^06 FOREST AND STREAM. IMai^ck ,4 igoi. 
Qdnie mid 0m, 
— • — 
JPro||iieton of ihootiiiff retoits will ind it profiublc to adTeitiw ~ 
then lii Fouttr amd NtuAK. 
Notice. 
AU communications intended for Fobzst and Stskav should- ' 
always be addressed to tVe Forest mnd Stream FublisMag Co., and 
not to any individual co'inected with the paper. 
A Virginia Quail Hunt. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have enjoyed so many interesting letters on shooting 
by your correspondents in nearly all parts of the United 
States that I thought a short account of quail or par- 
tridge shooting in this rather remote corner of southwest 
Virginia might amuse some of your readers. 
Quail give us our principal diversion, arid although 
there are ruffed grouse (locally pheasants) and turkeys in 
the woods^ .th^y ^^re few and far between, and nowhere 
near us are they sufficiently numerous to insure a day's 
sport. We have also the Lepus sylvaticus, commonly,' 
though erroneousljf, called rabbits instead of hares; two 
or three of these cottontails are generally bagged, espe- 
cially in the early days of the season. 
Our patron Saint Hubert has been good to this small 
town, having brought together a brotherhood of true 
sportsmen; and you know that this term implies gentle- 
men in the best sense of the word. Our little band, about 
six in number, are endowed with many lovable and ad- 
mirable qualities, together with simple and refined tastes. 
All like a nice horse, a good cigar and a quiet, sedate 
game of whist, not extending later than 8 P. M. to ii. 
But above all, they admire pointers and setters and guns 
by first-class makers, and being constant readers of Forest 
AND Stream they are well abreast of the times and up to 
date in all matters relating to shooting and other gentle 
sports. We use guns of the latest type. Our party are 
divided as to the merits of pointers and setters. Having 
been brought up with pointers, I have always preferred 
this dog. Our rough country, however, would indicate 
the setter as the dog for the work we have. Our ex- 
perience is that the dog, whether pointer or setter, should 
have plent}'- of white in his make up; this color assists 
materially in locating the dog when ranging in stubble 
with a heavy growth of ragweed. 
Out sportsmen represent a variety of callings. One is 
manager of a large manufacturing concern — an ardent 
sportsman, naturalist and taxidermist; he also tells a 
most excellent story; the children simply worship Grand- 
pa W. Brother Billy, statesman and legislator, looks 
after our game interests in Richmond ; no man' more thor- 
oughly enjoys' a day's outing. H. and B. are lawyers; 
both have served the commonwealth and are regarded 
with much respect by the profession as well as by the 
rest of the community; added to their many good qual- 
ities, they each own a fine farm of several hundred acres 
about three miles from town, and on these lands we do 
much of our hunting. Next comes Frank, the bank presi- 
dent, a good shot, with cultivated tastes for literature 
and music, and a great love for nature; a most amiable 
and accomplished companion. And last, but by no means 
least, comes another Frank, our latest addition ; he also 
owns a fine place about two miles beyond the farms I 
have mentioned, and these lands, with two or three ad- 
joining properties that we have leave to shoot over, afiford 
ample territory for our sport. 
The season for quail extends from Nov. i to Dec. 31 ; 
in the adjoining county to the west the season opens 
Oct. IS and closes,*as with us, Dec. 31. We generally run 
up to this western county and have a few days' sport 
before our own season opens. 
The fall of 1900 was extremely beautiful, and we had 
many delightful days' sport. The beauty of the weather 
was enhanced by the beauty of the scenery of the sur- 
rounding country, the mountains having bold and fan- 
tastic outlines, and all through November they exhibited 
the most striking and gorgeous autumnal tints, often 
sufifused with a blue haze that added an indescribable 
charm to the prospect. The mornings and evenings were 
somewhat cold, succeeded by a genial warmth during the 
r-est of the day. 
