Nov. 13, 1890,] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



381 



following it some distance, I find it is but a flesh wound 

 in the foreleg; so I give it up and strike for camp, where 

 I arrive after dark and find the boys all in, but George 

 and Stub have not returned yet. A. A. Knott. 



VIRGINIA FIELD SPORTS ASSOCIATION. 



r pHE fifth annual meeting of the Virginia Field Sports 

 JL Association will be held at Amelia Court House on 

 Wednesday, the 19fch day of November, 1890. The Eastern 

 Field Trials Chib, of New York, will meet at Otterburn 

 Springs (one mile distant from the Court House) at the 

 same time, and our members will have an opportunity of 

 witnessing che running of the most celebrated dogs in the 

 United States, besides meeting with prominent sportsmen 

 from every section of the Union. The executive board 

 decided upon this place of meeting in consequence of the 

 great interest felt in seeing these trials, and we trust that 

 the wisdom of their choice will be shown by having a 

 larger attendance than we have ever had at an annual 

 meeting. An excursion train will leave Richmond about 

 8 o'clock on the morning of the 19th, and will return at a 

 late hour that night. The annual shoot (members only) 

 for the Association badge will take place on that day, 

 and it is a handsome trophy, and becomes the property of 

 the winner, I trust that the members will come prepared 

 to enter for the prize and make the shoot one of the 

 attractive features of the occasion. 



The annual dues for this year are but one dollar. Mem- 

 bers who did not pay up last year are requested to mail 

 to Mr. John W. Pierce, Treasurer, Richmond, Va., three 

 dollars, which will liquidate last and this year's dues. 

 All sportsmen oxight to be members of this accociation, 

 and we w-ould be glad to have them make an application 

 in waiting, inclosing two dollars, and receive a member- 

 ship ticket for the year commencing Oct. 1, 1890, and 

 ending Sept. 80, 1891. Members of our association have 

 been granted special privileges by leading railroads in 

 this State, showing the value of 'Organization, and apart 

 from the social feature which our association enjoys, the 

 benefits reoeived more than compensate for the outlay in 

 annual dues. 



Sportsmen and others who may be interested in the 

 field trials, and wish to accompany us on the excursion to 

 Amelia Court House on Nov. 19, are requested to make an 

 early application for tickets, so that we may know how 

 many coaches will be necessary for our transportation. 



The Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad and its connections 

 have kindly given to the members of our association a 

 round-trip ticket at two cents a mile when on hunting 

 trips, and allow one clog for each sportsman free; and 

 we have the promise of some liberal arrangement on 

 other roads, of which due notice will be given. 



Members holding last year's tickets are requested to 

 forward the same to the treasurer (inclosing one dollar) 

 and receive tickets for the season of 1890 and. 1891. These 

 tickets must be presented to station agents in order to 

 secure reduced rates. Polk Miller, President. 



Richmond, Va. 



A SOUTH DAKOTA GAME COUNTRY. 



RAND HAVEN, Micb., Nov. 3.— After a lapse of four 

 H years it has once more been our pleasure to take a 

 short hunting trip through South Dakota. Having had 

 four consecutive seasons of shooting in the Dakotas (the 

 last being in fall of '86) I supposed I was well posted as to 

 where to go, but to make assurance doubly sure, letters 

 were written to old friends in various localities formerly 

 known to us as good shooting grounds. From nearly all 

 came the response that "owing to the continued drouths 

 the small lakes and streams were dry, and no ducks or 

 geese were to be had," From Cottonwood Lake, whence 

 I wrote you several letters, and which at my last visit was 

 a body of water three miles long and three-fourths of a 

 mile wide, came word that the bed of the lake was now 

 used as a cattle pasture. I presume the duck boat left 

 there by me four years since is now used as a feed trough. 

 Sic transit gloria. 



Notwithstanding these unfavorable reports I was satis- 

 fied that there were still left good points for duck and 

 goose snooting, so, spreading out a late map of South 

 Dakota, I found, that the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. 

 Paul Railway reached almost all parts of the State, and I 

 decided to take this road at Chicago, head for Dakota and 

 depend upon information gleaned from conductors as to 

 just where to stop. My experience on former trips has been 

 that conductors on our Western roads are as a class enthu- 

 siastic sportsmen, in the true sense of the word, and con- 

 sequently in warm sympathy with any one in search of 

 hunting grounds for amusement and recreation. (No 

 pot-hunters need applv.) 



