The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-04

=, ta,,ol,,os millions Of dollars. Montana
49,, targoe, wool producer I'm the Unit
"a states. and Billiards are hkeIy 10
c,,ch the ranchers with tno'lsdhuS VI
sbcep unprotected on the ranges anu
5co~o tie weather reports receive great
NJ eption by their owners In the city so
,r.t the hordcrs may be warned OF ihe
opnroaching danger and get the sheep III
ccrrals. -.
THE other class. the spOrtsmen. LOOK
cor,vord To- the news OF a blizzard IN
Canada with great JOY. Such an event
means for them good shooting. ire best.
they say. on this continent even should
It's name a wild-goOse chase. belle the
statement.
The Canadian Northwest Territory -
srarsely settled contains many rivers
and small lakes and is splendid ieed-
Ing ground for wild geese. WIN inc re-
suit that each summer that country Is
literally alive with them. They are 80
free from ulolcstation there that it takes
a REGULAR "northcr" 70 start them south'
bat when they do emigrate. II Is by me
thousands About fifty miles east OF liel-
oun IS situated the Gallatn Valley. rms
valley Is about thirty miles long ana
protected on either side by mountains
From Manhattan 10 Logan. a distance "t
about ten miles. the land in his Valiey
"a owned hv the Manhattan Maitlns
C0mDany of New York and Is one sv,lu
harley field said 10 be the largest III 'he
would This immense field Is the hrst
feeding ground the brant find fn their
migration south, whore there ia always
plenfv OF barley on the ground that mas
fallen from the ripencd grain few weeks
before.
As IL usually takes the storm from
twonty-four 10 thirty-six hours to reach
bore from Canada. the hunter has ample
time 90 prepare for the sport The crdi-
nary Montana sportsman b. READY To ac-
ccnt statements made In the sporting
magazines of the greater effectiveness
OF rs over n 10 gauge gun in expert
mcnts. and will doubtless tell you the
same is true but despite this as fan
approaches they are found preparing
their 10 gauges. ready for action at Man
haitian. II is to be noted also that while
nitro powders are conceded 10 be quicker
and have greater penetration. and have
the preference I'm other field shooting.
when goose shooting rs on the programme
black powder prevails. thus the Mon
taua goose hunters are termed by some
the cannon brigade" ana Nv others tho
"rainmakers" but as long as the results
ore satisfactory the hunters do not COM
plain.
one will arrive an Manhattan curly I'm
me aftoYHo0a with ample time 70 pre-
pare the grave which has been found
to be the only trustworthy plan for de-
ceiying these wonderful birds RI de
nends OF course upon the number N
the party as 10 the size OF the hole 10
DO dug. bat. generally speaking. trench
SIX feet long three feet wide and five
rect deep wifi suffice. Great care mUst
ff vfh rrI h.
scattered well. making the surroundings
appear natural Then a dozen sticks are
laid crosswise over the excavation and
straw scattered over them Then the
decoys. either tin or canvas, are staked
ont on one side only Of the "blind.' so
that one man can shoot from each end
without mixing the results and avoiding
any dispute as 10 who killed the big
ore"
The geese feed I'm 'he fields twice
day morning and evening. spending the
nights on the Missouri river. about five
miles aWay and the days IN travelling
about. apparently seeking new feeding
fields. but always returning 20 the big
barley plot. These birds are endowed
with what seems an unnatural intuition
and vision 10 is said that a glove lett
lying on the ground has prevented them
from aliehting. or an uncovered spade
that was used in digging the eXcava-
ton has kent them off. and H. IS abso-
utelv unsafe 20 keep the head Of the
watcher and "caller" ont. after the flock
can De seen by him. They will not de-
coy near grain stack and II is impossl-
BILE 10 approach flock walking 10y me
SIDE OF Il horse or COW, and get within
shooting range. nor has the experiment.
of lying ON the ground covered with
straw proved successful
The only neglect In their education
seems to boz that they win come down 20
"a flock of tin decoys, walk around among
Them and never entertain suspicion
of anything wrong. and It Is THIS lack
Of learning upon their part solely that
enables the sport 90 bag them Enter
inc the Dit with guns loaded. the right
barrel with No. g. the left with b. Be,
and two shells of buckshot handy, me
fraH covering arranged so That they
cannot pierce through il with their eagle
eyes. an is I'm readiness. one or the
Marty is DESIGNATED 10 watch for the
coming and blow the goose call q Few
fines 20 attract attention 10 the dec0ys.
Thon he too must attend TO his end
of the nit and see that the straw cover
inc is pr0perIv arranged lie then blows
the cali few more times for fear that
the geese did not hear the first attempt,
and all Incomes silent. Not word must
De snokon nor "a move of any kind made.
suddenly the "honk' OF the leader is
heard Tho honks come nearer and near
or and the tapping Of wings IS soon
7otod by tbe ears Of the anxious hunt
ars The geese circle around and around
each time coming closer TO the earth.
ana I'm each revolution flying right over
tho cache" An expression has been
found for the teuderfoot upon the sight
~ hts first deer. termed "buck fever"
but ono portraving the sensations ot
tvro ar goose shooting would be hard 10
IMAGINE. Instead Of a mOmentary glance
and the fieht Of the deer n continual
heart humping IS felt. a wonder arises
If they never will settle down that ones
nervous fingers may pull the trigger
Finally they cease their flight and may
be board Oh tho ground close by. whom
no slight pinch as "A signal FROM the
leader. the covering is thrown back the
hunters arise 10 their feet with should
ers above ground. and the sport begins.
They have been warned by old timers,
while the game is large. to aim care
fully AZ one bird and pull the trigger.
But thfs Is likely 70 be forgotten on fhe
spur of the moment and the first shot
counts for naught. Then the hunter re-
members and is more careful. with the
result that the second shot brings him
his prize The experienced hunter always
gets four shots and four geese. Gong
10 the hotel. n mile or 20 away. a hearty
dinner Is had. The hunters are up az 4
o'clock the next morning 10 repeat the
oneration. and remembering the mis-
takes Of the night before they are ike
foFf