Toward the end of November I made an engagement 
to go oiit with our bank president, and arranged to walk 
down to his house at 8 next morning. Frank was anxious 
to see two puppies in the field that I had amused myself 
with during the summer and beginning of autumn, trying 
my hand at training and bringing them up in the ways 
they should follow — they are liver and white and rejoice 
in the noble names of Rex and Duke. They are not by 
any means "registered dogs," and one, Duke, is some- 
what coarse in his lines and a little lighter about the 
head and heavier at his stern than is quite desirable ; he 
will never take a prize as a bench dog. His brother 
Rex has much finer points, and doubtless throws back 
to some noble ancestry. They both have fine, sound 
constitutions, and have developed into large, handsome 
dogs. On the day we went out they were seven months 
old. Going down on the morning at the hour appointed, I 
see the rig standing at the gate all ready to start. Jake, 
with the light of battle in his eye — ^all darkies love sport — 
was just putting a finishing touch to the harness, and 
Frank soon appears, looking fit and smart in his khaki 
shooting things, and quickly as possible the guns, am- 
munition, lunch and puppies are put on board and we are 
spinning' along the hard macadam road, through fields 
white with hoar frost, the sharp air making our blood 
circulate and ears tingle. As we have only six miles 
to drive, and knowing the birds will not be out till the 
sun has had time to warm things up and the hoar frost 
disappears, we begin to drive more leisurely and exchange 
a word or two and a little chaff with friends on their 
way to town. _ Our objective point is a long, narrow 
stubble field lying between the railroad and the river that 
winds through the valley a short distance from Frank 
H.'s place. We are soon there, and giving Jake direc- 
tions to drive on a mile further and wait for us, we equip 
ourselves and strike across the railroad into the stubble, 
now looking almost black with ragweed. 
The puppies know very well what their duty is, and 
begin ranging, with great zeal. After working through 
the field without a sign of game, we come to the con- 
clusion that we are too early, . and determine tp retrace 
our step^s. and rejoin ' Jake and gO' further on. As we 
arriA^ed near the place we had entered the field the dogs 
•suddenly came to a jpoint, and almost at the same instant 
the birds flushed and darted into the woods fringing the 
river. We each fired and scored two misses. The covey 
liad crossed the river and our chances of another shot at 
them were over till the afternoon. Not much elated by 
oitr opening performance, we walk up the railroad and 
taking a cross road, we soon come back to our wagon. 
We proceed along the public road to a famous stubble 
field on Brother H.'s land, which we reach after passing 
through a narrow strip of woods. Jake is sent on with 
instructions to wait for us "on the top of the hill about two 
miles further on. Just after getting over the fence an 
outlying solitary bird gets up on my side and goes off like 
a little brown cannon ball, giving a beautiful quartering 
shot. I cut him down at 40 yards and feel better for 
the performance. Soon the puppies are trailing a hot 
scent, "and after some good and careful Avork locate 
their birds and come to a dead point. They seem trans- 
fixed into marble. A fine large covey flushes, from which 
we fire at two birds, each missing, 1 with my right, Frank 
Avith the left. As they drop into thick woods close by, we 
decide to leave them, hoping to find them on the same 
feeding ground in the afternoon. On the further side 
of the field "Rex came to a . sudden stop and was at once 
backed by Duke. A large covey got up almost under our 
feet, and Ave" managed to bring three to grass Avith four 
empty shells in our guns. 
We^ now descended into the little valley in the direction 
the birds had taken. We soon came to the conclusion 
that they had floAvn over to the woods and proceeded up 
the valley, following a line of narrow- stubble fields. Get- 
ting over the rail fence I nearly trod on a large covey. 
We both fired and missed, remarking to each other that 
out shooting the unlikely ahvays occurs. Our attention 
Avas quickly draAvn to the dogs. They were evidently 
either on the tracks of the birds we had just fired at or 
had got in fresh game. Their zeal and perseverance soon 
convinced us that it was another covey, and wo. had a 
most beautiful illustration of roading and drawing. Rex, 
with nose close to the ground, Avas Avorking on their 
tracks, and Duke, with nose up, Avas carrying an air scent. 
The birds ran about 250 yards and were located in a 
clump of briers at the fence, where the dogs made a 
beautiful point. Leaving Frank with the dogs, I hastily 
crossed the fence; the birds refused to break cover, so 
taking up a large stone I plumped it into the brush. The 
eft'ect AA'as like taking the cover off a volcano. With a 
great noisp and flutter the birds shot up into the air and 
instantly dropped into the thick woods hard by. We 
each got in a shot and picked up two birds. This was 
the largest covey aa'c saAv during the day. From here we 
Avqrked in toward the summit of the hill, having one or 
two fields higher up that Ave Avished to look through. We 
got two or three more birds, and at last came in view of 
Jake and the trap. It Avas getting on toward i, and Ave 
were admonished inwardly that lunch Avould be about the 
right thing. We drove down to a clear, gushing cold 
spring on the banks of the river, and spreading out the 
good things Frank's wife had so thoughtfully provided, we 
enjoyed a meal with an appetite that only shooters, fisher- 
men and hunters and a few other honest men are per- 
mitted to enjoy. I suppose all your readers haA'e not 
tasted old Virginian ham. I can only say they have 
lost something. 
