The Washington times., 1901-07-15
A POOR wooDcocK SEASON.
The Recent Wet Weather Has Driven
the Game to High Ground.

| The wet weather following the recent
| hot spell of the early part of the month
has not been relished by local sportsmen,
| as ii has interfered considerably with
their sport. The only open season now
is that for woodcock. The birds have
! taken to the high ground since rains
have been prevalent, and are difficult to
bag. The woodcock season opened on
July l. Sport since then has been very
Indifferent, although some good bags
have been secured.
Local gunners are complaining of the
open violations of the game laws, which
they declare are being broken every day
by game dealers in the Washington
markets. In all of the markets, say the
sportsmen, game of all description can
be obtained il the party who desires to
purchase is well known to the dealers.
They declare that game birds of all de-
scriptions are packed away in the vari-
Gus cold storage plants, and that the
birds are being sold. To offer such birds
for sale is contrary to law.
The game laws for the District. as
amended by the last Congress, are also
being criticised somewhat among local
experts with the shotgun. They point out
that while the close season for woodcock
ttiuS III tIle DlSlTlCl Oh 1pluUlDld on july
/, it is terminated in Maryland and Vir-
ginia fifteen days earlier. There should
be uniform game laws for the District,
Maryland. and Virginia, they say, as
the present state of affairs is not salts
factory. Many Washington sportsmen
spend several days on the Patuxent River,
Maryland. about the opening of the
Maryland season, but although sport is
nj maj hirlC air i'm ria IA llNr
obtained. there is fine for bringing the
birds into the District.
Speaking Of woodcock. a well-known
sportsman of this city said last night
that most OF the birds which are found
in this vicinity are migratory, and that
there is no necessity to protect them by
law. What few birds are bred in the
District and the neighboring counties
are hatched in March. and are full grown
long before the close season ends. They
do not criticise the game laws entirely.
Such laws the District now has are
a step in advance, they say, but they are
tory.
Just before the close season terminated,
during the latter part of June, woodcock
were plentiful in this vicinity The birds
the city, and were in first-class condi-
tion. 1t was against the law at that time
TO kill them. When the season opened
the hot weather had been broken, and
rains drove the birds 20 high ground,
where it was difficult to bag them. on
this account the woodcock season this
year is not so good as it has been
formerly. Early in the month a few eX-
cellent bags were secured. but there is
very little activity among local hunters
at the present time. Many of them have
left the city, and report to their friends
here that sport is good in Virginia and
North Carolina.
The favorite haunts of the woodcock
are in the marshes near Analostan Isl
Of = IA iraG tglra
have come from that locality. In
former days. which old gunners look back
to with considerable pleasure, great sport
was enjoyed within gunshot of the city.
Rich Island, in the upper Eastern
Branch was a favorite resort of the
gamy woodcock, and a days sport there
always resulted profitably to the hunter.
Hog Island, at the head of Turkey Creek,
Beaver Dam, and Thoroughfare, Md,
between Beaver Dam and Bladensburg,
were also stamping grounds for the
toothsome fowl. Along Lincoln Banks,
and on the swamps back of the Reform
School. birds of this variety were always
to be found. but in later years they have
decreased in number and pot hunters
have contributed to spoil the sport to
some extent. When the weather is right.
however, some of the best sport is to be
had not many miles from Washington.
This year there have been very few birds
killed.
Among the well-known local gunners
who have made a few bags since the
close season for woodcock ended is the
veteran, William Wagner. reputed to be
Mr. Wagner is now at the Mount Vernon
Ducking Clubhouse, opposite Glymont,
on the Virginia side OF the river Sport
here is always good. Some of the other
Washington gunners who have enjoyed "A
taste of sport in killing the dainty wood
cock are William Steele. John Peyton,
Arthur Mattingly, Ralph Nutting. w. c.
DuvaIl. and S. F.. O'Brien, all well known
In local cportiug circles.