Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-11-04
LONG ISLAND HUNTING GROUNDS.
The Tavorite Resort of Sportsmen
from Brooklyn and New York City.

the NOftn American COutluent, louT
hundred and fifty frequent the island.
1t is the great halfway house of the
migratory tribes that wing their annual
flight from zone to zone. No PORTING
of the state within radius of one hum
dred miles of New York offers such in
ducements to the sportsman as do the
island and its surrounding waters.
The present game laws in X ngs,
Queens and Suffolk counties are, with
the exception of few changes in the
months when it is lawful 10 Kill certain
birds, about the same as they were one
hundred years ago, although they were
not so rigldly enforced then as now.
The close observance of the laws in
Suffolk county has done much to retain
the popularity of that section for its
superior cunning and fishing facilities.
OF late years the eastern part OF Kings,
as well MS the western part of Queens
county, owing to their close proximity
to the city, have been Ovcrrun during
the fall shooting season w tn pot-hunt-
ers and their dogs, who scour the fields
and woods in every d rection in search
of game. regardless of the many signs
that are posted on almost every farm,
forbidding trespass ng or shooting.
1t frequnetly happens Cat least it is so
reported by the farmers) that five or
six of these pot-hunters are seen at
times crossing field driving up the
birds. When the bird rises they all
shoot together at it, and Oftener miss
than kill it. During the Notwithstanding
season. so numerous are the gunners
that it is hardly safe for one to walk
through the woods. Game cOnStahlcs
and land owners have no terror for
them, and they shoot at an thing from
a chicken to a sparrow when it comes
in their way TLcy are the lane of the
Sportsman rs well as the farmer, and
have 50 depleted the game b rds with n
distance of twenty-five miles of
Brook ' Il that tie old residents of the
towns of Newton, Flushing, and Ja-
maica, who within the past five years
could 90 out on their own land and raise
a bcyy of quail are now obi grd when
they wish a days shooting to 90 many
miles from home in order to find it.
+ we years ago quail and other game
birds were qu It. plentiful in the above
towns; scare. y one can now be found
within their limits. Pluven were also
quite pl ntiful on the Hampstead
plains, aflordng tine shooting during
the season. None are now to be found
in that sect on. In fact, in almost
every section of Queen county game Of
every kind has during the past four
years been sadly depicted and grows
less in number every year. The season
OF fall shooting is now at hand. Blue
and striped bass fishing VIII soon be at
its height.
The bay Snipe shooting season COM
menced on July 10. These birds dur
ing the season are found from Coney
Island point to Montauk. The larger
kinds, dowltches and jacks have been
scarce, as well as marlin. Yellowlcgs
have now commenced 20 fly. The best
snlpe-shcotng ground is at Quoeue.
This WAS a favoritc resort Tor the late
Gen. John A. Dix. During the latter
years of his life he could during the
pe-shooting season be seen almost
every fine day but a short distance
from his residence at the above place,
killing the birds as they flew down to
his decoys. The snipe season closes on
Oct. l. WoOdcock shooting COM
menced on the lSt of August, and con-
tinues until January. So far the sea-
son has been Il poor one, the birds be-
ing very scarce. Better shooting is
looked for in October, at which time
woodcOck are found in the uplands
among the cedarS and scrub oaks.
Quail shooting will commence on Oct.
!, and continue until Jan. l. They are
notably scarce this year, which is &C,
counted for from the fact that many Of
the young birds were killed by the
heavy rains in June and July, the few
that survived, together with the ole
birds, have been driven from their &C
customed feed ng- grounds to 9th
er localities in search of fooc
by the fert lizers and Paris greer
used by the farmers on their ticlC
crops. One of the finest quail pre-
serves in the state is that of the Rob
bins Island Gun club on Robbins is
land. Notable among the other pre-
serves are those of August Belmont, a
Babylon. DR.. Kane has preserve u
lslip, and the Brooklyn Sportsmen't
one at Smithtown. The latter's ground
are leased from the farmers and stock
ed by the club, and no person is per
mitted to shoot upon the grounds ex
cept members of the club. Partridges
Ike quail, are scarce The open sea
son commences on Nov. l and ends OIL
Jan. The country around abou
Farmingdale, Deer Park, Huntington
Northport, overhead. in fact. aImos
every section of the eastern portion o
Queens county. and the whole of Sui
folk county, affords fair quail and part
ridge shooting.
Wild fowl shooting commences Oct
/, when they will be found in all c
the ba and Long Island sound, e.
pecially the speCins known rs coots oil
wives, black ducks, shcldrakes, an
whjstlers, and occasionally a canva.
back and zeal. The law prohib IS tn
shooting of wild fowl in the Grea
South bay by sailing them up, fire light
ing or taking them with nets. Yet tn
law is often violated by those who ear
livelihood by cunning.
A Sure Sign.
do you think that Col. Yerger
going to run again for the legislature?
asked an Austin gentleman of a frienC