Oct. 7, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



295 



300yds. of where we had eaten our lunch. When we got 

 up he made for the lake, but did not succeed in shaking 

 off the dogs. Then he made a double and started for the 

 fields. But Crab out him off and got a shot, wounding 

 him badly. He did not go far before he stopi:)ed to fight 

 the dogg. It was for some time before Crab could make 

 the spcond shot, for the dogs were so close arouad the 

 de<-r that he was afraid of hitting some of them. Event- 

 ually the buck made a break to get away from the dogs, 

 and ran by Crab, who then gave it to him broadside and 

 killed him. 



I told the boys that my deer had swam the lake, but 

 that three of my best dogs were after it, and we had 

 better scatter up and down the levee and try to kill it. 

 Before very long we heard the dogs coming. Then it was 

 a hustle who should get the first shot. George had come 

 up in the meantime, and he put spurs to his horse and 

 went at breakneck speed down the levee in the direction 

 of the dogs, my brother following, and I bringing up the 

 rear. After riding about a quarter of a mile I saw the 

 buck spring over the levee some distance ahead of George, 

 and right behind him came Tanner, SuUivan and Crock- 

 ette, three of my best dogs. I turned to my left and cut 

 the deer off. It was not long before I saw him coming 

 with Ms tongue hanging out. I raised my Winchester, 

 and at the crack the old fellow's troubles were over with! 

 We had now three fine bucks and one doe. The doe was 

 barren and very fat. We tried to weigh the big buck on 

 a pair of cotton scales, but they would not draw him, as 

 they only drew SOOlbs. 



We shall have to wait until the next htmt to decide who 

 has the fastest dog. D. M. 



THE .22 SHORT RIFLE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I see in my PoEEST and Stream of Sept. 8 notes by 

 "Julian," on the .3;3cal. Winchester repeater regarding 

 its shooting qualities. I have a few words to say if you 

 care to give this space. I have a .22cal. short Wiu Chester 

 repeater, holding twenty-five shots in magazine and one 

 in the chamber, model 1873, which money cannot buy. I 

 have used this Winchester constantly for six years. Have 

 used it among the Sand Hills of northern Nebraska, the 

 Black Hills of the Dakotas, and in the mountains and on 

 the cattle ranges of Wyoming, and for all round work I 

 would not ask for a heavier caliber. 



In trying my Winchester at penetration I measured off 

 200yds. and set up a cloth target with an Sin. bullseye 

 tacked on an inch pine board, backed by another of equal 

 thickneas. When I fired the first shot I could hear the 

 spat as the ball struck the target and also noticed dust fly 

 beyond the target. Thinking I had probably hit the edge 

 of the board and glanced off', I fired four more shots, and 

 at every shot dust flew beyond the target. On going to 

 the target 1 found five clear cut holes through both 

 boards. 1 took two more boards and nailed the four 

 together, making a total of 4in. thick, and fired five more 

 shots from the 200yds. mark, and dust flew again at every 

 shot. I added another board, making 5in. , and fired five 

 more shots. There was no dust this time. I found aU 

 five bullets had gone through the first four boards and 

 had apUntered oft" the back of the fifth, Avith the excep- 

 tion of one which showed clear lead and was picked out 

 with the fingers. The fifteen shots were fired without 

 cleaning the gun. So at 200yds. the .22cal. short Win- 

 chester is quite an efficient arm. I have never tried it at 

 a greater distance at a stationary target, although at Ard- 

 more, South Dakota, I killed a prairie dog at a measured 

 distance of 303yds. I have also killed geese and crane at 

 150yds. and BOOyds. while in the Sand Hills, and coyotes 

 and antelope whUe in Wyoming. In one case after 

 wounding an antelope with a .22 short cartridge and 

 chasing it quite a distance I slipped a .22 long in the 

 chamber, using it as a single shot, and killed with it at 

 about 150yds. from a saddle rest. 



There is one advantage in the small bore over the larger, 

 and that is as to noise. I have lain in the rushes at the 

 edge of a lake and killed eight ducks from a flock before 

 they took wing. Have also killed five quail out of a covey 

 before they would scud for shelter. 



I give it the best of care and with the exception of a few 

 scars on the stock it is as good to-day as the day I bought 

 it, if not better. It now hangs above my desk in its 

 saddle holster, with my Colts six and belt on one side and 

 my lasso and field glasses on the other, all companions on 

 many a hunting trip in the wilderness. 



ExBTER, Neb., Sept. 8. DiAMOKD WaLT. 



VENISON FOR THE MEAT SAFE. 



