The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-15
GROUSE ON THE AU SABLE.
Keen Sport For the Archer With n
Wise and Wary Bird.

By Maurice Thompson; copyright, 1880,
by Maurice Thompson)
We were encamped on the Au Sable
in Michigan. It was late in summer
and the weather was fine. Unusual
luck with the grayling had put US
into fine humor, when it became neces-
sary to lie up for a few days waiting
for wagon which was to transport
us across the country.
Our bush tent of cedar was on dry,
sandy spot overlooking a long, near
ly straight reach of the beautiful lit
tie river, which was here quite clear
of drift wood and other instructions
so common to Michigan streams. We
had hauled our boats ashore and were
thinking we should have nothing to do
| but lie around and wait, when a flock
of grouse, flying across the river two
| hundred yards above US, changed the
whole prospect.
We had before this killed few
ruffed grouse in the mountain region
of Georgia, where they are, indeed.
quiet rare; but we knew very we'll that
shooting them in the Georgian rainy
season, when they take to tree at
| the sight of small dog, could not be
much like shooting them here, where
they are as wild as deer and as watch
/
two archers to do but go at once and
try to beg some Of those birds?
Will gave me a look which spoke
more enthusiastically than words. /
could see the sudden inspiration in his
eyes, and Immediately pulled my bow
out of its case, only to find that its
string was badly frayed and needed
| re-whipping; moreover, it and the one
| on WHIPS bow were the only strings
left of a half dozen we had brought
with us, wherefore it behooved me to
give it the most careful attention.
We noted we'll the point where the
birds entered the woods, and as soon
as my work on the string was COM
pleted we set out, eager to try our
skill once more on game so worthy
of our attention. For l would have
you know that of all birds, the wild
turkey, excepted, the ruffed grouse is
the cleverest in every ruse for avoid
| ing the sportsman; moreover, it is one
of the most beautiful as well as most
coveted prizes ever brought to bag.
You have no doubt often observed
that the stories told by anglers and
shooters are mostly about successful
experiences and happy turns of luck
| in their sport; but you have no right
to grumble at this, for you know very
well that unsuccessful and unfortunate
incidents are not particularly interest
ing. We all like to tell the good parts
Of our stories. This is why 1 am now
writing. Let my failures take care of
themselves; / do not care to be
bothered with them.
1t was to hawk that we were that
day indebted for an hour of most ex-
citing archery. We made our way on
| a. Decline to where we had seen the
flock drop down into a clump Of cedar
trees and just as we were nearing it
there was a great commotion, the birds
scattered and chirruped keenly. I saw
some of them fly close to the ground;
others rose into the thick cedar boughs.
Will clutched me by the arm. "a
hawk" he added, cts got one. Loollr'
He pointed with his bow, and I quickly
caught sight of great brown hawk,
sure enough, heavily winging along
under the trees and bearing in its
claws a futtering grouse.
My first impulse was to pursue and,
If possible, kill the successful marau-
der. but Will held me back. He was
reckoning upon a better exploit
"Now's our time he eagerly whis-
pered. "They are frightened, and have
hidden themselves. They'll lie close.
If were careful we can get a lot of
'em. Keep perfectly cool"
There spoke the knowing sportsman
and naturalist knowledge is power,
If you can but convert it into wisdom.