I left Chicago Oct. 15, at 6:30, via C. M. & St. P. Ry., 

 the train being a solid vestibule train of sleepers with 

 dining car attached, and all lighted by electricity. As one 

 settles himself in these luxurious cars it is difficult to 

 realize that he is en route for hunting grounds, and that a 

 few hours' ride will bring him to a portion of our country 

 which within the last decade was known only to the 

 Indians and a few hardy trappers and hunters. The next 

 morning at 9 o'clock I reached Sioux City, Iowa, distant 

 from Chicago about 500 miles. Here I met an old ac- 

 quaintance in Conductor E. H. Fargo, who has the run 

 from Sioux City to Aberdeen, I found him the same 

 courteous and affable gentleman as of old, and felt that 

 the problem as to where I would go would soon be solved. 

 As soon as his duties permitted we were seated together, 

 and he gave me the benefit of knowledge he had gleaned 

 as to the best points for hunting. By his advice I left the 

 main line of the road at Trip, which place was reached 

 about 2 P. M. From Trip we took a spur road of the 

 C. M. & St, P. to the flourishing little town of Armour, 

 20 miles west from Trip. Here we found first-class ac- 

 commodations at the Hotel Orient, and started out to 

 make acquaintances and get posted generally. I was 

 soon convinced it was the place I had been looking for, 

 A week's stay did not change my opinion, and I unhesi- 

 tatingly recommend it to readers of Forest and Stream 

 as one of the best all-round shooting places it has ever 

 been my good fortune to find. In the immediate vicinity 

 are several small lakes which literally swarm with ducks. 

 Lake Andes is only 7 miles from the town. This lake is 

 about 15 miles long and affords fine duck shooting, and 

 later in the fall the geese make it "headquarters." Goose 

 shooting was what I was after, but unfortunately the 

 weather was so warm and balmy that the honkers had 

 not come in, and I could not wait for a northwest blow 



which I was assured would bring them in in great 

 numbers. 



The country just north of Armour is settled largely by 

 Germans, They are thrifty farmers, and despite the dry 

 weather have raised good crops the past season. They 

 pay but little attention to hunting, and their broad fields 

 of wheat and corn have furnished splendid feeding ground 

 for prairie chickens, which consequently have been and 

 are now very plentiful. Mr. R. A. Panks, a local sports- 

 man, shot over 600 chickens during the past season from 

 Aug. 15 to about the middle of September. This was the 

 largest number killed by any one person, but a bag of 

 twenty to twenty-five could be had any day within a few 

 miles of town. 



Mr. Geo, Lumley, proprietor of the Douglass County 

 Bank, is an ardent sportsman. I am under many obliga- 

 gations to him for information and courtesies. He is 

 conducting a large business extending over a large por- 

 tion of the Stater but is never too busy to give informa- 

 tion to any one who is on a hunting trip for pleasure, but 

 has a natural aversion to market-hunters or any one 

 destroying game out of season. His son, Geo. Lumly, 

 Jr., is a young man in years, not yet having reached his 

 majority, but is old in his knowledge, of hunting and the 

 habits of the game he hunts. His skill as a marksman 

 might well be envied by older heads. He has one of the 

 best, if not the best, pair of greyhounds in the State. 

 During the past winter he captured with his hounds forty 

 large gray wolves. One can well imagine the excite- 

 ment of a chase, of this kind over the open prairie where 

 every move of both wolf and dogs is in plain view. 



I fear this letter is already too long, but in conclusion 

 would say to any of your readers seeking a place for good 

 shooting, go to Arnionr. For ducks and geese go about 

 Oct. 20, from that time until the lakes freeze up the 

 shooting is first-class. 



Mr. Geo. Lumley, Jr., will answer any inquiries by 

 mail as to time of arrival of flight of geese. For any in- 

 formation as to excursion rates or anything pertaining to 

 the comfort or convenience of any one wishing to make 

 the trip, Major G. H. Heafford, Assistant General Pass- 

 enger Agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 

 Railway (at Chicago), will gladly answer all inquiries. 



G. 



GROUSE SHOOTING WITH A BEAGLE. 



EARLY one November morning I donned my shooting 

 coat, shouldered a little 12 -bore of 71bs. weight that 

 I swear by for cover shooting, and was off for a half -day 

 among the grouse. No need to whistle up my dog; he is 

 always on the watch and at my side the moment I leave 

 the house, and in every possible way manifests his joy at 

 seeing me ready for the field. He is a beagle of large 

 size, intelligent and active to a degree, and although rab- 

 bits are his first love, he will road out and flush up a. 

 bird in a way that might give points to a well-trained 

 spaniel. 



