The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-04
PLENTY OF QUAIL
Some Hunters Say These Birds Are
Five Times as Numerous as
Chickens,
Nimrods Are Impatiently Waiting
for the Northern Flight Of
Ducks to Begin,

Hunters VINO nave TGLuTuSu lIOAA IAApS
In quest Of quail this week report that IN
certain localities the fields are fairly alive
with the birds. One hunter said that TAX
ing the state as whole quail outnumpefea
prairie chickens two to one. otneEs
put the ratio even higher, one setting his
estimate at five to one |
In the northern parts Of the state some |
Of the best shooting Is reported Around
Osakis the quail, according to reports
from that point fairly swarm around the
outskirts Of the town, and one citizen
killed with his cane bird Wh1eh mao
flown into his house. Around Ashpy also
the quail are very numerous
There are however, many points WIN
In easy driving distance of Minneapolis
where the hunter can shoot all the quail
the most greedy could desire. Along the
Minnesota river bottoms from Barden to
Shakopee and a little beyond, the plrds
are unusually numerous, and bags OF
twenty, thirty and forty In day are
common. Around Corcoran also excellent
shooting is to be had.
Quail are reported very abundant IN
South Dakota also, and hunters IN that
state have been having good sport while
Minnesotans were waiting for the season
to open on Oct. /. South Dakota Is not
popular with Minnesotans, however, on
account of the nonresident license.
Chickens Have Not Been Plentiful,
Chicken hunters who have returned
from the prairies recently have brought
in fair bags but most Of them say that
the season as whole has not been rs
good as in many other years. The birds
in the state as whole have been rather
scarce, although in some localities 5000
sport has been found. This is partly at
tributed to bad weather and partly to
illegal shooting. Executive Warden Full
'erton and his deputies have been active,
but MIR. Fullerton has frequently stated
that his force was insufficient.
1t has been proposed that chicken
shooting be prohibited In alternate years
to allow the birds to increase, and an
effort may be made to have the next leg1s-
lature declare the season of 1903 close
season for chickens
Interest is beginning to turn to duck
shooting. although during the last week
poor success has been reported by hunt
ers who have been out after these b1rds
Two or three hunters who have returned
from Wheaton and the vicinity, say that
all the local ducks except spoonbills have
left and this species, in the language Of
one hunter, lis hardly worth shooting
at
In some localities, however, good duck
hunting may be had. Directly north and
northwest Of st. Paul for distance of
200 miles along the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific there is the finest duck
shooting to be had. With wild rice In
abundance and with the borders of the
lakes fringed with berry and nut-bear-
ing trees, there is an attraction for" ducks
that few localities in this country offer.
They stay here very late in the fall, and
1t Is here that the sportsman will find
the dainty blue wing teal: the fat, lazy
mallard, the wood duck which dotes upon
timbered localities and picks up food In
the underbrush in preference to visit
ing the neighboring com fields for Its
early morning meal. It is said that ff-
teen distinct types Of ducks abound here,
either native or those who pay long visits
every year In their flight between the
north and the south.
Douglas, Otter Tail, Becker and Bel
trami counties offer some Of the best
shooting to be had in the state, though
other sections are equally we'll favored
the distance to these localities is from
100 to 100 miles from st. Paul. Ten Mile
Lake Is in Otter Tail county, about five
miles south OF Dalton, the nearest poin
on the Great Northern railroad Th
lake is favorite resort for st. Pau
sportsmen, many of whom leave that cit,
Saturday night arriving there after mid
night, drive out in time to get the morn
ing shooting; remain on the passes al
day, and return home on the night train
which arrives in the morning. They neve
fail to bring their full limit of ducks.
In two weeks. more or less, accordin
to the weather, the northern flight Q
ducks will begin, and most OF the MIN
rods who affect ducks waiting unit
that time. when they Will set out I
quest Of the canvas backs. w. B. Haz
lett will form one of a party which wi
set out for Wheaton and the vicinity a
soon as the flight begins. Thursday Nigh
Mr.. Hazlett started for Osakis in CUES
of quail.
Didn't Know the Game Laws,
A peculiar instance Of the working
Of the game law was seen the other da,
Jerry Blodgett, A. E. Hodsgon and OFT
Smith We're returning from a trip afte
ducks and had checked twenty bird
which were accordingly carried in tt
baggage car. Now, according to the Law
game may be carried by a hunter, but ma
not be shippeds by express freight ar
may not be checked. The intention
the law, Of course, is to prevent mark
hunting. Not understanding this pr,
vision of the game statutes the party
question had technically violated the LAY
and when the train arrived in the unic
depot, Deputy Game Warden Johnsc
Immediately confscated the birds, to tt