The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-19
Partridge Shooting in America.
(By Dwight ". Huntlngton.)

VIII move to the nearest GROUND whore
t t Is abundant and the soil moist enough
Tor boring Once when duck shooting
came upon tremendous number 81 these
nirds about the shore Of lake where the
naa come from many miles ot surrounding
country which was thoroughly dried IN.
There arc many clubs IN America witch
own grounds where these partridges are
propagnted and carefully looked after u
70 furnish sport for the club members In
the autumn. These clubs usually have
from twenty 10 100 or more members aud
they usually own farm or tract OF land
ana rent the shooting privileges over miles
put out In the spring II the year In time
70 nest and raise coveys for the fal shoot
ing The birds are procured from the
west, most ct them come from the Indian
put out several thousand birds and these
are bought for about 81 or 81 per dozen
Inc Robbins Island club on the island In
feemlc bay. usually llberates about 600
other Northern States 1t seems necessary
10 procure new birds each year. The
severity OF the Northern wintcrs-has l be
lleVe, as much to do With the dimInntion
OF the coveys rs the shooting and Il isl
possible the birds from the Indian Territory
are not as hardy as those hatched further
North II will not be long before Il Is
difficult to get any birds Tor restocking the
preserves since there are laws against tran.
ping them IN force almost everywhere The
CLUBS would do well to prohibit the shoot-
serve some entire coveys Of native birds
with which 10 rcstock the covcys another
year THE Of course could hardly he done
at the Robbins Island club or al any Climb
where the area is small, hut on the larger
preserves certain farms might well be set
ASIDE for breeding purposes. few uu.
broken coveys would winter much better
than the remnants Of hocks MUCH shot M
The partridges sleep OH the around i'm
concentric huddlee with the tails nli nolnt
Ing in to the center, the birds toucning each
9pther, wing to wing TO form the circle
Pressing closely together they no Doubt
keep warmer when the circle contains All
the birds and with the heads facing out
wardly there is a lockout in every direction
10 give warning of tAe approach of enc
niles. In addition TO the wild animals
which prey upon these birds many of mo
domestic cats from the farms have n de-
SSiaed liking for them. and ] have often
most likely partrtdges covers. used TO
own large and powerful setter which
was very fond Of meeting cats In the Illi
OF them.
The foxes are responsible for tho loss
of many birds and on ono occasion had
the satisfaction Of killing one of these
animals over a point, the fox being close
to covey which took wing at the report
OF my gun. / cut the rascals throat with
a load Of No. s as he scampered out Of
some briars The dog | had on that occa
sion was very fond Of chasing hares aud
he gave me q very appealing look lust
before the fox took flight, but to his credit
he held his point firmly.
Most Of the partridge clubs have rules
regulating the shooting aud prohibit the
clubs prohibit the shooting on certain DAYS VS.
a rule of the Wyandanch club provides
tnat No member Of the club shall Kill
partrldgesl on the club grounds in a week
Weeks to commence on Monday and end on
Saturday evening. Twenty-Five birds In
week may be we'll enough for Long Is
land. but on a Southern preserve the limit
might be much larger without diminishing
me game; On the preserves In England
Europe. tremendous bags are made in 4
day, but care is taken 10 see that enough
are spared TO insure an abundance of birds
Tor another season.
Many of the shooting clubs are so sit
gated as to provide variety Of sport,
Some Of the Island clubs aud clubs about
excellent shooting at wild fowl and shore
BIRDS and also keep mp preserves for part
ridges and pheassnts I flushed a large
pheasnnts In a diort rsmble from the
Winous Point club house last autumn and
az the same time saw many mallards in
the air AT Robbins Island they tried tn 9
experiment Of putting out prairie chickens.
but they all Ae~ away from the Island
una were supposed 10 nave gone tn Con
necticnt since one was reported to have
been seen there. There Is no reason WHY
these grouse should not he restored ou
preserves where they were formerly abunl
cnt-in Ohio and Kentucky and many other
States.
Many Of the clubs are simply formed a
few friends get together and purchase some
good shooting ground and rent the shooting
on certain farms for term of years. Many
of the duck clubs began in tent or tents
beside some lake or stream Some ~ the
clubs however, are organized upon lines
more extravagant and have fne buildings
many house servants and punters, guides
and gillies The club buildings at Jekyl
Island much resemble those OF a sensible
resort and ] recently saw It stated that
many people labor under the impression
that Iekyl Island is a resort and write for
rates only to discover that the whole Ia
land belongs to a private club.
The season for partridge shooting should
begin not earlier than October 10. and
should close January T. In the South
where there Is little or no show the spa-
son might continue until February J. The
best partridge shooting is to be found IN
North Carolina. Georgia and Florida and
thence west to- Eastern Kansas and the
Indian Territory. The birds are probably
as abundant in certain counties OF South
Illinois as anywhere.
There are a number Of clubs in Pennsyi
vanla which control the shooting over
Nittany valley, has a fine club house and
controls also the dshlng In many trout
streams. The country. however Is more
suitable for the ruled grouse than the
American partridge There are here also a
few wild turkeys and this club has an
excellent opportunity on its vast mountain
Gus estate to raise enough turkeys for