Our birds, when spread out, were not a great show; 
hoAArever, Ave resolved we Avottld make up in the evening. 
Nothing could exceed the delightful cigar after lunch. 
The day Avas perfect. Rising abruptly and close to us 
was a magnificent mountain; its sides, upon Avhich the 
sun Avas shining, were a mass of scarlet and gold. The 
day was an ideal one, and it had turned so warm that a 
host of large yellow butterflies Avere skylarking over a 
Avet place in the road. And so still Avas the atmosphere 
that Ave could distinctly hear the voices of some children 
half a mile away. 
After an hour's rest we got to work again and had some 
nice sport. The birds seemed more plentiful than in the 
morning. We also shot better. Duke rather disgraced 
himself by breaking his point on some running birds and 
flushing thern before we got within shot. ToAvard even- 
ing the dogs, after considerable Avork, located a covey in- 
a circular depression in a stubble field. On our going 
up a fine strong covey flushed, and Frink did Avhat I 
had never seen before ; he killed three birds, one Avith his 
right and two Avith his left. We noAV observed that the 
sun was nearly down, and moreover we Avere tired, so it 
being too dark, we rejoined Jake, took out our overcoats 
and stOAA^ed aAvay our traps, remarking that our cartridge 
bags were very much lighter than when we had started in 
the morning. HoAvever, Ave had , some fine birds, and 
lighting our cigars Avere soon spinning toAvard home, 
where bright lights and dinner aAvaited us. L. C. 
Maine Game Legislation. 
Boston, March 9. — On the mild weather of a Aveek ago 
some of the pickerel fishermen Avere out. C. H. Jones and 
Henry Wilkins went up to Barratt's camp, on the Sud- 
burj^ River, the other day. They took over a dozen, 
though the size was rather small, the largest 20 inches. 
Mr. Jones has made several trips the past season to the 
same camp, Avith friends. On one trip a couple of weeks 
ago tAvent5'-six pickerel was the score. 
Probably the attempt to preA'cnt the carrying of guns 
and rifles into Maine in the close season on game is 
arrested for this session of the Legislature. The latest 
reports from. Augusta sa.y that the Committee on Inland 
Fisheries and Game has voted that it ought not to pass. 
Reports suggest, that the bill Avas wanted only by the 
OAvners of wild lands, who fear forest fires, but I am sure 
that the measure had the support of some of the best 
friends of game protection in the State. Doubtless the 
influence of the resident hunter, added to that of the 
hotel and camp proprietors, has killed the measure, and 
sportsmen who niake August and September trips into 
Maine, ostensibly for fishing and canoeing, will continue 
to take their rifles along, just as much as their fishing 
rods. The same committee is considering a law compelling 
hunters to taLke out a $25 license to httnt.rmdose in that 
State. I aslced a gentleman yesterday, who has hunted 
moose seA'eral seasons in Maine, what he thought of such 
a license laAV. He replied: "That Avill settle it with me. 
Moose hunting is too uncertain in Maine any way. For 
one or two seasons I have had it in mind to go to Canada 
— New Britnswick or Nova Scotia — after moose, where 
they are surely more plenty, but the license fee has 
caused me to go to Maine again, each time without suc- 
cess. I believe that a license fee of $25 for hunting 
moose in Maine will drive about every non-resident hunter 
to the Provinces instead of Maine. Then what moose 
hunting there is left in that State Avill be left to the resi- 
dent hunters, who are already getting to be too thick for 
the outsider." 
The general hunter's license for non-residents of Maine 
has been killed again by the Committee on Fisheries and 
Game. This measure Avas referred from the last Legis- 
lature. The resolve appropriating $3 000 for scientific 
investigation of the best methods of propagating fish has 
been killed by the same committee. Leave to withdraw 
has been reported by the same committee on the petition 
of the marketmen of the State, that they be permitted to 
sell game legally killed in the open season, by taking out 
a license. The repeal of the September deer shooting 
license law has not yet been decided, btit I learn that there 
has been a revulsion of feeling and that the lumber land- 
oAvners Avho want this laAV repealed do not stand in as 
good favor as early in the. session. Special. 
A Market Gunner^s Views. 
CuREiTUCK County, N. C, Jan. 20. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: The day's shooting was over and Ave had picked 
up and were on our way home The wind was fair, though 
light, and three-quarters of an hour at most would see tis 
at the house. I was sitting on the midships thwart of the 
skiff, leaning back over the centerboard trunk, and 
George, the boatman, Avas managing tiller and sheet, Avhile 
the dog — just now receiving his. first lessons in the art of 
retrieving wildfowl — lay at his feet. 
