The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-11-12
SEASON OF HUNTING.
II Comes With the scre And Yellow Leaf.
AND NIMRoDs ARE HAPPY.

NOW that the leaves on the forest
trees are turning yellow, the long
grasses of the low lands are withering
and decaying under the singing bite
Ut the autumnal frosts, the ragweed
and the fennel ripening in the wheat
stubble and the pure air acting as
bracer for broken down systems, it is
glorious and healthful for a man to
shoulder his gun and with his dogs
go aheld in quest of the enjoyment
and recreation which come from a
days or a weeks sho oting.
The wild turkey season is on, and
many local nimrods have taken to
the mountains in the eager desire 10
bring down one or more specimens of
this noble American game bird. Re-
ports from the turkey hunting grounds
have been coming in slowly since the
first days shooting, but as the turkeys
are plentiful, and the hunters who
went to hunt them are old timers y
it is fair to presume that upon their
return they will give good account
of themselves. The Tomhicken valley
seems to be the favorite place for the
gamey wild turkey, and there it is
sought, from the seasons opening
day until its close with zest and en-
thusiasm that know no bounds. The
forest between Humboldt and Hope
vile are teeming with wild turkey this
season, and it is hoped that better
sport will be had this than was en-
joyed last autumn, when there SEEM
ed to be a paucity of game of every
kind. DIR. Jenkins of Sheppton,
while driving to Hazleton the other
day, saw and counted sixteen turkeys
along the pike.
This is one element of danger in
turkey hunting, ard this is the proba-
bility of being shot by other turkey
hunters. The successful turkey hun
ter must bring his game to him by
calling, all the time keeping himself
concealed from the birds. Now an
old log or thick bushes generally con-
ceal the hunter while he calls, and
when reckless gunners, prowling
through the mountain Businesses, see
an object moving in the brush or
behind the log, it is not unfrequent
that he cuts loose at it with his old,
single barrel muzzle loader or rifle,
often much to the inconvenience of
the man in ambush.
Deer are said to be plentiful this
season on the North Mountain, and
many OF the fleet rooted and wary
animals have been seen by Hazleton-
ians who have been there this summer
fishing for trout. Since the passage
of the law prohibiting the running of
deer with dogs, the deer have had
more of chance, and have multipli-
ed and grown apace.
Pheasants are showing up we'll, and
a good number have been bagged by
those who delight in this invigorating
pastime. Especially plentiful are they
at Mud Run and along the pike lead
ing from Weaver's farm down through
Rock Glen towards Mountain Grove.
Squirrels are not showing up in any
great number, and this appears
strange considering the vast amount
of feed which abounds in the wooded
section. An old squirrel hunter dis
cussing the matter to day, declared
that their migratory habit was the
cause, and the places that know them
not to-day will see them in profusion
week or month hence.
If reports that come in from the
rabbit sections be only half true, then
the man who finds JOY in chasing the
cotton tail may have every reason to
anticipate great sport with his favorite
game after November 1st, the seasons
opening day.
But the quail shooter must go a
long distance if he hopes to find good
sport. In all the we'll known quail
districts hereabouts the blizzard of
last winter made sad havoc with the
plump little bob Whites, and the well
known covers that last fall abounded
with the merry quail are deserted. In
the spring A. S. Van Wickle, Daniel
Levan, J. f. Barber, Frank Pardee
and others as we'll as the game clubs
liberated large flocks of imported
birds in Sugarloaf township but these
have all disappeared, and the chances
are they have gone back to Virginia
and Tennessee, whence they were
brought.
Plover it appears did not come this
way in their southern flight, and in
consequence not any worth talking
about came to bag.--HaSletOa Senh-
mel.