The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-01

chickens" as they are called, are found
In the grain fields and grasses, and in the
edges OF the underbrIsh and thickets
that skirt the timber districts. They
are also hunted along what are called the
down rows" or the shocks OF grin
I'm the cornfeds 1t Is quite common
for them 10 roOst in the corn shock,
or in the dry tassie on the top.
In my boyhood experience IL was daily
occurrence on the farm TO scare up
lot of prairie chickens, especially when
hauling in the shock corn. No trained
dogs were then needed TO hunt these
birds, for they were found everywhere.
They are not singrs. but such as
thy are, the first song-bird / can re-
member was the prairie chicken, whose
drumming and boom-lik sound so fami-
liar 10 those who have lived on the
great prairles, could be heard IN all d.
rections. To this day two stories are
common as TO how they make this noise.
only this week one sportsman posi-
lively affirmed, as l heard II In my
childhood, that the prairie chicken
made that booming sound by raplrly
striking its wings together over its
back. The other just as positively as
serted that the boom, BOOM" cry was
made by swelling the muscular appene r.
millions Of prairie chickens I'm the plains
regions. But the rapid settlement or
the country has greatly reduced their
number, and game laws have been en-
acted to prevent their slaughter.
The prairie chicken is now hunted
more with dogs that have been trained
for that purpose. When the first bird
has been flushed the whole flock will
rise and fly some distance. After they
light they often run fifty or one hundred
yards in the field or grass and then scat
ter. A well trained dog will follow them
| up cautiously, and as they do not rise
in a body, the sportsman has a better
chance than the first time As some
begin TO hunt the prairie chicken in
advance Of the open season, these BIRDS
are often very wild and diricult 10
shoot when the legal date does come.
In some parts OF the west II Is no"
| legal 10 XIII the wild turkey. they are
| not numerous In the upper part or the
| Rocky mountain country, but some are
| found I'm the ranges further 20 the south.
/ In pioneer days their home was best
| known in the Mississippi and Missouri
! river valleys, where they were plentiful
in the timbered regions. Next 10 taxing
out the hounds and going on n coon
I
fun OF following a drove OF wild turkeys
In my boyhood. The boys all knew how
10 take the bone Of that magnificent
bird. and make. the turkey cail''as a
decoy for a good shot The Indians were
expert at this. and many a pioneer 10
| Kentucky, In the old Boone days, LOST
his life from being lured on by the sup
posed turkey call made by the savage
| Among some of the Indians OF the fal
West the turkey is a sacred bird. When
| hunting the wild turkey on a brigh
| clear night be sure that you Keep INT
turkey between you and the moon.
Hunting for geese and ducks has hls'
| begun. but It IS little early Tor that a.
| vet Geese, brants and pelicans, whlci
formerly followed down Mississippi
| Missouri Platte, Kansas, Arkansas an
| Rio Grande rivers 10 the south, are nov
found IN larger numbers skirting IN
mountain ranges. The great irrigation
canals and reservoirs afford them NOR
water along the mountain route tna'
formerly. AS there Is not SO nluch I'm
Der to shelter the sportsman IN the west
ern plains and mountains, the wild COOS
is more OF game bird there IMAM u
the water courses further east. Inc IA
western sportsman succeeds better b.
DIGGING a nit near their feeding ground
Even then this keen. shrewd bird Is Tia
bic TO change his feeding ground withou
due notice. In the grain belt region
the Wild geese feed often In the fields
hut I'm the far West near the mountain
they are more often found on the sand
bars for the almost treeless stream
give them an advantage IN suardin
against the hunter. The sportsman get
even with the wild goose however wne
the frst snow falls, before ,ne stream
are frozen. With a white ruooer Goa
or sometimes with white sneet an
cap, around him. the hunter - conceaie
in the snow, and returns with a soodI
number Of wild geese. Laws nave pee
! passed In some part Of the "ess as"na