Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-03
|POR7SAEN BAGGING GAME.
opening Of the Reed and Rail
Bird Season.
bANY GUNNERS IN THIS VICINITY
BIRDS Plentiful and of Fine
Quality. 81
the Feathered Giuttons Rather Wild and
Refusing to Allow Themselves Co be
stalked-Isest Places for Hunting = The
Outfit for the Sport.

he feutneren GtuttOns ltutner Wiiu anu
Refusing to Allow Themselves 60 be
stalked-Best Places for Hunting = The
Outfit for the Sport. t
Nearly every Wilmingtonian with
hunting proclivities who owned or
sould borrow gun and could spare the
lime hied himself bright and early
m Tuesday to the marshes in quest
u reed and rail birds, and at times the
@boise coming from the direction of
'>he Delaware river sounded like
|oombardment.
S The game law gave permission to
laughter the birds, and several hun
red people took advantage of the OPP
bortunity. Some who returned early
Exported that the birds were plentiful,
but tritie wild. Several good bags
Fere brought in, however, and as
ule the gunners were satisfied with
The result
Several favorite hunting grounds
have been closed against the sportsmen,
hpd consequently the field was some-
what reduced in size. This, coupled
with the fact that there appeared to be
more men out cunning, will probably
shorten the season somewhat. or rather,
Thin out the birds at an unusual rate.
I One sportsman who returned after
short trip 10 the hunting grounds, said
liz appeared to him that when the birds
Iwere frightened they went direct TO
the places on which trespassing has
been forbidden, just as if they could
read the signs This is quite plausible,
as the birds would naturally go where
there were no intruders.
sn1. a.. -
fgood quality and quite fat. Indeed
they are well worth cunning for.
In an article on reed and rail birds
1.-The New York Sun says that there is
lone thing for the average city tyro to
{remember, and that is that it is not
Ian easy thing to find and shoot these
birds IL he is green at the sport, he
would do we'll to open his pocket and
get good guide to instruct him.
The best spots in previous years have
been along the Pennsylvania and Della
| ware shores Of the Delaware river, and
all up and along its numerous tribu-
| tares. From Borlentown to Penns-
vile, Bristol, and Tullytown to Angus
tine Pier, there are many good spots
known to the local men. while over in
Jersey there are Monason island, Ches-
I fer Island. Tinicum Island and Reedy
Island, all of which are surrounded
with a network of. creeks winding
1 through the meadows to empty into
| the great river.
Owing to the sudden close of the
very hot spell the reed crop has not
properly matured its seed. III the hot
spell had lasted another four or five
| days the seed would have spilled. AS
| it was the milk was Just set, and then
| the sudden cold nipped it, according
| to the reports sent in by local men.
The consequence will be that the reed
birds will be rather wild and will de-
cline to allow themselves to be stalked
until the seed is fully ripe, and the
/ little feathered gluttons settle down to
gorging feed, which will take up
. their attention and enable the gunner
to got within fair range. Then at the
discharge they will cnly rise and will
at once settle to commence feeding
again. When the feeding upon the
unripe reeds they get up and
fly for couple OF hundred yards
at least. By the end of the first
week of the season the reeds of the
river front meadows should be bursting
ripe if the present weather lasts. Ii
should be remembered that the milky
reed does not fatten the birds, ano
those shot before tho time when they
can feed properly would not rank at
'cullings" when the season is in full
swing.
The outfit for the sport includes
good l2-bore gun which will take al
ounce and half Tor quarter) of No
| shot tsome prefer No. l0;, and make
very even pattern at 60 yards. Ii thu
gun shoots at all patchy it will handi
cap the sportsmen badly. Ii there il
any doubt in the sportsman's mind al
to the spread Of his gun, let him taxi
sheet of white paper, draw on IL |
circle of 324 inches diameter, and fir,
ut it from 40 to 60 yards. Then lot hin
examine the pattern made, noting th
opening spaces left without shot mark
through which a reed bird nigh
escape. He may then make the OK
pertinent of firing cartridges whicl
have an extra thin wad over the shot
and if that does not prove satisfactor
he may try an extra wad over tn
powder between it and the shot.
neither of these devices acts to his sat
isfaction he should consult gunmake
as distinguished from gun seller
Use smokeless powder.
With a good gun, neutral colore
suit of clothes, fiat-bottomed boat
and man who knows how to pole il
and where TO pole it, there ought to !
no difficulty in getting fair bag i
good surroundings.
As to cooking reed birds, the bel
method is to take a dozen freshl
killed, as fat as possible, cut of leE
and wings, pluck them and pick tt
skin oil the head, taking tho eyes out
wipe and clean neatly, but do not was
them. Then with skewer remoN
the gizzards from the sides and cow
each breast with thin slice of fat sa
pork. Arrange them four on kidnt
skewer and lay them in roasting pal
Season with a pinch OF salt, spref
over them little butter, and roast
a hot oven for seven minutes. Reno
to a dish with six hot toasts and o
at once.
Rail birds should be drawn al
wiped, slit through the back witho
uetachipg the parts, and season,
with pinch of salt. half pinch
pepper, and teaspoonful OF olive {
mot cottonseed). Then foll them W,
around in the oil, broil for four mi
utes, and serve on a hot dish, wi
arawn butter in separate receptat
to be used il desired.
Great Council linp'd. q. II. NJ.
ln A