The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-10

roughing it if the sport is only good.
In many cases the living is plain and
the variety Of the diet limited unless
one is fortunate enough to have the
entree into the home of some well-to-
do planter. In this case he is fortunate
indeed
The country is for the most part
open; massive stretches of broom
straw or broad acres Of stubble, both
interlaced with branches" cut years
ago for the purpose Of irrigation. In
this country the quail lives, roaming
about together happily in coveys. For
the first part of the season they are
loath to leave this open ground, and
when flushed fly on some 200 yards and
then drop down again to. repeat this
operation again and again until they
are scattered and killed by the hunters.
The abundance of birds, and the fact
that they are in the open, gives the
wing shot all he could ask for, and the
mali who cannot make an occasional
double and secure all the birds he de-
sires in an afternoons hunt, must be a
ool shot indeed. Sixty or even eighty
birds is not considered an exceptionally
large bag, and thirty is good average
for an expert shot. In addition to this
there are doves and some woodcock, to
very the monotony of sport, with an
SQulTTGlS
and some wild turkeys If the visiting
sportsman So desires he may join in
the numerous fox hunts held from time
to time, but as a rule northerners are
not horsemen enough to give them
courage 20 risk life and limb in the
wild chase after Reynard.
Owing to the extent of territory and
the distance covered in a day, most of
the hunting is done on horseback, the
party following until the dogs come to
stand, and then alighting and flush
ing the birds on foot A guide is ne
cessary to the stranger. or else an i'm
mense amount of time is wasted in USE
less hunting. In addition there comes
an expense for a dog, unless the visitor
is fortunate in possession of one that
will work the southern covers.
This means an expense, adding board
of about $3.50 per day; 50 for the guide
81 for the horse, so cents for the dog
i and 81 or $3.50 for board Persons
making long stay can find board with
use of horses and dog for $40 or $25 a
month The transient rate is Of course
more.
A. great many sportsmen go south
with the idea that they can hunt with
out the help of either a guide, horse
or dog, and are in consequence disap-
pointed. When one visits a territory
with WHICH ne, IS acquainted, a guide is
not necessary, and horse may be dis
pensed with if the hunter is satisfied
with short trips of say two or three
hours In the forenoon and afternoon
which in reality, are the best times of
the day.
Many sportsman has had an unsuc-
cessful trip because he went south
without a knowledge of the facts given
and his stay was necessarily cut short
by the additional expense on which he
had not planned. Another item of i'm
portance is the outfit. The covers are
very hard on clothing, and nothing but
the best corduroy will stand the wear
and tear of the southern fields, Uttered
as they are here and there with briars
and tangle of brambles. The foot
wear should be the best cavalry style
hunting boot. This serves as a protec-
ton for the legs against the under
growth, and keeps the feet dry in the
swampy places. Shoes and leggings
are worn somewhat, but it is better to