The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-16
Hunters Were Out in
Large Numbers for
the Game Birds,
NO BIG BAGS WERE BROUGHT IN.
The Thick Foliage Makes
the Shooting Tiresome
and Poor.

cartridges and woodcock in covers
within a radius of a score of miles of
Worcester realized, yesterday, the law
was off before the day had fairly
broken. The merry crack of the shot
gun was heard in the brush frequently,
and many bird tumbled before the
certain aim of crack hush shots.
1t was-not big opening in the es-
timation of sportsmen, for conditions
were not favorable for knocking down
birds. The day was a good one, but
good weather isn't the only requisite
for successful work in the brush. The
underground is too thick and not a
leaf has fallen, SO that gunners We're
every advantage. When a bird was
started the gunner had a vision like
a dream of riches.
Hunting was hard work yesterday.
The ice storms of last winter left their
mark, and many a hunter said things
under his breath as he tumbled over
branches, which fell during the storm.
| The footing was the worst spOrtsmen
have found for years, and made prog
ress through the brush extremely la
borious. When they held the round up
last evening in the quarters in Day
building, a more tired set of hunters
| was never seen. Only the most en-
| thusiastic want any more sport until
| the leaves fall and they can secure
some compensation for the laborious
| task of Wading through dead branches.
Considering the handicaps which
Worcester sportsmen labored under,
there were several respectable bags re-
| ported last evening. The consensus of
opinion was that birds are plenty and
| hunting will be good later in the sea-
| son, after the frost gets in it's work on
| the leaves and gives sportsmen a
chance to see a bird for more than
| second.
Various expeditions went out yester-
| day and went in all directions Some
wal o. to covers not far from the city.
| Othels went by team to more distant
| towns, where reports of good hunting
| were rife. Many of The hunters had
| sized up covers before the opening of
| the season, and, having started birds
galore, went out yesterday with great
| expectations. In mary instances they
were disappointed. The covers which
were full of birds a few days ago were
deserted yesterday, and new ones had
to be sought out.
Just where the various parties went
nobody knows except themselves, and
they are not telling. 1t was strange
that the several parties didn't run
| against each other for all went lover
there" But no conflict was reported,
which leads one to think that over
there" must be a large territory.
Jay N. Smell and Levi Redfield
brought in the best bag. They knocked
down II partridges. They were headed
rnGf 1,-
Worcester. They hunted over Mr..
Smells setter Rab.
Fl. P. Emory, Fred Bucklin, Dwight
Pratt and William Garrepy, Jr., made
up party which went to a country
town north of the city. They hunted
with Mr. Bucklin's Dick and Mr.. Pratt's
Shot. They knocked down four part
ridges and three woodcock. Mr. Gar
repy owes the party the cigars for a
bird he thought he had, but didn't Mr.
Bucklin hunted in hard luck for por-
ton of the day, and didn't get good
shot at anything until we'll into the
afternoon When he killed his first bird,
he and Mr.. Emory, who was his ..un-
ming mate, set up vigorous cheering
that attracted the attention of the 9TH
ers, and brought them to the scene of
the Kill to learn what caused such COM
motion. When they learned the cause
they went away laughing. Shortly af-
ter Mr.. Garrepy got sight of a bird and
let go. He tumbled it. and instantly
set UP a yell to rival that which Mr..
Bucklin and Mr. Emory had started.
The others FASTENED towards him. Mr..
Garrepy had begun his cheering too
soon, however. The partridge gave
the hunter the merry ha-ha, and, dart
ing into another cover. got away.
W. G. Hamilton and George w. Rus
sell brought in good bag of seven
partridges. They hunted over Mr..
Hamilton's Dan.
Tom Davis, Elmer e. Mirick and VIM.
Dowd went north only a short distance
from the city. Mr.. Dowd had been
over the ground few days ago and
started up several birds The hunting
party of yesterday walked to and from
the covers and was pretty tired last
evening. They hunted over Gilbert e
Warren's Dick. They knocked down
four cartridges and one woodcock.
Robert Mason and w. H. Davidson
were out few hours and bagged one
partridge.
brought home one woodcock
John B. Tougas and Charles Steele
had bag of three. two partridges and
one woodcock.
Eugene +. Swan and Walter Hassan
formed a hunting party, DR.. f. ~
Qulnby and Il. L. Smith another, and
Fred Williams of Tatnuck went out
alone on a short expedition. W. H.
Buck and Mark Buck didn't let the
| opening day pass without trying their
luck in the brush,
A few of those who went out yester-
| day announced their intention of try
| ing again today, and hope for better
| success. The majority will make no
| further attempt in the brush until af-
| ter a severe frost clears the brush and
| gives a chance for shot at the bird.