Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-11-11
A Trip to North Dakota.
(continued from last week.)

law is only farce, liquor being sold
openly and with utter disregard to the
law; in fact as many drunken men were
CONSPICUOUS on the streets OF these west
ern towns, as are daily seenin the spring
OF the year in the pine regions OF this
state.
Leaving "Jimtown" ats O'Clock a. NJ,
on the 18th uIt, passing up the jim Rlv-
er Valley through trackless area OF
rich farming lands, noting plowed FUR
oughs that appeared endless to the
naked eve steam threshers dottlng the
prairie lands on every side, the turning
over Of the stubble with the sulky and
gang plows, a mirage in the distant, an
occasional flock OF geese and the prairie
wolf taking flight across the prairie at
approach of the train, the prairie
SCHOONER" moving here and there, the
dried up sloughs and lakes leaving VS.
ibIe shore marks and the bottoms OF
those OF recent drying up, covered with
alkili, havinga snow covered appear
ance from the distant, are all novel ana
entertaining to the traveller en- his first
visit to the prairie regions OF Nortia
/ Dakota.
We arrived at our destination at five
O'Clock y. m, OF the same day and found
Minnewaukan, situated on the west
shore oil DEVILS Lake, to be little vii
LACE OF about three hundred inhabitants,
snd the county seat OF Benson county.
This seemed to be the headquarters for
hunters from every section Of the United
States, two special hunting cars, COM
pri5ing about forty lovers OF the gun, be-
sides Vulnerable parties stopping at the
hotels, were in the village when we ar
rived. Through the courtesy OF some OF
the members of the Minnewaukan hunt
1 inc Club, who hail from Dubuque, Iowa,
we were informed Of an experienced and
| reliable guide in one O. L. Burdick, who
lived about six miles from the village.
Mr.. Burd;ck was to be in thevillage that
evening so we decided to await his ar
rival. He came and arrangements We're
completed, SO that he was to return in
themorning and we were to accompany
| him on his return home.
about nine O'Clock Of the morning Of
18th ult, found US bag and baggage on
our way with Mr.. Burdick to his home.
Before proceeding only q few miles our
guide showed us a sight tnatsends
pang Of gladness through sportsnan's
bosom. 1t was the return OF the geese
from their feeding grounds to the lake.
Flock after hocl, passed ncountlessnum-
| bers, just ont Of reach Of theguns. Right
/ here a shortsketch of the habits OF this
| wary bird together with the way they
are hunted in the west, we hope will not
be amss.
/ The goose is endowed with keen sight
and once disturbed in it's favorite feeding
spot returns not for many day. There
are five varities viz: The Honker, the
largest OF any specie weighing from ten
| to twenty pounds; the Hutchins, dark
grey goose; the Laughing Goose Z
named because Of the some what resem-
being noise OF a laugh which it makes,
and the common snow-white brant or
Canadian geese.
The geese leave the lakes i'll the morn
ing just at day-break and so to feed on
the wheat stubble, leaving in f1ocks from
dozen up to hundreds. and generally
| following in the fight Of the first ones.
They feed until between nine and ten
o'clock then return TO the lake; and
again return to the fields from three
O'Clock in the afternoon until shutdown,
going back to the lake to roost.
When feeding ground is located pits
are dug large enough to secrete the
huEte", decoysr are Eset out and then the
sport commences. Geese decoy readily
within gun shot range, but rarely alight
among decoys.
The first evenings shoot we were sue
cessful to the tune of sixteen. When the
four DAYS and one-half of hunting We're
completed we had killed fifty-one geese,
besides a number OF prairie chickens,
jack rabbits and a few ducks.
Leaving on the morning Of the 22nd
ult., after few days stop-overat Down
ing, Wis, we arrived at home on the
25th.
This hunting country dim River Val
levy is reached only by the Northern
Pacific railroad. Should any OF our
readers think OF trying their luck with
the festive goose at some future date,
you would find it benefit to you to
correspond with the Northern Pacific
officials at st. Paul. They furnish you
; reliable books, maps, etc, pertaining. to
this country free of charge. Every court
esy and favor will be shown you. A
more obligiMg set OF officials cannot be
found.
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