The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-05
BIRD HUNTING
IN VIRGINIA.
The Huntsman Smiles as He Thinks
of the Coming Season.
GAME IS VERY ABUNDANT.
The Call OF the Quail Sweet Music on
the Morning Air-The Old Game
Laws Are Yet in Force-MaHy
Wild Turkeys.
GAME is VERY ABUNDANT

Within a few weeks now the turning
noint of the wears seasons will have come.
the nights will be cool and there will be
a freshness in the early morning. iii1il
will cause the huntsman 10 Zee. asa-ii
that life is worth the living and MI ann
with that impatient eagerness ior Tue
fields of thick stubbe, ana the pare "oous'
win their brown beds OF leaves, ifotl
witch +he uuai! ana the Woodcock Will
,bir when flushed into deeper cover
An he memories OF seasons past, OF long
,ramps and no shooting, the exact spot
where the birds rose, "lefe ttiey sea
tered in the open, and where ne prehe MS
record and the work or MS IdEorite uos
all these, so dear 70 the hunter heiit
win come with fresh interest with the ap-
Mech of fall. The old pointer Will sniH
Tho a;r as he recognizes the coming sea-
cor and take on new energy after tne
Iacl.-intersst, sleepy life he has been fore
ed to lead throughout the passing peace
of the summer The tauliiiar BOD
White, the call of the quail. has been the
constant music in the farm lands OF FH-
einia during the past summer. coming
frorn every green clump and streams
brink above the rattle OF the binder, In
the wheat's golden sheen, as sweet music
Ia the ear OF the harvester AMI note Oh
promise TO the passing hunter.
BIRDS PLENTIFUL.
It is predicted now that birds will be
more plentiful in Virginia next season
than for ten years. AS there have been
no heavy and lasting SHOWS through the
winter great numbers of them survived,
and the summer so far. has been free
from hard and driving rains which are SO
destructive when the birds are yet young
To these favors of the season are attriput-
ed the abundance Of the birds in the STATE
no
true sportsnen-
While the last Legislature was in session
there was a concerted effort on the part
! nj tF,a ht1ntsrner of the State TO have en-
acted a uniform game law. but unfortu-
natelv politics were allowed 10 enter into
the discussion of the law, and IL was de-
feated: so that for the coming season the
old game laws OF the sac remain IN FORCE
THE OPEN SEASON
In some counties the season opens as
early as the 1ss OF October, and In others
on the 18th, but in most OF them quail
cannot be shot until the 1st of November.
which is by far the best date. as prior TO
that time some coveys are found scarce
feathere1 and almost fall at the crack or
the gun. not having been struck by
shot These young birds will invariably
I utter peculiar little note as they rise.
and it takes a novice in the field or man
mean enough to shoot birds on the ground
! to pun a trigger on one of them. When
| a covey so young is found the proper
{, thing to do Is to move on TO the next
! field. as they are too small to serve on
/ toast. and not have your friends suspect
! You OF killing larks or sparrows- NOE IS
there any honor or sport in basginS them
Around Richmond the bris are plenti-
+! full. but soon after the season opens 'hes
! are we'll killed out, as the nearness 20 t'is
city causes the country to be COSBY husi l.-
/: ed Armies OF men and scores or doss
are constantly in the field.
| MONARCH OF GAME BlAp.
The promise for turkey-huntins,i IN NOSE
counties where they are usually io"ha. ~ ~
! said to almost equal that OF the ahan'
(, ard there is in store some oid-time turkey,
| hunting. In the counties of Amelia ana
buckingham. where they naS " ,i anwass
/, nunhsr. There IS about turkey-huns!ng
/ an tndescrlbable fascination that, as the
j advertisements say. must be felt to be
! annreciated. One a victim to 1t will have
DAYS during ",he season" when 1t Is use
/ lass for him to try to accomplish anything.
| for the woods are calling and he must go.
rfaas he kill ANYTHING? Nat aiwaGz. hp