Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-26

q
lance without striking covey, and only
two years ago flock of some fifteen or
twenty spent the summer in the grounds of
the Geological Park and adjoining fields.
There is not sportsman in the city who
has not enjoyed quail shooting in the i'm
mediate vicinity.
Not for many years at least Gust how
many none can say will the CHEEKY dob
white" he echoed and re-echoed from field
to forest, and from one tangled briar patch
to the next.
1t seems but yesterday that the writer
tramped the woods back of Falls Church
and found birds as numerous as one could
desire That was a favorite locality for
them. and a days hunt there was invaria-
lily successful. even when other regions ap-
peared barren. but a recent tour of the
surrounding country, to ascertain the real
cCrdition of things, failed to find so much
as Il feather, even in this favored spot, and
but ELECTED from the farmer and country
sportsman the same sad story of death and
destruction
one informed me how often the first two
days OF the blizzard the birds flocked
around the stacks IN the barn yard, regard
less of the presence of himself and men, by
whom they were fed, and how upon missing
them the following morning a search re-
vealed the entire flock huddled together and
frozen solid in drift at the foot of a
stack of straw.
Another told me of finding the birds dead
In the spaces between the sticks of wood
in the wood piles through the forest, while
still another mentions having caught
entire covey in his hands in brush pile
that were too benumbed and too weak to
fly or run. These We're taken home and fed
and warmed, but all efforts to save a single
one We're fruitleSs.
Tie above are but few of many such
tales that were told. and even at distance
of sixty miles further south the same con-
clifton of affairs existed.
New Supply.
1t is apparent, therefore. that the man
who would shoot quail this fall must go
to more southern shooting grounds. where
the birds still abundant, and where
good sport may be had
Before proceeding further, just a word
for the rer edy for the condition of things
existing here at home. The open season,
as regulated by law, varies much with To-
cality. Lying, as We do between two states,
the laws of both must be observed. Neither
agrees with the other, and in Maryland
particularly TO two counties agree as to the
date of beginning and ending of the closed
and open seasons. In general, though, the
open season for Maryland and the District
of Columbia begins on October "a and ends
January 1. In Virginia the laws still
more consci vativc, the shooting season ex
tending firm November to the day before
Thanksgiving, thus doing away with the
''day of general slaughter Now, the
writer would suggest that the various clubs
take the matter in hs I'D petition the legis-
1atures of both states to pass a law prohib-
fling the killing of quail for five years in
all counties affected by the freeze
Then, by pooling funds sufficient num-
bsr of birds, say five hundred or thou
sand pair, could be brought from the south
and liberated at different points through
out the country. Quail rapid breeders,
rearing from twelve to fifteen and even
eighteen young to the brood. and despite
the few killed by the providing pot hunter,
very coed sprinkliny of birds would be
found at the end of the period. This meth
od has been successfully tried in many To-
calities similarly situated. and there is no
reason why. with all united in a common
cause. it should fall short of success here
Away frcm Washington one can find the
birds extremely abundant at various places
within Il few hours ride. Particularly is
this true of High Point. North Carolina
where tho Very best of sport Is to be had,
while from various neightoring regions
comes word of the great number of birds
to he found there.
In fact, throughout nearly all of the more
southern states quail fairly swarm, and
one can scarcely go amiss in the choice Of
shooting ground They are more abun-
dant In Florida than any place known to
the writer, but much smaller in size than
our northern bird. They are also much
tanner, and are frequently seen around the
clearings End even the doorsteps of tie
'crcckcrs. North Of us there are no birds
TO mention. for the sams reason that there
are nont here. ard west of us the distance
Il; too great before birds are found IN suiH-
Gent abundance to pay for the trip A
southern trip is. therefore, the only choice
this year.
The King Of Sports.
Quail shooting is. With few exceptions.