made as soon as the birds are well set- 
tled, but surely a most unsportsman- 
like mode. 
Nowadays the earliest peep-o’-day 
finds the hunter as near to the “roost” 
as he can figure it out in the dark and 
he may find his game in a tree or hunt 
them after they have flown down. 
When wanting a change in our mode 
of hunting these birds, two or three of 
us go up the river, which for several 
miles is of good depth and rarely ex- 
ceeds 40 to 50 yards in width. Some one 
takes Fanny, the dog, and hunts the 
narrow-timbered margin of the stream, 
keeping well out towards the open coun- 
try to get trail of any moving birds, 
the others keeping in the boat and as 
nearby as may be abreast of the man 
on shore and at times meeting him by 
arrangement at the bank. In a dry 
time the low, moist bottoms make good 
shelter for the birds—grasshoppers are 
aplenty, close at hand in the open and 
bay and palmetto berries and acorns 
are under the trees, so, rarely did we 
miss routing the birds and while some- 
times they made long flights and we 
failed to find them, again one would 
alight not far back from the river or 
at times in an overhanging tree from 
which he could be dropepd almost into 
the boat, for an approach by water 
rarely seemed to disturb them and with 
moderate care we felt quite sure of a 
shot when we knew where the bird was 
located within gunshot of the river. 
Our Florida birds average consider- 
ably smaller than those found in Vir- 
ginia and Pennsylvania. <A _ gobbler 
weighing more than 18 pounds is un- 
usual, although we hear of them weigh- 
ing up to 25 pounds. The heaviest we 
actually put on the scales scored 19 
pounds, and while very large was not 
fat. A gobbler weighing 15 pounds or 
more and shot late in the winter is in- 
deed a prize worthy the brush of an 
artist. 
The gorgeous, metallic glints and 
sheen of back and neck, the blazing red 
of head and throat mingled with the 
blue and the magnificent, sweeping, ma- 
hogany-tinted, fan-like tail are a com- 
bination long to be remembered when 
after a weary tramp through woods and 
swamps, with apparent failure, a lucky 
turn brings the longed-for chance and 
the weariest, wiliest, biggest game bird 
of our land lies prone beneath the 
towering pine. 

Page 691 
In writing to Advertisers mention Forest and Stream. 
The Beagle Hound 
(Continued from page 655) 
excites the dogs and worries them. If 
they catch up, in the open country, with 
a rabbit they are trailing and “sight 
chase” of their own volition, they know 
how to handle the situation. It is one 
of the problems that bunny presents to 
them in their every day life; they are 
looking for it as a matter of fact and 
they will handle it without any or much 
outburst of noise or unnecessary bark- 
ing. 
HEN the dogs are about the age 
of six months, take along your 
gun, not for the purpose of killing 
everything that goes by, but for the 
purpose of some day making a kill for 
your hounds to see and know that that 
is the reason you and they are there. 
On some occasion the rabbit will pre- 
sent himself, far in advance of the 
hounds, to your view. Shoot him, tim- 
ing your shot so that the hounds will 
be upon you very shortly, then blow 
your horn quickly or halloo excitedly 
to call them on faster. Pick up the 
rabbit as they come upon you, hold it 
out of reach and repeat “take ’em,” 
“take ’em.” Drop the rabbit and let 
them all tear him to pieces. This 
teaches the dogs to come in to gun. 
They soon learn that a shot means rab- 
bit and they associate the sound with 
joy and pleasure. 
A shot fired a hundred yards or more 
away from hounds at first, and closer 
as time goes on, after they understand 
what the gun and noise means, will 
prevent any gunshyness. Unexpected, 
startling noises, frightening things and 
sounds are the start of gunshyness. 
Never shoot too close to your hounds 
at any time. Your desire for some- 
thing for the pot may wound or ruin a 
good hound. Give the game a chance 
and there will be more chances for you. 
You do not have to kill over two or 
three rabbits for your dogs in season— 
as above stated while breaking them— 
and once taught you need not do it 
again. For the older dogs I often kill 
my game and let it lie until the oncom- 
ing hounds trail up to the dead game 
shot by me. I allow them to nose it a 
little and pet them, giving them all the 
credit and then put it in my hunting 
jacket and say “come on boys, take 
’em, go hunt ’em” and they are off. 
OW a beagle should hunt is a ques- 
tion and no one likes to concede 
the other fellow is right. So the war 
goes on. Some say he should hunt like 
the pointer or bird dog. That is to 
quarter his ground and hunt system- 
atically or range away indifferently. 
I want him to go immediately to 
work quartering and circling. From 
the time he is let go on the ground, he 