Okanogan, Wash. — One evening along in July I had 

 come to my cabin, pulled ott' my gum boots, eaten my 

 supper, milked my cow, and that being the extent of my 

 chores I had picked up Fouest and Streaji to pass off 

 the evening; had taken a chair outside the cabin and was 

 very comfortably situated, when ray attention was called 

 to the clatter of horse's hoofs. Indian Peter rode up, 

 threw the bridle reins over his horse's head and jumped 

 off. He had his rifle on his arm. 



"Well," said I, "Peter, where are you going?" 



"To watch the lick up on the side of the mountain," 

 and he pointed to a spot about three-fourths of a mile 

 from the cabin. "I want you to go along." 



I objected; but he begged so hard and claimed he had 

 never refused to go with me when I wanted to get some 

 trout; so at last I consented. Just as the sun finished 

 painting the Huckleberry Mountain his golden yellow, 

 we started for the lick, which we soon reached. There 

 was a strata of clay 10 or 12ft. long, which the deer eat. 

 Below it some 25ft. was a hole dug just in the edge of a 

 small patch of buck brush. We broke a few brush and 

 stuck in between us and the lick. In clear weather the 

 wind blows down the moimtatn «f a night, so that there 

 is not much chance for the deer to smell a hunter. 



We fixed oux rifles ready for use. I tied a small piece 

 of flannel around the muzzle of my rifle, and drew it tight 

 over the front sight. Then I took about ten matches and 

 dampened them, and laid them right where I could put 

 my hand on them. Then we seated ourselves for a four or 

 five hours' uncomfortable sitting. 



We had not been still more than half an hour before we 

 heard a deer whistle. Down below us we could heai- it 

 jumping along; then all vvas quiet. I should have Uked 

 very much to have a Uttle talk as to what kind of a deer 

 it was and what it was doing below us, but we were not 

 there ifsr pleasure; so we sat silent. I had got my bgck 



in against the bank and had a tolerably comfortable seat, 

 so that I found it hard work to keep awake, when pres- 

 ently I heard, or thought I heard, a deer walking around 

 from the side of the lick. Then all was still and the beat- 

 mg of my heart was all I could hear. Pretty soon I heard 

 the sound again. Then my companion pressed my knee. 

 It was a deer. Soon we could see the outlines: but 

 the animal was very suspicious; he would take a 

 step and stop. Soon he reached the hck; and after 

 a few mouthfuls of clay he forgot about dan- 

 ger, if he had ever been shot at and missed. 

 But, poor fellow, the chances were badly against him 

 then. He would put his head down and we could hear 

 him scrape off the clay with his lower teeth: then he 

 would raise his head, and as it rose above the horizon we 

 could see that he had a very large pair of horns. Our 

 time for action had come. When he put his head down 

 I reached and got my matches and rubbed them on the 

 flannel just on the front sight, carefully raised my Kttle 

 XX and fired. Peter said he would shoot just after I 

 had. The reports were almost simultaneous and the 

 echo had not returned before we had jumped out of our 

 hole. 



Sometimes deer wiU roll right into the hole when they 

 are killed dead. We had just got out when the buck 

 came rolling down and stopped in the brush within less 

 than four feet of the hole. We approached him very 

 carefully, but he was dead. 



When we got back to the cabin I turned into a good 

 comfortable bed; Peter rolled up in a blanket and slept 

 on the floor; and we were soon asleep. When I woke up 

 the sun was shining and the chickens were calling for 

 their breakfast. Peter went to get the deer while I 

 milked the cow; and we had liver for breakfast. When 

 we dressed the deer we found that both had hit it. I had 

 hit the heart and Peter had broken the back. My bullet 

 had broken one shoulder and lodged against the skin; but 

 Peter's .46 had not stopped. 



I took one ham and himg it up in my meat safe, and 

 Peter took the rest of the meat. This is the last time I 

 shall watch a lick; the position is uncomfortable. I 

 would much sooner get out before sun-up and visit a lick 

 than to sit up all night. Such is the way we have to 

 secure our meat or go without. Lew Wilmot. 



MAINE BIG GAME. 



The season on big game in Maine opened on Monday, 

 Oct. 1, and it is evident that a great many deer will be 

 kUled because they are there to be had for the hunting. 

 Reports indicate more deer in that State this year than 

 ever. It was calculated last fall that the increase in deer 

 had been great, but the reports are even better for the 

 season of 1898. Deer are now regularly seen in every 

 county in Maine, and almost the same might be said of 

 every town. They actually come to the very outskirts of 

 the larger towns and cities. Mr. George H. Hutting, of 

 Andover, writes me that the deer tracks are "awfuUy 

 thick" in the woods, and that he is going to have three of 

 them this season. He kflled his three deer last year with 

 very little trouble. It only required hunting for a few 

 hours following a fall of snow that came in the night. 