The day was favorable for sport — moist, snow on leaves 

 and grass. The first piece of cover visited held a single 

 grouse that flushed wild to the dog, went across a field 

 to the woods and was not followed. I crossed the creek, 

 and as I climbed the slope beyond a rabbit sprang from 

 among the withered stalks of golden-rod at my very feet 

 and went off jerking his cotton with an energy born of 

 sudden fright. I caught a glimpse of it in line with the 

 rib and pressed the trigger and saw it perform the tum- 

 bling act. After a few vigorous kicks it regained its 

 feet, but I refrained from using the second barrel, think- 

 ing to give my dog, already on the trail, the pleasure of 

 picking it up. But he failed to get there, the rabbit 

 going to earth before being overtaken. That I very much 

 regretted, not because I cared for the rabbit, but I always 

 dislike wounding game and having it escape to die a 

 painful, lingering death. A clean miss is much to be 

 preferred. I soon jumped another rabbit from some tall 

 grass that got away under cover of a fence. A musical 

 chase followed across the fields some sixty rods to a 

 swamp. Following, I climbed upon a fallen tree and 

 enjoyed the music as bunnie doubled through the thick- 

 est tangles in the swamp. My dog is a sure trailer and 

 well up on all the tricks of the most wily of rabbits. His 

 musical voice echoing to the hills, he follows and finally 

 drives it past my stand, and a quick shot stretches it 

 dead upon the leaves. Coming up, he stands over it with 

 lolling tongue and slowly vibrating trail, and the large 

 expressive eyes turned to mine invite a caress and express 

 the satisfaction he feels at the successful termination of 

 the chase. 



Next in order came a swampy piece of cover, bordered 

 on one side by a rocky ledge covered by a dense growth 

 of evergreens, and so thick as to almost exclude the 

 possibility of a successful shot. While standing in a little 

 opening in the thicket, waiting for my dog to quarter 

 the ground, I heard several birds get up to my right, the 

 sound indicating that they crossed a narrow clearing and 

 settled on the other side of the slope. Thither I followed, 

 the dog in his eagerness preceding me, and three of the 

 birds flushed wild. Two were marked down in woods 

 near by, the other taking a long flight across fields to a 

 distant wooded ravine. Restraining my dog until I reach 

 a favorable point, a wave of the hand sent him on and 

 he is soon seen roading eagerly a running bird. With 

 rigid muscles, eye and ear alert, and gun firmly clasped, 

 I await the result. Not long to wait, for very soon a 

 grouse gets up with a rush that quickens the pulse and 

 sets every nerve tingling. Rising above the sprouts it 

 starts for the woods with the speed of an express train. 

 My gun comes quickly to my shoulder and is swung into 

 line with its flight, and the trigger pressed. The rapidly 

 vibrating wings close instantly, but the momentum 

 gained carries it forward several rods before it strikes 

 the ground with the thump so suggestive to a sportsman's 

 ear; but a cloud of feathers are left behind that float and 

 quiver in the still air as they slowly settle earthward. 

 Slipping another shell into the gun I send the dog back 

 into the sprouts, he having started for the dead bird; and 

 he flushes another that gets up with a rush and flurry 

 like the first, and my shot results as before. This prov- 

 ing to be the last, I go forward and find them lying but 

 two steps apart. My dog stands over the last one shot, 

 with his jaw placed firmly on the upturned breast, while 

 the spasmodic beating of the wings shows the last flicker- 

 ings of departing life. And as I look at them, the king 

 of all our game birds, mingled with the exultation felt at 

 their capture is a deep feeling of regret at the taking of 

 such noble life. Carefully smoothing ruffled plumage I 

 bag my birds and, start is search of their companion 8 



marked down in the woods. They are soon found and 

 go into my pockets with the others. A gray squirrel that 

 attracts my attention by leaping from tree to tree is 

 added to my bag, and although it is but 10 A. M. I turn 

 toward home, satisfied and well pleased with the morn- 

 ing's hunt. But my dog shows his displeasure, thinking 

 it all too early to return. Bon Ami. 



Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pa. 



WHERE BRUIN NEEDS NO PROTECTION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I see in a late issue of Forest and Stream an article 

 from "Ursus A." in regard to the protection of bear from 

 hunters and trappers. Now I have been a bear hunter for 

 the last fifteen years, and my father hunted them from 

 the first settling of this part of the country until his death, 

 in 1884 — he being then in his seventy -ninth year. And in 

 all the narratives given by him (and he certainly had as 

 much experience with bruin as any man, living or dead), 

 I never once heard'bini express himself other than thai 

 bruin was fully capable of taking care of himself. And I 

 know from experience that such is the case. They breed 

 at a season of the year (February) when every river and 

 bayou is swollen so that it is impossible to hunt them. 

 And in the summer, after the little fellows begin to follow 

 the mother, it is impossible to hunt them on account of 

 the heat. And as for hunting thein in the fall and 

 winter (the time that I always hunt), if my dogs have ever 

 gotten after a bear that was not fully able to take care of 

 himself, I don't recollect it; except, of course, a young one 

 that was too fat to run. 