IMPORTED 
Fire Arms and 
) Ammunition 


DISTRIEU~OR of LEADIN’ DOMESTIC 
' FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION 
Sole Authorized Importer of the Genuine, Original 
MAUSER Rifles 
MAUSER and LUGER Pistols 
Long barrels for ‘‘Luger’’ Pistols in 6”, 8”, 10”, 
12”, 14” and°16”. lengths, ‘DD. W. M.’’ Mauser, 
Luger, Mannlicher Rifle and Automatic Pistol 
Metallic Ammunition; ‘‘Koeln-Rottweil’’ Preci- 
sion Shot Shells; ‘‘Automatic’’ 16-gauge Shot 
Guns; Cal. 32—10-shot Automatic Police Rifle; 












““Merkel-Suhl’’ famous Shot Guns; ‘‘Over and 
Under’? Shot Gung; Combination ‘‘Over ‘and 
Under’? Shot Gun and 30/30 Rifle; Famous 


“Drilling’’ Three Barrel Shot Guns and Rifles; 
Small Caliber Rifles, Shot Guns; Small Caliber 
“Over and Under’? Guns; Revolvers: Revolver 
Ammunition; Leather and Canvas Holsters, Car- 
tridge and Shell Belts; Gun Cases and Covers; 
Field and Marine Glasses; Binoculars, Telescopes, 
Compasses ; Shooting Accessories. Illustrated price 
list contains valuable instructive information 25c, 
Repair Parts for MAUSER and LUGER ARMS. 
A. F. STOECER, Inc. 
224-B EAST 42nd STREET, NEW YORK 







M TRAPPERS 
ad7< es WE CHARGE NO COMMISSION 
Highest prices paid--prompt return-- 
correct grading. Our success in 62 
e~ yearsof FAIR DEALING in America’s 
greatest furmarket means more money for your furs. 
Before you send a shipment to anyone, get our reli- 
able fur reports and price lists, supply catalogue and 
shipping tags ABSOLUTELY FREE. Traps and 
supplies at lowest prices, 
SIMON SUMMERFIELD & COMPANY 
333 N. MAIN STREET ST. LOUIS, U.S. A. 




BIG CAME CONTEST 
We will mount FREE, the head of the heaviest buck 
killed in each of the states of New York, Pennsylvania, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont this fall. 
Write for rules of the contest and illustrated cata- 
logue. In the last three of our fifty years°éf business 
our business has tripled. There’s a reason, 
H. H. MINER & SON 
Taxidermists, Tanners & Furriers 
Saranac Lake, N.Y. Established 1876 







While They Last! 
These are all we have 
left of a lot of genuine 
imported Champiere field 
glasses, bought when the 
French rate of exchange 
was lowest. ‘‘Champiere’’ 
always guarantees optical 
and mechanical perfec- 
tion. 
See all distant objects 
as though they were. ten feet away. Wonderful at prize 
fights, ball games, boat races, horse races, aboard ship, on 
hikes and auto trips. An ideal gift. 
This splendid binocular has 8 lenses, of finest optical 
glass, over 15g inches in diameter. Wonderful light- 
gathering power and sharp definition. Power graduated 
on “‘mile seale’’ from 1 to 12. 
Only Galilean Glass with 8 Lenses 
Selling Under $30.00 
Only 4% inches high closed, 6% inches extended. Great 
range. good compass is attached to top bar. Tubes 
engraved. “High Power Aviator’s Glass,’’ or ‘‘Army Long 
Range.’ Each instrument equipped with neck-strap loops 
and supplied with handsome case and straps. A wonderful 
bargain. Only-500 more at $7.95. Order direct from this 
ad. Money back if not satisfied. 
FREE Catalog of Over 200 Glasses 
The world’s finest binoculars, 3 power to 24 power. 
Telescopes for sport, observation, target shooting, ete. 
Write to America’s Leading Binocular House 

|}DU MAURIER CO., Dept. 711, Elmira, N. ¥ 
It will identify you, 

