The San Francisco call., 1897-09-25
Small GAME
WILL SUFFER
The Season for Quail and
Duck Shooting Near
at Hand.
Farmers Will Not Permit Hunt
ing During the Dry
Weather.
Olympic Gun Club Will Celebrate
Tomorrow on the Sonoma
Preserve.

The season when it shall be lawful to
shoot and have in possession quail and
wild duck Is near at hand, and, OF course,
that means very extensive preparation
among the lovers OF the chase for hot
time on the old grounds, October l.
Sportsmen were in hopes that the recent
change in the weather would result in a
damper for the country at large, but old
Jupiter Pluvius cannot always be relied
upon, and once again he fooled the people,
especially those who expected to have the
pleasure of seeing their dogs ranging beau
tifully on the inaugural day OF the season
over sprinkled hilsdes.
But while there is lie there is hope. and
who can say with any degree of certainty
that the gentleman in charge of the big
flood gate on high may not alter his
mind and give us wet when least ex-
pected
Itis hoped by all true lovers of quail
shooting that the parched lands over
which quail hunters will tramp in quest
of the fast-fiying game that is indigenous
of the soil Will receive washing by Octo-
ber /, as under the present condi lions
very little good work can be expected from
eithe- pointer or setter.
This has been remarkably good breed
are plentiful in many parts of the country
where local sportsmen visit during the
game shooting season. In case the wet
weather holds off fo- any length OF time,
sportsmen should not forget that cigar
cite or a cigar which is cast away careless
ly while IL is in an intlammatory state
may cause serious damage to farmers in
terests. is the dread of conhagration
that has caused many well meaning ranch
ers to put up notices warning hunters from
their lands and they cannot be blamed
for keep ping close eye upon sportsmen in
general
OF course, those who mean well must
suffer from the wrong-doings OF others.
Generally speaking, a farmer viii not re-
fuse any man permission to shoot over
his property if he (the farmer) is politely
asked the privilege. But, generally
speaking, the riffraff of the hunters walk
right into the rancher's demesne and shoot
away regardless of what damage they
may do.
The olympic Gun Club will entertain its
m EN- bers and friends tomorrow at its
preserve in the Sonoma marsh. A splen-
did time is promised all who will attend.
Live birds will be on hand for those who
may fancy a little trap shooting during
the afternoon.
A special boat will leave this city to-
morrow morning for the accommodation
of he sportsmen.
The following amusing article appeared
recently in an Eastern exchange relative
to decov COWS foG goose-shooting. 1t says:
Years ago the first man-as we have been
informed by old resident of ST. Louis-to
use IN imitation OF a COW a movable blind
was said 10 have operated his scheme in the
fields and lowlands on the Illinois side of the
Mississippi River, where geese and brant
were prone to rest and feed invariably in the
open, far from fence, hush or other cover.
Now, however, it is expected decoy COW will
be placed on the market, at least one has been
devised by q Western man, who wants a
patent for it. The im mtation COW is described
as being made of flexible material, with coll
lapsible frame work that it may be folded into
a small space when transported. When two
men are in position within the device and it
is desired to fire at game the man who occu-
pies the forward legs folds the head down by re-
leasing sp1ng, while the rear man must shoot
from beneath curtains or flaps No doubt di-
rections for entering and getting out of the
finished decoy will be furnished with it if it
is ever sold; or it may be necessary to display
warming signals or placardS when the occu-
pants safety may be endangered In this re-
garo it is easy to imagine the anger of some
farmer on seeing a strange cow feeding in his
wheat field. AS matter of course his first
impulse would be TO drive it away and the
methods he would probably follow to accom-
plsh this end are painful 10 contemplate, to
say nothing of enduring them. Suppose he
would set his dogs on the strange animal, or
pursue 1t with heavy whip, or even the old
fashioned cruel but effective charge of salt
We fancy the patent-applied-ford decoy's move
ments would resemble not the graceful stride
of the bovine, but rather that of two men il a
painful situation and great haste.
Tomorrow the Reliance Gun Club will
hold its final biuerock shoot at the
Webster-street grounds, and the Empire
ct Alameda Point.