As "Ursus A." says, '"it is the grandest of sport," not 

 by any means to be classed with any other hunting in this 

 part of the country. I have chased them from morning 

 till night. On one occasion I called my dogs off, it being 

 too dark to follow any longer, and going back next 

 morning, putting the dogs on his trail, still had an excit- 

 ing chase of another half-day before he was killed. His 

 skin is now in possession of an Ouachito River steamboat 

 captain, who had it tanned and is now using it as a rug. 

 I can also recall several hunts where the bear, after an 

 exciting chase of hours, eluded both dogs and hunters, 

 some dog returning with a leg broke, another with his 

 ribs smashed in from a stroke with bruin's big foot, and 

 most of the others hurt more or less by him. Oh, no, 

 don't talk to me about protection for bear. Myself and 

 company killed twenty-one last winter: and our score 

 runs from ten to thirty every winter, and there seem to 

 be as many as ever. 



In regard to trapping, that is something that I know 

 but little about; but from what I have seen I don't think 

 the bears are in any danger of extermination from it. 

 We are the only bear hunters in this section (I mean bear 

 killers). And I know they are in no danger of extermina- 

 tion f rom us. W. R. OSBORN. 



Louisiana. 



AS SEEN BY A PESSIMIST. 



BEHOLD, now, the Modern Sportsman as be goeth 

 forth into the fields. He weareth apparel which is 

 his glory; and in it are pockets large enough to bear away 

 an ass's load of game. His weapon is his pride, and he 

 puffeth himself up and saith: "What is there to contend 

 in the fields against me, or what can stand before me in 

 the forests?" And there is nothing; for lo! a squirrel he 

 bloweth to flinders, and a bear, even the grizzly bear of 

 the mountains, doth he make into particles; the deer of 

 the forest he maketh into atoms; and molecules are the 

 birds of the air before his face. He smiteth all living 

 things as with a flame; with one weapon doeth he all 

 these things, and the name thereof is the Best All- Around 

 Gun. 



The joy of the Modern Sportsman is his power to kill, 

 and he goeth about making himself joyful. No man dare 

 molest him, or stop him, or make him afraid; for he is 

 an all-devouring pestilence on the face of the earth, and 

 men flee from before him. 



His anger is fearful. He snoxteth in the valley and 

 rageth on the hills; and on the pleasant fields his wrath 

 doth wither the green things. His anger is enkindled 

 against the small boy, and the farmers, and the rotten- 

 ness of the law to restrain all but himself; and his name 

 is Hog, having many prefixes. His tribe doth increase ; he 

 fiourisheth as the green bay tree, and when he goeth to 

 his long sleep many there be ready to take and fill his 

 place. 



And behold, although he destroyeth all beasts of the 

 field, and all fish of the streams, and all birds of the air . 

 and still sigheth for mightier weapons of death where- 

 with to slay all these, there is no man to rise up and seize 

 him, and bind him for a term of years, wherein lieth the 

 salvation of these beasts and buds. 



But. wdien the deer have fled forever from my forests, 

 and the birds no more build their nests by my murmur- 

 ing streams, and the fish have altogether gone from my 

 waters, then will I arise and see what can be done about 

 it, saith the Legislature. Ed Noel. 



In a Heap of Leaves. — The morning of Dec. 1 rose 

 cold and bright over the plains of the Mohawk, and after 

 breakfast I prepared to go in search of the ruffed grouse 

 in company with my brother. At length we had gone 

 through quite a large woods without starting a single 

 bird, and were coming out at a place where two fences 

 met. In the corner lay a large heap or pile of leaves, 

 blown there from the neighboring trees. We had just 

 passed through an opening in the fence about 50ft. from 

 the corner, when on looking back I saw my dog eyeing 

 it wistfully. Supposing he had seen a chipmunk or red 

 squirrel run on the ground, I spoke to him to "come." 

 This he did not feel inclined to do, but moved a few steps 

 nearer to the corner. Upon this I went back into the 

 woods and looked the leaves over, but saw nothing that 

 particularly attracted fmy attention. On a sudden im- 

 pulse, however, I walked up and began kicking around 

 in the leaves, and the next moment something akin to a 

 crater belched forth in front of me. With a tremendous 

 roar and a whirlwind of leaves a grouse rose out of the 

 pile, and immediately after disappeared in the forest. 

 My dog had disappeared also, and when I again saw him 

 he was looking at me around a tree about 50yds. off. 

 This incident nearly ended my hunting for that day, as 

 my nerves were pretty well shaken up by it. Although 

 the grouse sometimes takes refuge under the newly 

 fallen snow in severe wintry weather, yet I have 

 never, but on t^s occasion, seen one do so under a pile 

 of leaves,— Dorp, 



