Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-26


reported to be plenty in this noighbor-
hood, and doubtless will remain so for
many years to come, ms there is large
tract of country here that will long resist
the encroachments of tho axemen. This
grouse is called partridge" and "pheas-
ant in the Northwest.
The pinuated grouse, on the prairie,
seem to be increasing in numbers in
some neighborhoods. The prairie fires
having been fenced out by the settlers,
tho uncullivated lands are growing up to
brush that makes good cover; and the
many wheat fields added to each neigh
borhood every year supply them with
more abundant food. Still, the sports
men are too greedy il shooting them,
and these fine game birds will eventually
become extinct unless there is some limit
set to the number which a party may
shoot in one day or season, without dis
grace or penalty of law. Some cores
pondent of the Spirit found Indifferent
grouse shooting near Kenyon, Minneso.
Ia. last summer. Let him come to Lake
City next time, and inquire for Major
Van Vliet or Doctor Estes, and if he is
good shot he can bag twenty or thirty
in any good scentlying day. within few
miles of town. A party of three of my
neighbors killed over ninety 10 one day
last August. There are two kinds of
the pinnated grouse here, but l am not
prepared at this time to describe the
points of difference. One of them pre-
iers the opsn prairie, and is always call
ed "praire chicken" while the other is
oftener found about the oak openings,
and is called grouse Tho grouse"
is tbs rarer bird, somewhat larger than
the other, and thought to be Of superior
flavor. Ono snowy morning last winter
flock of them came across Lake Pepin,
and stopped to rest in the treos, and on
the houses and barns all over Lake City.
For few minutes you could hardly look
in any direction about town without see
ing them standing like statues in all di.
reclions, their necks and heads pointed
upward on straight line, and seeming
astonished at their situation, and afraid
TO stir feather. They are often seen in
the trees ia the villages, but rarely in
large numbers. knew homesick man
from Massachusetts, who moved back
East last summer from Lake City. He
said, among the causes of dissatisfaction
with the country, he had been told, be-
fore he came Vest, that he could stand
in his back door aud sIoot prairie cLick-
ems in that town; whereas he had watch
ed all summer and hadn't seen one around
his house! If he had waited q little
longer lie might have shot one on my
barn, if not on his own. He might have
the resonant calls of the male grouse for
their mates, all tho spring, on the neigh
boring bluffs, without leaving his premis-
es, and bob White" the quail, was
telling his name all around him through
out the year.
don't know of many good stories
of prairie chicken shooting. The best |
ever heard was that told me by Al. Mar
tin, who had q chicken dog to lend. The
dog would go out with anybody that
had permission to take him, and work
splendidly on the start, but if the hunter
didn't prove to understand his business,
use the proper words in giving orders,
and ring down the birds where there
was fair chance Mt Them, the old dog
would turn tail and run home, and new
err 90 with that man again. If, on the
contrary. the man hunted well, the dog
would work faithfully all day.
In hunting the ruffed grouse in the
thickets. where it requires better shot
than | am to take them on the wing, it
is good way to move gently and slow
ly forward, keeping keen lookout, and
if you see one stepping off. or hear its
cluck of alarm, salute it with the very
best tune you can whistle. 1t will not
fly i you are good whistler, but will
STAY and listen, and let you clip off its
head with rifle bullet. Whistle vigor
ousIy and without stopping, and you can
get several of the perhaps all
Of them-before one will fly. Nv best
tune for this work is the morning call of
the cavalry buglers. When Nichols aud,
| hunt together, he always knows what
game is found when he hears that wills
tie. Whether it IS curiosity or love of
music that lures the h2pless bird. can
not say; although theFe is plenty of evil
dence on record that some wild animals
love music so well that it will overcome,
for time. the thirst of savage ones for
blood. The story of the musician lost
on the Illinois prairie, attacked by pack
of gray wolves, and keeping them quiet
around him by saving bis fiddle for dear
life all night, till the dawn of the NOR.
ming came to his relief, is case in point.
But | am afraid you will think tho
trout fishing we are travelling to in these
letters is as far ahead as "my Uncle
Toby's amours with the Widow Wad-
man" in Iristram Shondy. However.
it is slow wagoning up the river road
since yesterdays rain, and long story
can be told in making such three mile
journey. If the weather holds favora
bic, and the bottom don't fall out of this
road, we shall doubtless fish some in the
mex. letter. OLIVER.
re- An impecunious country editor
duns his patrons as follows. A man
might as we'll attempt 10 quench the
phosphorescent carnations from the tail