although I advanced with utmost care, 

 and kept my dog to heel, I did not see a feather. After 

 several efforts to approach the calling birds and get a 

 sight, I gave up and sent my dog into the thicket. He 

 was hardly out of sight when one of my companions 

 fired not over 50yds. from me. I heard him send his dog 

 in to retrieve, when my own dog appeard carrying a dead 

 bird. I heard more firing, and nothing showing my way 

 I returned to camp disgusted, and vowed that I would 

 not hunt chachalackas any more. M. and the Junior 

 did not return until after dark, they had seven birds be- 

 tween them, and asserted that they winged several more 

 but could not get them. The birds were very fat, and 

 properly prepared, are as fine and juicy as capon served 

 in Parisian restaurants. M. fell so in love with them at 

 breakfast next morning that he declared he would make 

 them the sole object of his pursuit for the rest of the trip. 



I had to promise the Junior to accompany him on a 

 deer hunt next morning, and to be out at the dawn of day 

 we retired early. I awoke about 4 o'clock and set to 

 work cooking breakfast and putting up a substantial 

 lunch. The Junior also was about early and we had 

 breakfast and were ready to start an hour before daylight. 

 Pedro had given me minute directions about the lay of 

 the land, the intersection of different trails, and the most 

 likely place to find deer. We left camp and followed a 

 dim wood trail through thick chapparal for about three 

 miles, when we came to an opening, which looked like 

 a large meadow, but proved to be a shallow lagoon, over- 

 grown with fine grass. We had sufficient daylight now 

 to draw a bead, and I proposed to the Junior to hunt 

 separately, each following one side of the lagoon, and to 

 meet at its end to discuss our lunch, which was carefully 

 stowed in the capacious pockets of my shooting coat. 

 We further agreed that should either of us shoot and 

 kill, the other was to join him upon hearing three shots 

 in quick succession, to assist in bringing the game to 

 camp. I found a stock trail following the lagoon and 

 had fairly easy traveling, and advancing carefully, never 

 took my eyes from the marsh, which was in places over a 

 mile wide. 



When I came to a branch swinging in the direction of 

 our camp I intended to cross, but my rubber boots being 

 too short, I followed the branch down with a view of 

 hunting around it. There was no path, and I had just 

 turned a chapparal thicket when I saw two eyes staring 

 at me over some low brush about thirty yards distant. 

 My old Sharps spoke, and when the smoke cleared I saw 

 a young buck cross the clearing and leap out of sight 

 before I could reload. When I stepped up to where the 

 deer I had fired at had stood, I found a full-grown doe; 

 she had dropped dead in her tracks; my bullet had en- 

 tered above the right eye and ranged out on a line with 

 the left ear. I fired three pistol shots to call the Junior, 

 and, after dressing my deer, patiently awaited his coming 

 for over an hour. Not hearing from him, I came to the 

 conclusion that I would have to shoulder my deer alone 

 if I wished to take it to camp, and, although I had re- 

 peatedly made up my mind never to lug a deer on my 

 back for miles any more, I went to work and cut off its 

 head, tied its legs together, and after shouldering it 

 wended my way toward camp. I am convinced that the 

 doe did not dress more than 1001bs., but after carrying 

 her about a mile she felt like a log, and I had to rest sev- 

 eral times before I reached the old wood trail, where I 

 intended to hang my game up and send the wagon after it. 



Upon emerging in the open trail I noticed a horseman, 

 who proved to be Pedro's friend, the owner of the ranch 

 in the vicinity of our camp. I inqmred whether he had 

 seen another hunter, and was told that he had met the 

 Junior and had cautioned him not to penetrate too far in 

 the "monte" (as near as I can make out the Mexican ap- 

 pellation for the chapparal wilderness), where a man not 



thoroughly acquainted with the country is almost sure to 

 get lost. He also offered to take my deer to camp, a 

 kindness I gladly availed myself of. I assisted in fasten- 

 ing the deer to the saddle, selected a nice shady spot and 

 settled down to my lunch and a siesta, concluding not to 

 start for camp until the Junior should join me. Whether 

 it was the heat, the lunch, the claret or the soothing 

 fumes of my perique mixture or all combined, I could 

 not tell, and it does not matter, since the fact of my fall- 

 ing asleep remains the same. The report of a shot in 

 close vicinity awoke me to see the Junior and hear him 

 clamor for lunch. His face lengthened visiblv when I 

 told him non est, and I imagined that I heard him grum- 

 ble some compliment, when I had to make the further 

 statement that I only brought one bottle of claret. He 

 said that he had not heard me fire the signal, and that he 

 had killed a spike buck, fired a signal himself, and 

 not hearing from me had carried the little fellow to 

 within about half a mile from the road to an opening 

 where he could get the wagon. It was now about 2 

 o'clock P. M., and the Junior pretending to be ravenously 

 hungry, we made all haste for camp, where we found 

 dinner awaiting us. 



