The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
HUNTING DOCS TILT VEAL SHOES.
= Nebraska scheme That Works-r!nc Grouse
shooting at Hand Among the Pops.

SHOOTING ut Hnnu Among me fOpA-
OMAHA. Neh.. Aug. 2s.-Thc closed season for
prairie chickens in Nebraska will end on Sept. /.
Dozens OF hunting parties have been arranged
all over the STATE to begin the slaughter within
the next Jew days. I; IL y be n matter OF inter
est to sportsmen generally to know that the
prairies OF Nebraska are this year fairly alive
with piLnatod grouse. and the pretty brown
creatures are rs easily approached as any hunter
'ou.; desire. Those who have been out IN the
state looking over the favorito grounds and
haunts of the chickens are unanimous IN the
statement that the birds are more numerous
Than for ten years in Nebraska. This is due
partly to climatic conditions favorable TO the
grouse. partly 10 the splendid feed this year so
plentiful in the State, and partly TO the better
protection recently given the birds against pot.
hunters during the closed season.
Though prairie chickens have remained more
numerous in Nebraska than in any other we'll
settled Western State. the sport has been re-
duccd to , science here. Though even the sport
ing world at large may not be aware Of the fact,
hundreds of dogs have been trained TO wear
shoes in the fell while hunting pinnatcd grouse
in Nebraska. This may sound absurd TO tho
veteran sportsman at first, but a little consid-
Grafton will make clear the practical advantage
OF having a hunter that must travel over dozens
OF miles OF stubble or virgin prairie il a days
quest for chickens shod with something more
durable than what nature has provided. The drst
complaint OF the man who expects to hunt Tor
more than two consecutive days on the Nebraska
prairies is that his dogs will not stand it. Their
feet will be too sore at the end of the second
days hum. Within the last few years this Diff
Guilty has been overcome by the introduction OF a
heavy canvas shoe. which Hts the dogs foot
: closely. rnd is tied snugly at the ankle. II may
! be mentioned, however, that ii is just as diiiicult
to teach a huAt r to wear shoes IS 10 hunt
grouse. Several years ago these means OF pro-
tcCting dogs feet from the briars and stubble
were introduced Is an experiment 10y Col. Robert
Coffin. a veteran sportsman OF Randolph. Neb.
Gons. He entertained many parties from Chi
cago. New York, Omaha. AID Kansas City
in the Gntsken season; an, he found his
feet OF The dogs, lie then commenced
: system OF tr lining his, dogs TO wear shoes. At
rrat thcy insiste On lying down and chewing
the canvas of their feet as fast as i was scwed
on, hut EraduaI.y they took To the IDEA, and now
Col. Co,lin hunts his Gordons regularly in shoes.
One pair OF sho D will last a cog II season.
snd they can be easily, made by sportsnen;
hunters who hunt their dogs constantly nuring
the open season for chickens md, quail use tho
one bad ic turc OF this Invention, however, is
the cAg,rness with which the market hunters OF
the state have adopted il, Formerly The aver.
less slaughter OF prairie chickens, at least two
days n week 10 give his dogs a chance TO rest
their feet, but now he hunts seven DAYS a week,
early and late, regardless OF the weather.
The market hunter has been the nc Of the
course. true in, Il measure of every state III
which markctnhls game Hhonnds, but II is
ave years ago the pilnntGi grouse were so
nHmcroAS IN AL arts OF ;he state that a bag OF
MY could he N de ensil% w!th one gun in "a
lays shoot. This cou.a be done within
my nilrs OF Omaha as easily as in the Isolated
Icrs began work n earnes, throughout ,Nebras,
kN. The game law OF tie state wla the slme
then = now. prohibiting he killing u chi kens
hc'wcen December an" September. but it was
'%SuOrr'. Some Of The sporting associ. tons oil
the state mad, An effort to step the tlligit
triCts was opposed Ia ID" law. The farmers
knew personal ) the maIke, hunter; they knew
t"rt a large tarnily. = what m"tiered it 't' 70 III.
farmer II he chickens we're EXTERN mated
ely man who came ony on sunday to Will,
away n day. while the VI ,rket hunlcr wa,
s." g p.Snr,g { ;ions hi lad f1 10 byy secured BY the With ' jSris.
com POSED OF m,n of This settlement. the legiii
mate sportsmrn sool' tired OF the PROSECUTION OF
NJ their pie sure. 1t WAS different, however. i
a city man mn TO shoot during the closct
, him., and b. forced to pay "a fine. 1t was this srs
TEN that thinncd out tho prairie chickens tina
, formerly ,swjarmed over the state in covics o
, TIL, : year things are ch'nged a little. In the
: Two M, AZ annendTefd' prrorid mg thai uh"|I WTaiir !,
, chickens could not be transported by pablo ear
, rler1 OF tho state during the closed season. am
specifying IN Il where birds were foun in iinS
! SESSION - ind vida lis or express companies The.
4 should he iniHoii tely COitscatud an! dislrit
, uted i1niors the worthy poor OF the township ii
which They were seized.
y Early in the year the Omaha Dun Club deter
: mined to make an eIOrt 10 protect the birds
Many OF the officials Of the express ronpanic
and railroads contring in Oman are lovers q
3 sports hticld, ami secretly prep ROD 10 strike IA
! market hunters IA fatal bow. They argued lhn
. % destroy the chances OF tinding a market 10
. thng me would prevent the slaughter, Sine
all Ihp pnnn ia EnIt n.thHp In Omaha l'hirau ~
: 81. Joseph. Kansas City, or SIOUX Giiy, thGs
officials arranged so that the moment
box OF chickens wac received by an expires
company out in The state II message would Il
semi 20 the Omaha Gun Club showing IN
deslin ton OF the game. IT came I
ON ha was seized imIuedlairly; II TO. som
oihcr point, wOrd " 3 SOM 10 a. -nn club "A
that place ana the Illicit cons ;nu''n' token po'
Session OF. After 4 few OF tLc-c 'onsIHnments
containing several ioZen chickens we're car
tur"d The market hunters abHnnonmn Nebraska
as they found IL too ,&.ynsiye, This Is on