 It is a curious fact that the deer are working down 

 into the towns, where there is better pasturage than 

 the dense forests afford. It is plain that they are 

 fond of feeding on grass such as grows near to the 

 settlements. It also demonstrates the fact tliat 

 if the deer is alone with dogs, they wiU increase in 

 almost any sufficiently wooded section of New England. 

 They have come down so far in the settled portion of 

 Maine that those who have given the matter a thought 

 had begun to wonder why some of them did not stray 

 over into the woods of Massachusetts. This question is 

 solved at last, for deer are being seen in the woods of that 

 State north and east of Boston. Mr. Claude H. Tarbox 

 has the report of a perfectly reliable friend, who saw a 

 deer the other morning near the pond that lies near the 

 line between Byfield and Georgetown. This deer was 

 seen the other morning, and in a few hours the same deer 

 was seen not far away in Georgetown. In neither case 

 did the deer appear to be greatly frightened. It acted as 

 though it was a good deal at home. There is no doubt 

 that this deer strayed down from Maine or New Hamp- 

 shu-e, or is the progeny of deer that have strayed from the 

 States where they are plenty. It is possible that deer are 

 again to inhabit the woods of the northern and eastern 

 towns in Massachusetts, as well as the towns on the Cape, 

 where there is a perpetual close time. 



With the opening of the season on moose, deer and 

 caribou in Maine the himters wfil be abroad. Mr. Chas. 

 H.Cook, a popular dry goods salesman with Bliss, Fabyan 

 & Co., has just started on a hunting trip to Tim Pond and 

 the Seven Ponds countiy. He is very sm-e of getting a 

 deer, but it is possible that he wiU strike that country at 

 just the wrong time, the falling of the leaves. There is 

 always a week or two in October when the falling of the 

 leaves makes hunting anything but a pleasure. 



Ml-. Tenny, of the coffee trde, is a lover of woods and 

 water sports, and with a friend they are after game in 

 the woods of Aroostook county, Me. They promise an 

 account of their ti-ip for the Forest and Stream. They 

 are to go to Mr. Chas. Sias's camp, as headquarters for their 

 hunting. 



As for moose in Maine, it is doubtful if they have in- 

 creased in the same ratio the past season that deer have. 

 Still they are occasionally seen, even tn sections where 

 little expected. There is no doubt that summer slaughter- 

 ing has told heavily upon the moose during the past three 

 or four years, but after aU it is doubtful if this summer 

 shooting is one-half as bad as represented to be. Neither 

 the commissioners nor their game wardens will admit 

 that the killing of moose and deer around Moosehead 

 Lake the past summer is half as bad as it is represented to 

 be. Commissioner Stanley himself finds that the stories 

 about the slaughter of moose and deer the past summer in 

 the Moosehead part of the country have been greatly ex- 

 aggerated. During a trip over a part of the ground rep- 

 resented to be "stinking with dead game," he found only 

 one carcass. It is one of the mysteries alDout human na- 

 ture that even men of truth in other matters will greatly 

 stretch the truth concerning game in the forests and fish 

 in the- streams. Special. 



The Forest and Stream is put to press each iveek on Tues- 

 day. Con-espondeyice intended for publication should reach 

 us at the latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practieaMe. 



THE VERMONT WOODCOCK SEASON. 



Rutland, Yt.— Editor Forest and Stream: Your corre- 

 spondent "Stanstead" from Highgate, Vt., has a letter in 

 yom- issue of Sept. 16, which shows a degree of ignorance 

 m regard to the migration of woodcock almost equal to 

 that of his insult to the sportsmen of southern Vermont, 

 when he says that it was owing to the latter's selfishness 

 that the present opening of the woodcock season (Sept. 15) 

 was obtained. 



I admit that the Vermont Fish and Game League was 

 infiuential in obtaining this law. This organization is 

 generally composed of high-minded sportsmen who, in 

 pressing their influence on our Legislature in the recent 

 general revision of all of our fish and game laws, tried 

 to act intelligently and with fairness, toward all sections 

 of the State. The change in the woodcock law, like all 

 other changes, was made upon consultation with sports- 

 men all over the State, and in accordance with what 

 seemed to be the best opinion in that regard, and it is 

 absurd to believe that the gunners of this or any other 

 part of Vermont procured this law for their own selfish 

 ends. 



A man who says that the woodcock reared in northern 

 Vermont migrate before Sept. 15 does not know what he 

 is talking about. "Stanstead" acknowledges that his 

 locality gets flight birds later in the season. Therefore, 

 birds are bred north of him. If woodcock in northern 

 Vermont move early, it is fair to assume that the birds 

 north of them do. Now, if there is a movement south 

 of woodcock late in August or early in September, why 

 is it that "Stanstead" does not after Sept. 15 get his share 

 of the birds as they come down from the higher latitudes? 