Pedro, after a long preamble, asked me to let him have 

 my Ferguson jack that night, stating that he also would 

 like to have a hunt, and after receiving it he and the 

 Junior left camp in the wagon to bring in the latter's 

 spikehorn. Had I known what slaughter I would be the 

 innocent cause of I would rather have demolished the 

 jack than have loaned it out. The wagon did not return 

 to camp until 8 o'clock next forenoon, and there were 

 besides the Junior's spikehorn, one buck, two does and 

 one fawn in it, all killed with buckshot fire-hunting in 

 the lagoon I had hunted the previous morning. When I 

 expostulated against the wanton wholesale slaughter, 

 because we could not possibly use the meat, Pedro 

 hastened to explain that we might jerk a portion, give 

 the rest to those who could use it, or exchange it for 

 eggs, vegetables, or anything we might be able to obtain. 

 The J unior only remarked, that sportsmanlike or not 

 sportsmanlike, slaughter or no slaughter, he had wanted 

 to see and participate in a night hunt, that he had done 

 so and was satisfied, he would not indulge in any more 

 unless driven to it by short rations. We remained in 

 camp that day and prepared to leave for pastures new 

 the following morning, deciding to camp somewhere in 

 the vicinity of R. Granjeno, said to be the best turkey 

 ground on our route. Mux. 



WORCESTER SPORTSMEN. 



WORCESTER, Mass., Sept. 19.— The posting of land 

 has not been extended a great deal the past sum- 

 mer and seems to be slowly going out of favor among 

 the better class of land owners. In fact the farmers and 

 ' 'sportsmen" are coming to a better understanding of each 

 other, which can only result in benefit to both. The Sun- 

 day depredations of hoodlums are the cause of much of 

 the posting, and the sooner sportsmen use their influence 

 to frown down the raids made on fruit and vegetables by 

 roughs who have no idea of sport, beyond hunting rab- 

 bits with a ferret and drinking rum, the sooner the 

 farmers will learn to distinguish between the man who 

 fishes or hunts for pleasure and those who make these 

 sports a pretext for Sunday carousing, which would not 

 be tolerated in the city. 



Birds were reported plenty, as they invariably are pre- 

 vious to the open season, but the bags so far brought in 

 show that the usual amount of hard work is necessary to 

 make a fair bag. 



The Sportsmen's Club did more effective work in stop- 

 ping shooting before the law was off than ever before. 

 They offered a reward of $25 for evidence that would 

 convict of illegal shooting; and appointed as club game 

 warden one of the best bird hunters in the State, Charles 

 Cowee, of Milford. Now, Charlie is one of the best fel- 

 lows that ever lived, in the brush or on the street, but 

 when he says a thing you can bank on it every time. In- 

 stead of sneaking around the covers to catch some un* 

 wary lawbreaker, he went directly to the parties who 

 have a reputation far illegal shooting (and he knew pretty 

 well whereto go) and told them of his appointment, add- 

 ing that he proposed to carry out the wishes of the club 

 in regard to illegal shooting! He secured the promise of 

 all he approached that they would respect the law, which 

 promises he has taken pains to see have been lived' up to. 



This policy has reduced the amount of illegal shootiDg 

 to a minimum. A few cases have been reported to the 

 club, but when followed up the reports have proved to be 

 falsehoods manufactured out of whole cloth. Not a 

 single report has stood the light of investigation. 



Great preparation had been made for opening the sea- 

 son last Monday, and as early as 3 A. M. the more en- 

 thusiastic were on the road. Daylight, however, found 

 most of them on the road home wet and disgusted. 



Tuesday the weather was about the same, and Wednes- 

 day worse yet. These three days of grace were a perfect 

 godsend to the birds. Nearly every cover was invaded 

 during the time by some one' who could not wait for a 

 fair day, and who did just shooting enough to set the 

 little "biddies" to thinking, and not enough to do any 

 harm. They educate pretty rapidly about this time of 

 the year, and the contemplated opening day slaughter 

 will not take place this season. A few hunted through 

 the rain Monday, and quite a number got in a half day's 

 hunt Tuesday. By Thursday nearly every one bad lost 

 confidence in the weather, and but few started out though 

 the day was perfect. 



So little hunting has been clone that an estimate of the 

 abundance or scarcity of birds cannot be made. There is 

 probably about the usual supply. While some hunters 

 report the broods as being small, there certainly were 

 some good sized bunches raised. I have been there and 

 kept tab on a few of them myself. Hal. 



Indiana Game. — Lebanon, Ind., Sept. 13.- 1 was 

 superintending the cutting of some timber about seven 

 miles west of this city to-day, when we flushed a quail 

 and it fluttered off very slow. I told my son she probably 

 had young ones that she wished to protect by getting us 

 to follow her, as she flew very slowly. Sure enough, on 

 keeping still a little while, we soon heard the young ones 

 peeping, and on looking we found several that could not 

 have been more than three days old. Is not this brood 

 unusually late? Quail are plenty here, also rabbits by 

 the thousand. Squirrels scarce. No chickens. Farmers 

 nearly all posted, out the owners do not hesitate to trap 

 quail by the dozen.— W. H. 



