Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-25
WITH GUN IN HAND.
MIR. NJ. ID. HART DISCUSSES THE
PLEASURES OF THE HUNT.
AN EARNEST PLEA FOR +" BOB. WHITES
Member of the Old Dominion Gun
Club Hopes the Legislature VIII
Pass Stricfer Laws for Their Pro-
lection.
tcctiOn.

Mr.. NJ. D. Hart, an enthusiastic mem
Der OF the Old Dominion Gun Club. Of this
city, writes for the Dispatch the follow
ing article on shooting, which will be oil
much interest TO all lovers of the fowlins
piece: "a man never grows so old that
lie does not recall with pleasure the mem
cries OF the days afieId, especially those
IN which some fine shooting was done. we
young Virginians follow the lead OF our
fathers, and though We may not have
time or the means they had, still we have
inherited their sporting qualities. y goou
many of us still hold an interest In the
old homesteads where each fall We hunI
over the hunting-grounds of our youth.
and we may not bag as many BOZ
Whites" as the "old gentlemen" bat /
doubt II they had any more enjoyment or
could make any better excuses for miss
ing "dead-easy" shot. l remember when
a boy with what pleasure the arrival OF
some fine shot from the city with his fine
breech-loadng gun and high-bred bird.
dog, 10 hunt with my father or nelghoor'
Colonel W. A. Winston IN those days one
Of the best bird-shots in the State), was
anticipated. Then the delight, attei the
hunt was over OF knowing, that although
the city man had entered the contest sup
posedly better equipped in every respect
that "Old Brisco" had outponted, COW
cred twice the ground, and completely
used up the high-bred dogs: that Colonel
Winston, although he had given the city
man all the best shots had wiped ms
eyes clean out Of his head and killed from
ten to fifteen more birds each day OF the
hunt. These memories come to me JUST
as wildly as the scenes themselves were.
| am happier for having such treasures
stored in memory's chest. Many readers
OF this doubtless. have similar priceless
treasures in store TO tell tC their sOhs.
CITY MARKSMEN IMPROVING.
I must say that the city men are i'm
proving in their shooting, and hold their
own with their country -sportsmen
better to-day than they did twenty years
ago. l attribute this fact 10 the practice
thy get IN shooting over the traps al
clay-pigeons. This kind Of shooting, al
though materially differing from field
shooting, incuicates the FIRST principle
that is. "hoding on your bird-for you
cannot break cay-pigeons without a
true aim, and with true aim Bob White
fares no better than a clay-pigeon | am
not certain how many gun clubs there
are in Virginia who shoot ay-pigeons,
but ] think about twelve. Richmond
boasts of four-West END, Deep Run,
Lakeside. and Old Dominion. The interest
in this class Of shooting Is steadily in
creasing. II offers to the young clerk or
boOk-keeper, who cannot afford to go
OF on a hunting trip an opportunity for
a little shooting.
THE PASSING or LOB WHITE"
While We are all improving in shooting,
poor Bob White" is decreasing in num-
bers. The old Virginia gentlemen are
strenuously opposed TO any law which
would make a limit 10 the number of
birds that they shall Kill in a day on their
own premises. / doubt If they have given
this matter the thoughtful attention II
should nave. For my part | had rather ne
able 20 kill few birds each fall the
balance of my life than 90 out neX- IA J.,
break the record kill hundred OF birds.
and never see one again Whers are the
buffalocso Where are the wiid pigeons
All slaughtered. butchered. by red and
white devis-not sportsmea. In a few
years our sons viii be- asking where are
the "Bob Whites? There re many ways
VI Ii'NNNNlllo Jul chliAa hbh's i4N III -
step 10 be taken is for tn country and
city sportsmen to join hands The coun
try man thinks city sportsmen wish the
birds protected for their benefit at the
expense Of the farmer. l have lived in
the country and in the city, and when /
say the. average city man goes hunting
for the pleasure. and not for the meat,
| speak the truth. lie is willing 10 pay
for the privilege Of hunting, IL necessary,
and has no desire to antagOniZe the farm
er in any way. He Is me man depend
ant on the farmer, and not the farmer
on him. Most of the States just north OF
US have recently revised and strengthen
ed their game laws. and it IL hoped by
the gun clubs that when our next Legis-
lature coHvenes that each member may
come instructed to strengthen ours.