The Opelousas courier., 1885-10-31
cur Pheasant Hunt?

bu0y were ndlI TiSut duu udli WAobS, do
will be seen by our subioined report of
the hunt.
On Sunday morning the 18th inst,
this scribe reported, armed aud provi-
stoned, ut Edmond DIS where the MINI
rods had agreed to meet, to start for
the pheasant range near Long Point.
On account of the weather having
changed from a cool to rather warm
temperature, some of the party had
concluded not to 60, and were not ready
for start before 2 o'clock p. m We
had intended, Notwithstanding this de-
lay, to reach our objective point that
night, and drove our horses at a lively
pace, with view of opening the hunt
at dawn the next morning. Everything
went on smoothly until we had passed
Hayes Point about three or four miles,
and were only about four miles from
the camping ground, when we came
upon harbed wire fence which seemed
interminable on either side of the road,
and could not be safely surrounded at
that late hour in the evening. There
fore we returned to Hayes Point to
camp for the night, thereby losing
about six miles of travel, and with
about twelve miles more of travel for
the next morning before reaching our
destination. We made the point about
10 o'clock on Monday morning in rath-
er a jaded condition to enter upon
wearisome hunt for the day. Moreover
we were told By the inhabitants around
that party of hunters had been shoot
ing there for several days past, and had
killed up nearly all the pleasants to be
found in that vicinity. At any rate we
concluded to try our luck there, as our
time was too limited to go greater
distance from home Ned D. and this
reporter paired off with his dog Prince,
Ernest and Gable d. with their dogs
Reno and Buck, aud began the search
for the much esteemed birds. The
elder Mr.. D. not being well remained at
camp. The Rev Father Eby and DIR.
r.. with their fine biooded dogs Daisy
and Dash, concluded TO hunt quails and
rabbits in tile woods. Over the wide
expanse of far-stretching prairie we
cheered our dogs to flush the 'prairie
chicken from its covert, but often were
We disappointed, when the young dogs
came to ssstand,' to see a worthless
field lark spring up, instead Of the ex-
citing Whir peculiar to the pheasant
when it first takes its flight from The
grass. The sun was sinking IN the
west, and onr prospects Of success with
il, before Ned an ayt reporter" found
our quarry We flushed three pleas
ants and bagged two of thai number
before returning to camp that night.
The other hunters were not SO fortunate
in finding game, the residue OF pieces
being one squirrel, four quails, two
ducks, aud two wood-rabbits. We
were nor much elated by our days ex-
perience hut it would have astonished
you to have witnessed the appetites OF
the tired hunters that night Roast
beef, mutton, ham, boiled eggs, roasted
irish potatoes and bakers bread were
consumed by the pound. Having a
comfortable house TO sleep IN. aud bring
much fatigued, it required bHt little
effort tn gain the repose of SWEET aud
refreshing sleep to fit us far the work
of the morrow. All of us rose with the
early dawn, drank early coffee. and
putting a lunch in our hunting bags
put off in pairs for another field trial
The party found more birds the second
morning and seven were bagged in all
However, it was concluded, by general
consent, that the game was too scarce
at that too much hunted spot to justify
us in remaining any longer; so affel
resting and feeding our horses, and eat,
ing ii hearty meal ourselves, the crotvf
harnessed up and started for home
Father Eby invited all Of his comrades
of the hunt to stop with him that nigh
at his hospitabIe roof in Church Point
which was accepted by some OF us
where we were kindly and generously
entertained by our good host.
We did not kill much game, because
the game was scarce and our stay short
!, but we Lad very pleasant party 9
hunters, and passed most agreeabl,
time in ronghing II 4 few day in camp
The successful days of pheasant hunt
, ing are passed. In few years NOR
tile pheasant range will be 50 settlet
up, that what few birds are left wll
seek more secluded and less inhabitet
, spots. We were surprised to see th
number of new buildings that had beel
erected, and the number of places on
, closed since our hunt, at the same place
about two years ago. There are evi
dences on every side, that st. Landr,
parish is rapidly settling, and that. er
. long. ii will be densely populated n
|, over it's wide domain.