330 
FOREST AND STREAM 
March i6, 1912 
so voted that we make tracks toward that too 
long-neglected dining table. That table was 
bounteously supplied with everything that tasted 
good after our long tramp, and we ate several 
little birds before we turned our thoughts to¬ 
ward the pleasant little village we had departed 
from so early in the morning. On examining 
A Nearby Game Preserve 
By H. R. 
A s I have read so much recently in Forest 
AND Stream in regard to game preserva¬ 
tion and propagation, it has occurred to 
me that your readers might be interested in 
what is being done near New York in this line 
by a friend and hunting companion, H. A. 
Walton, in connection with Edward Chapman, 
an extensive landowner of Oakland, N. J. 
The first step in preservation was taken last 
summer when Mr. Walton organized the land¬ 
COOPS FOR STATE BIRDS. 
owners and farmers in the immediate vicinity of 
Oakland into a game association, the result of 
which was that between 4000 and 5000 acres of 
land along the Ramapo River were posted. This 
takes in all the valley land and mountain land 
on both sides. The idea being, as this had been 
a favorite hunting ground for people from miles 
around, that they consequently kept the game 
pretty well cleaned up, and those who lived 
there and spent their time there considered that 
they were entitled to more of the game and the 
pleasures derived from its pursuits. Three rangers 
were appointed before the beginning of the 
hunting season, and were paid to do nothing 
else but watch for trespassers on the posted 
land, warning them off in the first case, and if 
found trespassing the second time, the rangers 
were empowered as deputy wardens to swear 
our warrants. 
Season permits were issued to anyone known 
to the association, to hunt over the posted land. 
For this privilege they agreed not to kill any 
quail or pheasants, leaving ruffed grouse, wood¬ 
cock and rabbits, which could be taken. 
the contents of each coat we found that we had 
a grand total of thirty-two quail and one jack- 
snipe. All things considered, it was as enjoy¬ 
able a hunt as I have ever taken in the few 
years that I have hunted. And Tom felt about 
the same way. for he frequently asked me after¬ 
ward when we could try it again. 
The result of this policy in one season is very 
evident. Ihree small bevies of quail that were 
in the valley came through entire, and the 
pheasants, which were put out the spring before 
by the State of New Jersey, also are in fine 
shape, and it is estimated that there are at least 
300 pheasants on the preserve which will give 
a fine breeding stock for this spring. This is 
the only spot in Northern New Jersey that I 
know of outside of private preserves, where 
pheasants put out in covers in the spring, to¬ 
gether with the young birds raised, were not 
cleaned up completely by the hunters last fall. 
I understand that the State is now consider¬ 
ing passing a law fixing a two years’ close sea¬ 
son on pheasants. If this is done, they will no 
doubt become permanently established. There 
seems to be doubt in the minds of many 
whether they are a desirable game bird to have, 
but it is noted by Mr. Walton and myself that 
in a certain section of the mountains, near Oak¬ 
land, where the pheasants are most plentiful, 
that there also the grouse seem to thrive best; 
and for one j^ear at least, they seem to have 
lived and raised broods in practically the same 
covers. 
In addition to the above, Mr. Walton has 
started a private enterprise of his own in the 
line of propagation under the following condi¬ 
tions: 
He has inclosed about five acres of natural 
cover on one side of the mountain with a ten- 
foot fine mesh wire fence properly embedded 
in the ground to keep out minks, weasels, etc.. 
and in this inclosure are now about one dozen 
native Jersey birds which were captured under 
special permit from the State, these being abso¬ 
lutely unconfined within the inclosure, which 
they do not attempt to leave. Also eighteen 
quail from the northern part of Texas. These 
seem exactly similar to our bobwhite quail in 
every way, with the exception that they are of 
a very light gray color. The accompanying 
photographs show the coop in which these quail 
have spent the winter, having endured a tem¬ 
perature of 20 below zero on one day, and many 
other days and nights not far from zero, with¬ 
out the loss of a single bird. 
Mr. Walton also purchased two pairs of 
Gambell s quail, and although assured at the 
time of purchase that they would not thrive, 
and would probably die at a temperature below 
freezing, they have stood the exceptionally 
severe winter here better than any other variety. 
Two of these birds escaped but do not attempt 
to leave the others still in the coop, and come 
regularly to be fed. 
The theory that is being carried out with a 
large inclosure such as I have mentioned is 
that in such quarters young birds which are 
hatched under natural or artificial conditions 
can. to a certain extent, forage for themselves 
and obtain that insect food which is so essen¬ 
tial to them when ver}' voung. 
The State of New Jersey has used this es¬ 
tablishment as winter quarters for the birds that 
it intends using for stocking purposes in the 
spring. These, to the number of about 2000, 
are in coops of the style as shown by the picture. 
They are Oklahoma birds. Under the care of 
Mr. Walton and wardens Hall and Rheinboldt, 
they have done remarkably well, the percentage 
of loss being very small, considering the long 
journey and severe weather. The birds that 
they have lost are evidently those that were 
injured when captured, as they show no evi¬ 
dence of disease, but simply refuse to eat and 
grow thinner and weaker until they die. In 
skinning two of these birds. I noticed bruises, 
which evidently were the cause of their sickness. 
It is along such lines as outlined above, and 
which I believe will be a success in this par¬ 
ticular instance, that the salvation of the game 
will be brought about in this country, and it can 
be done in practically any locality where a fair 
amount of natural cover still remains, at a very 
small expense to the individual. 
New Jersey Deer. 
Emerson McMillan, the banker, who has a 
iioo-acre estate in the vicinity of Arlington, 
tells this experience: “For several years I have 
fed and fostered deer and other wild animals on 
my farm. The deer the past few nights have 
come right to the house and have made so much 
noise about one to two o'clo'ck in the morning 
that our housekeeper had to get up and shoo 
them away. Of course, deer and what other 
wild animals are on the farm do considerable 
damage and make it almost impossible to have 
a garden, but—well, having them around is one 
of my hobbies.”—Wall Street Journal. 
The Forest and Stream may he obtained from 
any newsdealer on order. Ask your dealer to 
supply you regularly. 
