Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19

the cracking and suffering logs OF the camp
fire the trophies of the day proudly exhib
tied. What place for indulging in remins
cence or story tellingIs that quiet spot! Lo-
Gated on the banks of a stream amid the great
spreading trees, what place of calm recrea-
ton and repOsei The observation of the habits
OF the game. the sagacity and patient endur-
Hnce of the dogs and the pleasant diversity of
the landscape are all sources OF infinite enjoy
ment.
The art of shooting swift-fying birds, or
little birds" as the quail plover, snipe, wood
cock. &c, were once derisiyely called. is OF
comparatively recent origin, and at the begin
ming was pracuced only by those who came
here from Europe after having acquired their
skill there. Those who lived on the western
prairies and other places where game abounded
could kill buck or fat turkey with the rifle.
There were q few old-fashiOned smOoth-bores
in use, but the shot used was buckshot or
other large sizes. Powder and shot were dear.
The use OF the pointer and setter practi-
caIly unknown. and the men who used good
guns and small shot in the pursuit. of small
game were not fayorsbly regarded. 1t was not
believed that the game worth the powder,
TO say nothing at all about the shot. The shot
gun was called the "squaw gum by Indians
and hunters.
BOGAIDUs As BEGINNER
began to shoot at the age of fifteen. At
that time was big, strong lad. am now
quite six feet tall, powerful, sinewy and mus
health. possessed, as l believe, the natural
gifts which will enable man in time and with
proper opportunity to become first-rate field
shot; that Is, quick, true eye and steady nerve
chiefly consisted then of woodcock and ruff
grouse. rather difficult birds for young begin
ners. In the fall of 1856 moved west. settling
On the Sangamon river. near Petersburg, Ill
Ii was a Veritable paradise for sportsman. 1t
was a broken. swampy country. Deer and tur-
lad her Vag n1nh he rq
of quail, snipe, pinnated grouse and immense
focks OF ducks and geese came every spring
and fall. There was hardly man there who
could Kill snipe or quail except myself, and
the natives used to come out and see me shoot
One of the most famous hunters of the region
laughed when he saw me loading with No. 3
shot for the first time. That won't kill
moth n, stranger" said he. '.1ou can't stop
quail with anything lighter than No. shot,
nor prairie chickens 'cept BIS" He changed
his opinion when he found / could kill ten to
his one. The Sangamon country was and is q
grand place for game.
GOOD HUNTING 6RoUSDs
The variety of ducks includes the mallard
which / consider the finest duck we have in the
west and fully equal to the canvasback in tn o
fall Of the year, when they come on large and
fat and glorious IN plumage, from the wild
rice fields Of the British territories in the far
northwest. i moved to Elkhart, in Logan
county, where / now reside. in 1853. 1t was a
grand place for game at that time and is now
late IN the fall, when the pinnated grouse pack
aud partially migrate. To any one who can
afford the expense and has the time to snare
there need be no trouble in finding a good
place TO shoot. OF the eastern states 1 know
very little. but quail are moro numerous in
most OF the counties OF Ohio. Indiana uliDois
kentucky, Iowa, Missouri. Wisconsin and Min
nesota than they have ever been before. Michi-
gan and northern Indiana are famous for snipe
and duck; as are also Illinois, Iowa, Missouri
and Minnesota. But perhaps the best general
shooting Is to be had In northeastern Missouri
and some parts of Iowa. There. besides grouse
quail, water fowl, &c, the hunter may succeed
in bringing down q deer or knocking over any
number of wild turkeys.
ExrIScTIoa OF GAME
The principal cause of the rapid extinction
Of big game is due to the fact that the country
is rapidly being settled and the game is being
driven off, Still in the western country there
is plenty of il. L usually 20 down every fall
to the Indian territory aud the south of Kan
sas and find deer, turkey and all kinds of game
plentiful enough. Last winter took trip
through Washington state and Oregon and
although l saw an abundance Of big game, ]
WAS not there at the right time OF the year
the fall-to get any Of il. In regard to the dis
appearance Of small game the same reason