Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-20
The English snipe.

A popularity of good snipe ground Is
its seeming inexhaustibility. A well stocked
but small haunt of quail, prairie chicken,
or any land bird save snipe and woodcock,
is soon depleted by sharp shooting, nor
will il recover until the following season.
But with snipe the case is wholly different
You raise possibly hundred birds to-day,
and kill off couple of dozen. Tomorrow,
there seems about as many, and your sue
cess corresponds with that of yesterday !;
50 through q whole week, perhaps, with
apparently no marked addition or subtrac-
ton from the quantity of game when
you desist. Whence they come is one OF
the mysteries of snipe history. If very
considerable tract were so laid under trib
ute, such results would excite no surprise !;
but when the whole area travelled over is
but few acres, it is a matter of astonish
ment. We have in mind bit of the choic-
est kind of snipe ground, mile and half
long, and from few yards 10 an eighth of
a mile in width, that at the height of the
season presents this characteristic in
marked degree. A couple of guns have
brushed over it for an hour or two each
morning and evening during week, taking
off from ten TO fifteen couple daily, and
leaving the ground as fat as they found it.
In shooting, remember that they always
rise against the wind so make a wide de-
tour if necessary, TO come upon the wind
ward end of the ground, and then beat to
its furthermost point The motions of the
bird in the air are very rapid, twisting and
perplexing, and none other require more
careful observance of their flight before
you can hope for success in shooting. The
best days for seeking him are when first tn
weather has become warm and calm, or
with southerly, moist breeze, after a Sc
we're, long, cold storm from the north,
northeast or northwest. The birds take
advantage of the change TO feed on the
marshes they half deserted during the
boisterous weather. A warm day follow
ing a slight hoar frost is also excellent. On
the favorable days the birds lie well,
even in the bare open marsh from which
the ice and spring freshets have swept all
covert. They betake themselves TO little
depressions. in the ground. hiding behind
swales, hillocks and little ridges, and div
ing into little sunken spots Although at
other times they would rise well ouL of dis
tance when you walked across SO bald a
ground, yet now they seem content to rest
after long buffeting with the fierce, strong
winds. Such ground and such days are TO
be marked with white stone by the un-
happy man whose good fortune has brought
him timely there. For Spring shooting,
use wadiDg stockings, high water-tight
leather boots. You do not now need TO
travel over a wide extent of country, and the
water is of the coldest. In the fall, ordinary
boots, no matter how holey, or stout shoes,
with leggings, are better. You must travel
longer distances, and will hardly confne
your whole day to this spot. Therefore, the
exercise and the warmer water will keep
you safe from harm through wet feet. If
you keep in motion, the blood will circu-
late freely, and wet stockings feel warm
but do not SIT down on log for a long rest,
no matter how wearied, or you will quickly
chill, probably laying the foundation for a
serious cold or future siege of rheumatism.