The day's flight had been poor. Not but that we 
would have had a good many more birds if I had shot 
Avell, but at best a dozen or fifteen would have been the 
Avhole bag, and often hours Avent by Avithout our seeing a 
bird, let alone getting a shot at one. Naturally, then, we 
fell to talking over the increasing scarcity of the ducks 
and the causes. "It is not strange," I said, "that they are 
scarce. The other day I came doAvn the sound, and it 
seemed to me that every half-mile I saw a battery, and 
where there wasn't a battery there was a bush blind, and 
Avhere there Avas neither battery nor bush blind there was 
a' sloop or a skiflf sailing up the birds to make them fly to 
some gunner." 
"That's right," said George. "It's the sailing that does 
it. Ducks ain't fools, and if people keep chasing 'em 
up all the time, the ducks are bound to get tired of it and 
to go aAvay so far that the boats can't folloAv 'em. That's 
the Avay we've drove all the ducks out of this part of the 
sound, and 'most everybody's followed 'em down twelve 
or fifteen miles below; where they Avas when I last heard 
of them. People about here are getting orito this battery 
shooting racket, and there's getting to be right smart of a 
feeling against it. I Avish they'd stop it, but above all 
stop sailing. Up in Back Bay, you know, north of the 
line betAveen Virginia and North Carolina, they have a 
law against sailing, just as we have herej only they en- 
force it there and Ave don't enforce it here. There, a man 
can take out his battery, put it overboard, rig it, and sail 
back to the marsh or some nearby land. He can't put 
sail on his sloop again until he is ready to take up his 
battery, and if he does put sail on, he's got to take up. Up 
there the canvas Weigh a pound to a pound and a half 
more than they do doAvn here, and so they bring a better 
price. We chase the fat of? ours down here. We never 
did enforce the laAV against sailing in this county, but it's 
got worse in the last few years, since people got crazy 
about boobies, ye know — ruddy ducks. In old times there 
Avere Avorlds of boobies, and they were no good on earth. 
Nobody'd eat 'em or buy 'em, or shoot 'era. But after 
the people got to Avanting them and paying for them, men 
and small boys took to sailing them and ringing them, and 
it's just got to be the fashion down here to chase the ducks 
all the time. Why, them boobies brings $1.25 a pair now — 
half as much as canvas and nearly as much as redheads." 
"Well," said I, "Avhat prospect i.s, there of anything 
better? The sailing may correct itself in part by per- 
manently driving the ducks away, but I do not see hoAV 
that is likely to benefit you." 
"They're pretty near driven away now," replied George. 
"If I had my Avay," he went' one, "I'd fix it, I think, so 
that the shooting Avouldn't be harmed so much, and so 
that an honest man Avould have a chance to make a living. 
Now you know I gun in winter, and I want to make 
Avhat I can at it. At the same time, I don't Avant to kill 
every liA'ing duck there is in the sound. I want some 
left for next season. I ain't got much education and 
mayhc 1 can't express mj'self very well, but I know what 
I Avant. 
"There's lots of men that guns for profit that don't 
seem to look after their own interests. But if I had my 
way, I Avould limit the decoys that a man could OAvn. ' He 
could own fifty if he Avas a bush Talinder or a point shooter 
— that's a great plenty. On these he'd have to pay $10 
before he put them out the first of the season. A batterj' 
man could have 150, instead of from 300 to 400 as they 
have now, and on these he Avould have to pay $25. The 
law against sailing Avotild be put in force. If all this Avere 
done, it Avould pttt an end to this harrying of the ducks. 
They would stay here and every responsible person would 
have a chance at them." 
"NoAV these taxes all going to the county would run- 
up into hundreds of dollars, and Avould be enough to hire 
three or four men during the season to patrol the sound 
and see that the law was enforced. The men Avould have 
to be deputy sheriffs or marshals — regular laAv officers Avho 
had the poAver to arrest people Avho Avere doing things 
that were against the laAV, and to call on citizens to help 
them to make arrests or to give evidence. If they got 
the right kind of men for the work it Avould take only a 
short time to make people understand that the laAv meant 
scrmething. The sailing and chasing foAvl about Avould, 
stop, and when the ducks got here they Avould stay all 
Aviiater instead of just stopping here and then , being 
chased off to some other place Avhere. we Avho need them 
can't get at them. . . _ 
