Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-06
CLEANING Up THE OLD sHOTGUNs.
Hunters Getting Ready for the Cus-
tommy spring Duck Cnmp ign.

Hunters Getting Ready for the Cus-
tomnry Spring Duck Campaign.
The duck season is now right at hand
and If the weather is favorable the guns
will be cracking all along the Platte and on
all the shooting grounds in this vicinity.
The birds have been getting more plentiful
during the week and according to all re-
ports there is already a prospect OF excel
lent sport unless the thermometer should go
into an unexpected decline. During the
last day or two the local hunters have been
having their guns cleaned up and their
shells loaded. ready for the beginning Of
the campaign and quite number of them
have planned to go out to Valley. Waterloo
or Honey Creek today. 1t is trife too
carly yet for more extended expeditions, but
II the weather continues open the shooting
will be on in earnest in another week.
Aside from the excellent prospects for
ducks there has been nothing to interest
tho shooters except the regular practice OF
the Omaha Gun club at the Council Bluffs
grounds yesterday afternoon. The annual
tournament Of the Nebraska State Sports
mems association is still good ways in
the future and the Great American Handi-
cap. which is absorbing all interest in trap
shdoting circles, is too far away to excite
any general interest among Nebraska
shooters.
ihe new SHdlleHSe lIOpHy lHdl las just
been put up for competition among the
Chicago trapshooters Is said to be one Of the
most elaborate and artistic medals that has
yet been designed for such a purpose. As
described by the American Field it is con-
structed in the usual form OF a medal, with
bar to which is attached pin for fasten-
ing 1t to the vest or lapel of the coat, and
from this bar Is suspended the medal proper,
which is about the size of twenty dollar
gold piece. but which is a gem of rare
hnn ntttx, and
or pin on the front of which on an enameled
back ground are the words Chicago Chal-
lenSe,' are two guns crossed and a pigeon
| trap. On the face of the medal is a fac
simile Of the seal of the city Of Chicago,
a shield in the center, on the face of which
| is the American flag, and to the right
ship entering the mouth Of the harbor, while
on the left Is the figure OF an Indian brave
| with bow and arrow. Above the shield, in
| sea shell. is the figure of nude child,
while in the scroll below the shield are the
| words "Urbs in Horto" the Latin from
| which is obtained the motto The Garden
| City. The front Of the medal upon which
| the shield, the vessel, the Indian on the
| dock and Lake Michigan are outlined. is
| sunken and the rim around this is studded
with sixteen diamonds, while surrounding
| the whole in the shape of a wreath are
| limitations Of pigeons in Etruscan gold, each
bird taking different fight, and a group
| representing nearly every flight pigeon
| takes on leaving trap.
The Douglas GUN club Of Laramie, Wyo,
| has arranged big trap shooting tour
nament in May. The tournament will in
clude both live birds and target races as
well as a number of rifle matches Several
will also be introduced by way of novelty
and the sportsmen in that part of the west
are looking forward to the event with
| good deal Of interest.
| The first annual tournament OF the Lincoln
Gun club will be held April ~. 13 and A.
! Fifty dollars day will be added to the
purses, but manufacturers agents will be
| barred from all events in which anything
more than the price Of the targets is in
| controversy.
Charley Budd has changed the date of his
Des MoneS tournament to May 10 to 13.
| SOME GENERAL SPORTING GOSSIP