The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-30
eoosr HUNT1Na IN MONTANA.
Exciting Sport with the Brnnt rs They Como
Down from Canada

GOOSE HUNTING IN MONTANA.
Exciting Sport with tho Brnnt rs They Come
Down from CanndR
HELENA. Mon, Oct. 2~2.-Annually at this sea-
| son Of the year there are two "classos" OF peo-
pie In Montana who closely scan the daily
newspapers in search Of news as to the weather
in that part Of Canada lying Immediately
| north OF this State. and whence the billiards.
originate. With one class-the sheep men-it
involves millions Of dollars. Montana is the
largest wool producer In the United States.
and billiards. are likely to catch the ranchers
with thousands OF sheen unprotected on the
ranges. and hence the weather reports receive
| great attention by their owners In the city, so
that the herders may be warned OF the up
preaching danger and get the sheep in corrals.
The other class. the s~portsmen. look forward
to the news OF a blizzard in Canada with great
Joy. Such ar event means for them good
shooting. the best. they say. on this continent.
| even should its name. o wild-gooso chase. belle
the statement.
The Canadian Northwest Territory is sparsely
settled. contains many rivers and small lakes.
and is q splendid feeding ground for wild geese,
| with the result that each summer that country
IL literally alive with them. They are so free
from molestation there that It takes a reg
ular "norther" to start them south; but
when they do emigrate. 1t 70 by the
thousands. About fifty miles east Of Hell
ena is situated the Gallatin Valley. This
valley is about thirty miles long and protected
| on either side by mountains. From Manhattan
| to Logan, q distance Of about ten miles. the
land In this valley is owned by the Manhattan
Mailing Company Of New York and is one
| solid barley field. said to be the largest in
the world This immense field is the first feed
ing ground the brant find In their migration
south. where there is always plenty Of barley
on the ground that has fallen from the ripened
grain q few weeks before.
AS 1t usually takes the storm from twenty-four
to thirty-six hours to reach here from Canada.
the hunter has ample time to prepare for the
sport. The ordinary Montana sportsman is
| ready to accept statements made in the sport
ing magazines OF the greater effectiveness Of q
10 over q 10 gauge gun. in experiments. and
will doubtless tell you the same is true. but
despite this. as fall approaches they are found
preparing their 10 gauges. ready for action at
Manhattan. 1t Is to be noted also that. while
nitro powders are conceded to be quicker and
have greater penetration. and have the prefer
ence in other field shooting. when goose
shooting is on the programme black powder
prevails. Thus the Montana goose hunters are
termed BY some the Ie an n Sn brigade" and b. by
results are satisfactory the hunters do not
Leaving Helena or Butte at IL A. NJ. one will
arrive at Manhattan early in the afternoon.
with ample time to prepare the grave which
f hns G dsee yRaed these he Ss %on Shif BIRDS. L p dei
ponds. OF course. upon the number In the
generally ,speaking. a, trench. sig feet long;
three feet wide and FIVE feet deep Eill
the earth, SO removed be scattered well.
5 %Ssn {. d szsava sf5sFS .n sTo st isia s ssSits1sS
over them. Then the decoys, either tin or
canvas. are staked out on one side only OF the
any DISPUTE as to who killed thL a the big one" dow
the Missouri river, about Ave miles away, and
new feeding fields, hut always returning to the
biz, barley plot. These bIrdS are endowed
vision, II is said that a glove left lying on the
ground has prevented them from alighting.
al the excavation has kept them OF,
and it is absolutely unsafe to keep the head
OF the Te T seen Sy f him. F TRey viii Gnt' n H5te de tas n neSF
a grain ST, stack; and i is i IMP g; to approach oaa
| and get within shooting range. nor has the OK
pertinent OF lying on the ground covered with
straw proved eyccessful.
be that they will come down to a flock OF tin de-
COWS. walk around among them. and never en-
e enab lex the & 'I spors e S$S" aS t%eni az En Ss!dES " t&s
S!es. y. The sq ieit 1 With b; 'f Bs;. r's and P t~o shells Esis
of buekshot, handy. the frail covering ar
ranged 50 that they cannot pierce through
sn Z w;tob One Ter t 9i t ths PARTY rSd blow Il dtsSs a Gotsa
e co Ta a Few s0f times n%s c 70 attract Sao s FieT S%s g E" the
decoys. Then he. too. must attend to his end
Of the pit and7see that the straw covering is
properly arranged. He then blows the call q
boar the 1rst attempt, and all becomes silent.
Not a word must be spoken nor a move OF any
Suddenly the "honk - Of the leader is heard.
The honks come nearer and nearer, and the
tapping of wings is soon noted by the ears Of
and around. each time coming. closer. to the
| earth. and in each revolution flying right over
the cache" An expression has been found
for the tenderfoot upon the. sight Of his first
deer. termed buck fever" but one portraying
the sensations, Of a ,tyro at goose shooting
momentary glance and the flight of the deer. a
continual. heart humping is felt. q wonder
arises If they never will, settle down that ones
Finally they cease their ,hight and may be
heard on the ground close by, when at a slight
Is thrown back. the hunters arise to their feet
with shoulders above ground. and the sport
begins, They have been warned by old timers.
at one bird and pull the trigger. But this is
likely to be forgotten on the spur OF the mo-
mTent and the first shot count for ,naught.
careful, with the result, that the second shot
brings him his prize. The experienced hunter
to the hotel. a mile or so away. q hearty dinner
Is had. The hunters are up at 4 O'Clock the
next morning to repeat the operation. and, re-
they are likely 70 meet with better success. Sc
curing one with each Of, the first two shots.
the men board the train for home. On the train
the game always attracts the attention of tour
lists and makes 1t o proud day for the hunters.