The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-21
HINTS FOR QUAIL HUNTERS.
THE SEASON. IN TINS STATE VILE
OPEN ON nor. 4.
Difficulties Met In the Pursuit. or This
bird and How TO Overcome Them
Hunting Grounds Near New York.

bird and How 10 Overcome Them
Hunting Grounds Near New York.
Nov. ! opens the quail season in this State.
From that date until New Years hunting
grounds about New York will he overrun with
gunners and dogs seeking a good chance at
bevy OF these dainty little birds. Perhaps It is
his bright, lively, and loving and domestic ways
that have endeared the quail to the hunters
heart. or the difficulties met with in his pursuit
may have something to do with It, but certain II
is that from the Kennebec to the Rio Grande he
is a favorite among game birds
The quail In the East is not migratory, though
his Brother west OF the Mississippi has shown .
tendency to change his abiding place with the
seasons. Last winter was hard game OF all
kinds In this section, and particularly so on
quail. the heavy SHOWS killing many OF them.
At the first sign of snow rain these birds
cluster In circle. with their heads outward,
and wait for the storm TO pass. When the -
has ceased falling, the bevy spring up, prob
ably at some well-understood signal, with
all the force Of strong WINGS aud go
whrring of In search OF food. But IL
the snow has been followed by sleet or
rain, forming u crust Of ice the surface, the
birds may fiutter in vain attempts TO escape, and
hundreds OF their bodies will be found when the
spring thaws come. Fortunately these birds are
unusually prolific, rearing two broods In season.
else they would long ago have been killed oil by
Quail are difficult to hunt without dog. As
rule they lie close. and unless almost treads
upon bird II will not take TO the wing. Some
times too, quail will lie hard until the hunter has
passed and then frt up behind his back. II takes
q cool head and z true hand TO turn and cut
them down handsomely under such circum-
by no means easy for novice. No other game
bird in America can equal the quail IN rapidtty
tains full speed. To add still more TO these diff
ticulties. It flies with loud whrring noise. par
This almost Invariably hurries any but an ex-
perienced hand at the sport causing the hunter
the shot on account Of distance.
Al this time OF year quail feed In stubble fields
streams near by where they go to drink and 20
eat the wet herbagee In the late morning and
some thorny brake. about the foot OF a large
tree at the edge Of II wood. or on south or west
hllsdes. The best time 10 hunt them is during
the hours when they are scattered over the feed
ing grounds. At night they roost In the centre
Ge sG Sus%s a the rst light Of day they
fly 70 nearby stubble, and around the edges OF
Heh fields the hunter must senf bsh nj; ,. dEgs
the Irds seldom stray far toward the centre; IL
is 6es; TO beat the stubble downward II possible.
coppce, for when put up quail fly directly TO
the most impenetrable covert at hand.
handsomely right and left mark down to yard
with the sport in tile open. 1t takes a keen eye
and much practice thus accurately TO mark
down u flock, hut experience will teach the art.
feeding hour for flock driven TO cover.
There are more hocks than tho one. They
with he gone from the stubble, though, long be-
fore that one can be shot out Of its hiding place.
Quail have the power OF withholding their scent
after alighting. and even the best dogs will fail
% find them. Henry, William Herbert" Frank
FOrrester"-than whom no truer sportsman
ever lived. was one Of. the first 70 call at
tention TO this popularity. but even at this late
day there seem To- be few hunters VINO mol know OK
sue the brls for half or three-quarters OF an
hour after they have alighted; BY that time
the flock will have come together N scattered.
and will be found more readily by the dogs.
II Is IA good plan To drive AS many coyeys a.
possible into the same covert then, when the
day 4 advanced aud the birds gone fr9m the
shooting and excellent sport. After these hoeks
have been accounted for IL is well 20 rest until
uclock In the sftrTnSon, Master and dogs viii
he fresher aud will do infinitely better work
than II both have been hard Al II all day. but II
the prospect Uf sport In the afternoon Is none too
good, the hunter might, during the heat or tho
day. try the bag meadows sunny hillsides, ana
old pastures containing much bent and ag-wort.
low II quail with the gun. First sight y always
best No time should be lost in getting this
sight, but Ou the other hand the hunter should
not be hurried into shooting before he sees and
judge the birds range. The standard charge
Tor both ~ and IN gauge guns Is the best for
ounces Of No. x shot for l2-bore; ~ drains OF
puwder and Y ounces Of shot for lO-ganRe,
Near Moriches, l.; l., and also back Of Oyster
Near PlAinheld. y. j., are said 20 lie numerous
nOcks. There il excellent quail shoot around
Monroe, y, y, and Lake Hopatcong has always
been considered guod place. sullivan ana
Pike counties furnish hy long Odds the best
shooting grounds for spOrtsInen WHO nave time
Ia make the trip.