EE DES SEL LES ES FEE NEED 

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The Greatest Sporting 
Goods Store in the World 
Castles In 
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This year, 
On the Abercrombie & Fitch 
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around by campers and explor- 
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camp needs are—and how read- 
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EZRA H. FITCH, President 
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New York 
“Where the Blazed Trail 
Crosses the Boulevard” 



1925 Camping Booklet 
In writing to Advertisers mention Forest and stream. 

A good bag of ’chucks. 
The Woodchuck Gang 
Making a Fine Art of Rifle Shooting in the Field 
By WENDELL F. FOSTER 
N looking over some old pictures, this 
one put me into that reminiscent 
mood that requires a few words from 
me, more especially as FOREST AND 
STREAM has of late contained a num- 
ber of short articles relating to our old 
friend Marmotta monax., Tweny-five 
years ago the neighborhood from which 
I write contained two score or more of 
those kindred spirits known as rifle- 
cranks. The Green Mountains on one 
hand, and the broad, highly cultivated 
meadows of the Connecticut and Deer- 
field river valleys on the other hand, 
were the home of this fraternal group 
known locally as the ‘“Woodchuck 
Gang.’ There were no officers, rules 
or regulations to this bunch of worthies, 
but there was a very close under- 
standing, and at the drop of the hat 
they were ready to shoot and shoot 
close, at any time and place within our 
dominions. These dominions covered 
the above-named river meadows and 
mountain farms for a distance of thirty 
miles, which were literally covered with 
woodchuck holes. ’Chucks are consid- 
ered. “ripe” from the last of May until 
the last of September when they gen- 
erally “hole up” for the season. 
The equipment used by the Gang 
would bear the closest inspection. The 
weapons were all target rifles of the 
most approved pattern and_ included 
Farrows, Popes, Maynards, Ballards, 
Winchesters, Stevens, and Remingtons, 
all with the heavy number three bar- 
rels, some with set-triggers, and all 
equipped with a full length telescope of 
ten or twelve diameters. These glasses 
were made by a member of the Gang 
and were adjustable for both elevation 
and windage. Each rifle, as equipped, 
would weigh about twelve pounds, and 
with the powerful glasses, hardly suited 
for off-hand work, except in emer- 
It will identify you 
Note the tripod and rifle telescope. 
gencies. But an ingenious member had 
perfected a folding tripod rest, com- 
posed of three pieces of tough, hard 
wood, slightly tapered and sharpened 
at the small ends; two of the rods were 
somewhat longer and all were joined by 
a peculiar joint forming, when closed, 
a good walking stick, and when opened 
up and set firmly into the ground, a 
perfect rest for any height from the 
prone position to twenty-five inches. 
This brought the sport down to a 
fine art. Some of the shots taken were 
from twenty to eighty rods, sometimes 
even more. Note the word rods. 
of our men were Vermonters, and every- 
thing in Vermont is in rods, not yards. 
For very long shots it was customary 
to sit on the ground, elbows on knees, 
Some — 
with rifle barrel resting in crotch of © 
tripod, put the cross-hairs on Mr. 
’Chuck’s head and let her go. Head 
shots were really all that were sure to 
kill at once, and as the tip of the tail 
was our evidence, it was necessary to 
calculate distance accurately and hold 
mighty close. 
OMETIMES several could be shot 
from one position. 
semi-smokeless powder, which helped us 
some in judging distance. 
We all used 
We gener- | 
ally paced long shots and it was often — 
surprising what long distance kills 
were made. Many a woodshed door 
bore evidence to the accuracy of the 
outfits of those pre-war days. 
Scientific stalking was often resorted { 
to. I want to say right here that the 
man who ean stalk and kill an old 
’chuck that has been shot at and 
creased, or lost an ear or some other — 
part of his anatomy, can stalk and 
kill any animal that walks on earth to- 
day, barring none. 
These old foxy-grandpa woodchucks 
aa Terms 3 