 Can he reasonably assume that all of these early flight birds 

 have got past him by that date? I say no. 



The best of the woodcock shooting here is from the 

 middle to the last of October. A few birds are shot early 

 in November and I know a man who killed one early in 

 December, The northern boundarv of the State is a trifle 

 over 100 miles from here. Add to" these facts the disin- 

 clination of any bird to migrate before it gets through 

 moulting— not completed here until the first or second 

 week in September— and it does not seem probable that 

 any woodcock in this State commence their annual flight 

 until the last of August or middle of September. 



But where do the birds go to then? I have located 

 birds the middle of July and six weeks later I have not 

 been able to find even a chalk mark of them. I explain 

 it in part as follows : 



Their moulting season had in the mean time arrived, 

 and they had moved to warmer and higher ground. Any 

 birds after their young are reared feed on more territory, 

 and as the season advances, with their natm-ally solitary 

 habits they become more scattered. Then weather con- 

 ditions alter their boring places. A moist, mucky corn- 

 field will delight a woodcock one day and a springy, warm 

 sidehill the next. 



Early woodcock shooting is not satisfactory. The 

 birds are very hard to find, they are lean and full of pin 

 feathers, slow of fiight, and the weather is too warm for 

 both the gunner and his dog. 



While "Stanstead" is looking up his question on con- 

 stitutional law he must not become so absorbed as to let 

 possible "constant west winds" take any of the longbills 

 past the guns of his club of prospective law-breakers. 



Dalg. 



Rochester Game and Fish. 



Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 26.— C. L. Barton and G. N. 

 Hopkins have returned from a two-weeks' outing at Tre- 

 mont Park, Tids Island, near Gananoque, Can. They had 

 excellent sport with the bass and pike. Three raaskalonge 

 were hooked and brought near enough the boat to verify 

 the diagnosis, but all three escaped. These gentlemen 

 went up the Gananoque River to Sand Bay one day, and 

 aver that good duck shooting can be had at that location. 

 The bay is surrounded by marshes, affording good cover 

 for the shooters. 



W. D. Oviatt and Walter Green, son of Monroe Green, 

 stumbled on to some great sport at Cranberry Pond one 

 morning last week. The bag showed twentv-one ducks 

 and a number of golden plover to the guns, also a fine 

 string of pickerel. 



Several witnesses weU known to me vouch for the fact 

 that a shooter secured three ducks at the wide waters in 

 the canal, just inside the northwestern limits of the city, 

 on Friday morning. ' 



Aldermen Lempert and Aikenhead and Max Mock, 

 William Heald and Samuel Solomen left Monday, Sept, 

 25, for the Seneca River and Montezuma marshes on a 

 hunting trip. They expect to remain a week or more. 



The annual shoot, or rather hunt, of the Flour City Gun 

 Club came off on Thursday. It was a side hunt, twelve 

 on a side, losers to pay for supper for all. Among the 

 "game" brought in were woodchucks, chipmunks, ducks, 

 bitterns, plover, red squirrels, etc. The winning side was 

 captained by C. W. Briggs and the losing by B. Frank 

 Enos. Samuel P. Kay made the highest individual score, 

 560, but he was one of the losing side just the same. 



If "W.," of Oswego, N. Y., who inquired for black and 

 gray squirrel shooting in your last issue, will write to 

 William Truesdale, corner of First and Mason streets, 

 Rochester, N. Y., it is possible that he may acquire the 

 desu-ed information. Mr. Truesdale had great luck with 

 the nimble feUows last fall. O. S. Bee. 



Virginia Sora. 



A Roanoke correspondent sends us this note received 

 from a shooting friend: 



Norfolk, Va., Sept. 15.— T. S. D.: Your memo of 

 yesterday. Am keeping a weather eye on the sora. We 

 had very good tides and the weather was propitious for 

 last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I went up to 

 Suffolk Tuesday morning to try the sora, but arrived too 

 late to get a pusher. I picked up an old colored man and 

 got a boat. The old fellow knew nothing about pushing 

 nor did he know a sora when he saw it. I had quite an 

 experience. I was dumped or thrown in the marsh twice, 

 the last time up to my armpits, and in consequence had 

 to abandon the hunt. I managed to shoot nine shells and 

 bagged eight birds, and then hurried home. There are 

 birds in plenty, and if I had secured my old pusher I 

 could have bagged 100 easily. The birds are very poor 

 and not in condition. One party day before yesterday 

 killed at Suffolk 158. Next week will be the time, and 

 the birds will be in good order. I will telegraph you as 

 soon as indications point to favorable weather, etc. You 

 must be ready to start at once. W. T. P 



