The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-30
BIRDS MOVE NORTH
Redwood County Marks Southern
Boundary Of the Minnesota
Chicken Belt This Year.
Shooting Will Be Good in West Cen
trail Counties and Red
River Valley.

According to reports received from varl-
Gus parts Of the state. prairie chickens
will be more plentiful in Minnesota this
fall than they were year ago. In some
sections wet weather killed off most Of the
young birds, but this loss Is more. than off,
set by the increase in other districts.
be found further north than usual. The
same conditions exist with reiarl to
other species of game birds, especially
quail. This year, according to State
Game Warden S. S. Fullerton, quail can
be found in large numbers as far nortt as
Otter Tail. Wadena and Todd counties.
At Otter Tall lake, Mr.. Fullerton says he
saw coveys Of quail The farmers said
that the birds were as tame as chickens,
and that no one would think of killing
them. r*%
In the two southern tiers of counties
in Minnesota. where chickens are usually
numerous, the wet weather has killed off
the young birds. and shooting IN that
region will be poor, as the crop consists
entirely Of the old birds. In most years
good chicken shooting is found as far
south as the Iowa line, but this year Red
wood Falls will mark the southern line OF
the chicken belt. Birds are plentiful in
Redwood, Renville and Yellow Medicine
counties, Shooting will be good also in
Otter Tail, Grant and Stevens. Mr.. Full
1erton's advices from this state and North
Dakota say that birds are numerous all
along the Red River valley, as far north as
the Canadian line. Cavalier. N. d.. re-
ports excellent prospects for the hunters.
The chicken belt is also spreading east
ward This year for the first time chick
ems plentiful around Brainerd, and all
| along the Duluth line Of the Northern
Pacific. In general, however, 1t may be
said that anywhere north of the Mime
apolis & ST. Louis roads Watertown line,
! and west Of the Mississippi river, hunters
| will find good sport. ~ ~. .-.
Private advices confirm the estimates
| made by Mr.. Fullerton in regard to the
| number of birds. Sporting goods deal
| ers in Minneapolis say that the reports
! brought In by railroad men and others are
| most encouraging. Conductors on the
! Northern Pacific and 500 lines say that
! they sight large coveys all along the road
| on their runs. = =
| Harry Gates, a professional field dog
trainer of this city, has spent much time
! in the fields this summer, both in Mime
sofa and South Dakota, exercising his
dogs. He says that birds of all kinds are
| plentiful around Minneapolis.
1.-THE other day while I was working
! around the city with Lawndale Mack and
Count Occur d'Alene'' said Mr.. Gates, Il
sighted all kinds Of chickens, and a num-
Der Of quail. I put up fifteen coveys OF
! quail between here and Schutta's farm q
| few miles northeast also saw large
| numbers OF MOngollan ana American
| phea SAINTS. ~E.=
| "The same condition exists in most
| parts Of South Dakota. Ducks are plen-
| tifu1 all thru the north, but I think the
chicken crop IS larger this year than /,
has been in a decade. Actually in some
districts the chickens are so tame thai
they fly into the farmers yards and stea
the feed from the poultry. I have heard
good many farmers kicking about this
l. It is estimated that Is, 900 licenses fol
hunters will be issued this year. MIR
Fullerton does not think that the increase
in the license fee for residents from q
cents to 81 will cut down the number O
applicants. The fact that hunters unde
the new law can ship birds to their homes
instead of being obliged to accompany tn
game in person, is expected to increase TIL
number. of applications, and the fact tina
) non residents can ship. game. to . thei
homes outside the state, will bring man.
more huntuers from abroad.