In the early part of the season for shooting, the Ruffed Grouse is found in small flocks, hut later, 
in the fall and winter the family associations appear to he broken up, and single birds, or at most two 
or three, remain together. This isolation is probably not with them a matter of choice; but as they have 
no call note, except drumming, when once dispersed, it is only by accident they are enabled to reassemble. 
The flesh is white and delicious. The young are generally full grown, well fledged, and ready for table 
use by the first of October. And from this time on through the season, the sportsman enjoys a pleasure 
surpassed by the pursuit of no other game. The dog must be well trained, having a nose that scents the 
birds at long distances, must make his approaches slowly, and when within fifteen or twenty yards of the 
Grouse, must stand staunch and immovable. And the sportsman must be skilled in handling the gun, 
and with coolness and quickness must direct his shot, or he will not receive the reward nor experience 
the full pleasure derived from this delightful recreation. Much, indeed, depends upon the composure and 
activity of the sportsman. A delay of an instant may put the game beyond reach or out of view. As 
the bird has usually a rise of ten to fifteen yards, and gets away at the rate of forty to fifty yards in 
a second of time, it is quite manifest if there is the least delay on the part of the gunner, his pellets 
even when well directed may not bring down the bird. For should the game spring ten yards in ad- 
vance and fly straight off, and three-fourth of a second be consumed in taking aim, or in getting ready 
to fire, the charge will not overtake the object short of forty yards, and the bird at this distance will, 
in all probability, escape unharmed. As this bird usually flies in a straight line, if once flushed, it may 
be found and flushed again and again, each time offering better and better chances by its rising closer 
and flying slower, and once found it will most likely be bagged, unless it takes to a tree unseen. And 
even then if the dog is well up to its tricks, and you are pot-hunter enough to gratify and reward a faith- 
ful friend, you may secure it by shooting over a point high up in the branches of a tree. True, to shoot 
any thing sitting or standing, whether on a tree or on the ground, is not allowable by professional sports- 
men unless to fill an empty camp-kettle, or to verify the assertion : “all may be killed that are found in a 
tree by shooting the lowermost one each time.” 
Fifty years ago Ruffed Grouse were quite numerous in this State. The country then Avas compara- 
tively new, and much of the present farm-lands were covered with native forests and thickets bearing 
Avild grapes, berries, and nuts, making the ranges more extensive and better fitted to their nature than 
noAv. In those days it Avas customary to shoot them at all seasons of the year. The old flirit-lock rifle 
was the only kind of fire-arm handled by the hunter, and consequently these birds received no attention 
Avhile in motion, but it Avas the pride of the amateur marksman to shoot off the head Avhen found in a 
quiet position. The writer Avell remembers a small dog he had Avhen a boy, the greatest pleasure of 
Avhich Avas to put this bird up in the branches of a tree and keep it there by his attractive barking 
until assistance arrived. The bird Avould stand erect, Avith head elevated and motionless, as if in fixed 
amazement at the antics of the little feist. If a miss Avas made, the object of the shot would usually 
stay unmoved, taking notice of nothing but the whining, yelping noise of the dog, and sometimes three 
or four shots would take place before decapitation Avas accomplished. 
Since shot-guns came into fashion in Ohio very many birds have been bagged by “still hunting,” 
without a dog. This is accomplished by quietly and cautiously moAdng upon favorable points, thick 
clusters of undergroAvth, such places as the bird usually spends its leizure hours through the day, and 
Avhen close enough and in position to observe any moving body in the cover, the hunter stops, and 
remains a few moments perfectly quiet, Avith gun cocked and in position to shoot. If nothing is seen to 
move, the hunter gives a Ioav, whistling note. If there is a bird concealed near by it Avill move from its 
hiding place, spread its tail, utter a loAA r , piping noise, and take several sIoav and measured steps, pre- 
paratory to going off on the Aving. It is at the first sight of the object that the trigger is pulled, which 
brings the responsive sounds made by the flutter of a dying bird in the bushes. I believe they are 
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