Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-11-29
ALL OVER THE PENINSULA
THE SEASON FOR 0UNNERS AND
GAME.
IN THE HAUNTs OF THE QUAIL
F'E5 fHBRED TEN1NJS OF THE
EIELD 1ND ROOD.
The Equipments OF the Professional
sDortsman-The Safeguards which
Nature HAS Thrown Around the
Coveted Birds.

Nature Has Thrown Around tn,
Coveted Birds.
A weeks hunting on the Peninsula
during the open season for partridgss
offers spOrtsmen come of the finest wing
shooting to be enjoyed in this section
country, and gives ample opportunity
for large bags OF game. The Peninsula
is the mecca OF sportsmen from
the surrounding country, New York, Bal
timore and Philadelphia. The railroads
traverse, almost directly, the haunts OF
the partridge, and scores OF sportsmen
come and go daily.
II week spent in the shooting fields
of the Peninsula docs not yield heavy
bag of the plump, fat birds the hunter
| is either an Indifferent shot or be has
been badly ont of luck.
The birds are more plentiful than
usual this season, and despite the s5
game association tax for non-residept
sportsmen the number Of claimants for
bags OF birds has greatly increased. The
fields are filled with gunners, yet the
abundance of game gives all fair share.
inst at this time in the season the lower
section of the Peninsula is preferable for
sportsmen because birds are more plen-
tiful there. In the upper sections of the
State the partridges have to 4 great
extent been killed off, or have migrated
to the lowlsnds, and the hunter here gets
but few shots in "a day. In this State,
Snssex county offers the largest rewards
in game and excitement for the sports
mans work. From Seaford south, and
east and west between the two bays the
gunner may feel reasonably sure of good
sport. Here the "blaok beads" small
shot-like weed seed, grow in abundance,
and OF these the partridges are very fond.
bxcellept cover is also offered the willy
old birds and their broods.
weeks shooting in this vicinity
yielded Wilmington crack wing shot
about 300 quail, and number of some
what smaller bags are reported to have
been taken In that section during the
present season.
a swell Wilmington sportsman, who
spent six days with the Sussex quail,
thinks the region mentioned a paradise
for wing shooting, and verides his opinion
by great bunch of the birds he secured
there. To hunt successfully in this
section requires thoroughly good dogs,
and general corresponding equipment
preech loader, top boots and
brier proof trousers. Aside from
his outfit and dogs, the sportsman
must decide to do some hard hunting to
be successful. The ooveys, numbering
from 10 to 40 birds, are always raised
nrst In stubble or grass and fly in bee
hne for cover. Entering the woods,
which as rule are thickly grown up
with briers and underbrush. the birds
settle perhaps in the most densely grown
,.1, l.
found by good dogs urged on by
an enthusiastic master, tireless in the
pursuit. The dog can catch their trail In
the woods only with difficulty, and not
infrequently does the covey after
one round of firing from the
hunter escape further molestation
for the time. But for the excellent forest
and brier protection nature has provided
and instincts lead them to, the entire
species would soon disappear before the
army of sportsmen and dogs that are
from the beginning to the end of the
season marching through this region.
Again nature has intervened to protect
the hardy creatures. In many OF the
best game sections Of the Peninsula there
is no water, and the keen scented settlers,
thirsty with the excitement and exercise,
break down for drink and must be taken
to the nearest stream where they can
slake their thirst before resuming the
hunt. The pointer dog can endure thirst
onger but hi5 thin fine coat is not sufi,
cient protection from the briers or thorns
md he is mercilessly torn If sent to ferret
out his willy, innocent prey from the
brsmbles.
A brier-scarred hunter talking about
his recent cunning excursion in Sussex,
has noted with considerable interest the
Lsbits of the partridge. "No use," he
says, "to hunt for the birds between
ii and O'Clock in the day, unless you
uave covey before your dog"
Continuing in explanation of the matter,
which some of the party present rather
inclined to doubt, the wind-tanned
pOrtsman said ''In tile morning the
nirds are feeding; by IL o'clock they are
tired aud go to the woods for rest. When
Ia the woods in order to cover up their
scsnt and prevent the dogs from finding
hem they lie on the ground and
cover themselves over with leaves
with nothing but their heads
sticking from under the pile. By
O'Clock in the afternoon they are rested
and their ravenous appetite drives them
TO the black beads or grain stubble for
supper. At twilight they roost out of
harms way in the srass-oovered field
where neither the hawk nor fox can find
them. The birds when found in a oovey
ara hudiled together in a circular mass,
heads in. The centre bird, usually one OF
the parents of the flock, sits in the centre
with extended neck Watching the Ap-
prnaching dog or gunner. Maintaining
perfect quiet, they only rise when the
intruder draws near and follow in their
flight the sentinel bird. The favorite
method of the pot hunter is to find the
cavey sitting and with two charges of
shot fired into the group, he frequently
bags the whole family. No true sportsman
opens fire on bird OF covey when it Is
sitting, preferring to take his chances OF
capturing the brown feathered creatures
for the excitement Of wing shot"
There are rabbits innumersble in the
same sections, but it goes without saying
that the cotton tails'' are at liberty to
run to and fro within the sportsman's
range without fear.
Some of the dogs seen in the Peninsular
fields this season were perhaps among
the best bred in the country. Many have
| long pedigree and are the beau ideal of
blue blooded animals. With reference to
these keen scented creatures a hunter
| thinks IL all the dogs that have been
| worked on the Peninsula this season
| were sold at their owners valuation
sufficient money would be realized to
purchase the largest county of the lower
Peninsula. A New York sportsman in
| trip some days ago shot over a brace OF
| dogs which he valued at $1,000 and dis
charged his shells from an imported
breech loader that cost 5000. He took
his stimulants from silver flask and
had a lackey to carry his bag, which the
| first day consisted of four birds.
George Churchman, secretary and
treasurer of the Delaware game protective
association, informed a representative of
EVERY Evening this morning that game
can be sold by the parties killing 1t.
Only persons who purchase game for the
purpose of selling it are required to take
out license.