The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-11-10
FINE QUAIL
ARE PLENTY.
More Abundant This Year Than
For Some Time Past.
HUNTERS ARE GETTING READY.
Season Opens Next Friday and the Dogs
VIII BE on TriaI--Some Poin-
ters to Parents and
Sports,

Sports.
Every lover of dog and gun is looking
forward with feverish expectation and
eagerness to the opening of the quail
season next Friday, the 10th. Reports
from all sections, backed by personal
observation during strolls through the
fields indicate that there are this year
more quails in the country than there
has been for many years. This is due
to the favorable winters and the law
recently passed making it unlawful to
sell quail in the markets of the state
or ship them outside of the state. This
law put an end to hunting this beau
tiful game bird by market hunters, who
had not the slightest spark of sporting
lsblood in their veins, but who took ad-
vantage of the birds when huddled on
the ground and killed large numbers
at a single shot, generally crippling
what got away.
Every hunter knows the thrill of ex-
ultation and expectation that tingles
along the nerves, when on opening day,
after casting your dogs into stubble,
| you see them make feather for awhile
and then come to point. See how the
dogs stand, with stiffened tails, pro-
truding eyes and trembling muscles.
1t is the first experience of the season,
and the question is, will the dogs hold
staunch, or will their eagerness cause
them to flush. The hunter approaches,
and the dogs hold. The birds are flush
ed, and the guns speak. You hit-or
miss 1t makes no difference The sport
is in it, just the same. The covey is
followed and then the fine work on sim
giles begins. Don't follow too soon, If
you expect your dogs to find them read
lily. For after their rapid flight through
the air the birds drop into heavy cover
and it is some time before the scent has
spread sufficiently to allow the keen OIL
factories of your canine friend to To-
cate them. Dogs are often censured for
lack of care or scent, when the lack is
in the judgment of the hunter. Often
times when hunters have failed to find
scattered birds upon following them up
Immediately, by returning to the same
ground half an hour later, the dogs will
find and point at long distance birds
that could not be located before.
bNGIy True opOl WIN plSlGhuS W
shoot on the wing or is ambitious to
learn the accomplishment, should at the
outset of the season, make a resolution
not to shoot at a quail on the ground.
Take them flying or let them go. Keep
whacking away, as the boys say, and
after awhile you will begin to drop
large per cent of your easy shots and oc-
casionally catch "screamer," that in
10 CT would baUa saapna6 nj 1ponct
possible to hit. The result is worth the
ammunition and the time.
There is no sport so exhiliarating as
that of hunting. One could hardly stand
to tramp from dawn till eventide over
hill and vale without the inspiring ex-
pectation of the quarry that is ahead.
And after fruitless hours Of tramping,
when feet and limbs are weary and
heavy, how the sight Of game will chase
away fatigue and shorten distances.
There is something in all this that tones
up the nerves as no tonic or nostrum
can do, and few days afield in the crisp
November air fortifieS one for the labor
and confinement of the coming winter.
1t adds length to ones days, vigor to
the mind and gives a sparkle to the
eye. How much more wholesome and
beneficial physically and morally such
a pursuit is when compared with many
other sports that attract young men.
Don't discourage your boy If he wants
to hunt. Give him few lessons on how
to handle gun and let him go. He is
safer in the fields than in the town.
caution or two to hunters. When |
you start out, especially with young
dog, do not commence shooting rabbits. |
If you do that dog, and often old, well
broken dogs, will size you up as rab-
bit hunter, and they will give most at
tention to what they suppose is your
faVorite game, to the neglect of the |
birds. Don't rush forward and get ex-
cited every time you see bird fall, for
if you do, your dog will eep pace with
you in the rushing business, and will
ever after break shot.
Do not act the "game hog with your
companion. If a bird gets up on his
side, let him have the shot 1t is his
due, and If he is a gentleman, he will
accord you the same treatment. Do not
under any circumstances, flush covey
that dog is pointing without getting
your companion on the ground to Sc
cure a shot. With a single II Is differ
ent, especially if each has dog in the
field
Do not abuse every farmer that comes
out and tells you that he does not allow
hunting on his farm. The land Is his.
Very often few courteous words will
secure privileges that otherwise could
not be secured either with the contents
Of pocet book or bottle.
Don't point your gun toward any one.
Don't get into a rig with shells in your
gun. And lastly don't be a fool when in
the field.