Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

Unless frost holds off very late Il is hc,t
to wait for 1t before setting out after part
ridges. Green grass. tough weeds and
writhtnE vines are hard to walk through
After the frost has Crispcd them they brcak
at n touch. Many southern gunncrs shoe,
from their horses. Nearly always they ride
when they go a-birding, even though the
actual shooting may be done afoot.
Wind and weather have much to do with
the sportsman's luck. Hot October sun
shine, with brisk south winds. ALWAYS
sends the birds to the woods. Cold north
westers, with snow ana slect behind. hurry
them to the depths of the thickcst. most
tangled cover available. Ideal weather is
mild and moist, with just the ]faintcst stir
OF wind and n sky dapplcd all over with
low gray clouds. Upon such a day scent
lies well, holds well. covcys are easily
found and when found do not fly too far
before going down. Moreover. they com
monty go down well together. not in n
compact bunch, IT is true, but in such
noighborhood that there is little trouble
in marking the place, with true dogs and
game, good guns and good company the
game is well worth the candlc-and the
game bag.
whether smooth or rough coated dogs
are best depends very much on the ground
and a little bit on the weather. For hunt
ing stubblo clean Of brush or brake upon
a mild day a good pointer is beyond per
adventure the dog. He will outpoint. out
last and outwork a couple of rough coats.
In tanglc or over rocks, with an edge
wind blowing, II is just the other way.
There the shaggy fellow comes to his
kingdom and roigns undisputcd.
Shooting partridges in tall timber is
the supreme test of workmanship. He
who waits to aim in such conditions in
Variably wastes his powder. Indeed, for
all bird shooting aim needs must be in
stinctive. cartridges fly through the trees
as crookedly as n rabbit runs his mazo.
wheeling and twisting in and out between
trunks and at last often settling upon n
high branch, secure from the best dogs
nose.
They quickly learn that woods are n
haven Of refuge. Coveys which have been
flushed once or twice within a week almost
invariably fly to or toward the woods at n
subsequent flushing. They learn also TO
seek shelter in posted fields where there is
little shooting, going back from them
when the danger is past to feed and roost
in their familiar haunts.
The gunner who chances upon such n covov
in good ground has the chance OF sport
indeed. There are few more thrilling
sights or sounds than its quick. explosive
up-whirring, its burning flight and long
wheel down wind. The wheeling will come
most likely just before the birds go down
AT the earliest flushing a covey almost
never scatters; the safety of division is
part OF experiences bitter wisdom. Once
well scattered 1t is not easy to put the birds
up again Their power of Withholding
scent when frightened is a mooted point.
but the fact is indisputable that dogs of
the keenest nose, able to trail a covey
hours after ii has passed or come to n
dead point with the game fifty yards away.
often fail to find a bird until the gunner
mas walked ii up and dropped it as IL flew.
Many things make for or against a good
bird season. Wet weather at Matching
time or shortly after often Stays its thou
SANDS or fut1y brown balls. Drouth, by
shortening the food supply, too great
plenty of minks and foxes, trapping. net
ting, coping, the prevalence of cheap
guns among the negro population-each
ana all must be taken in account.
Notwithstanding, 1t is safe to saw that
throughout at least two-thirds of tho
south country the man who knows how To
go about 1t may make a bag Of from five
to fifteen brace upon any good day of the
shooting season.