The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-11-05
PERCH OF PUFFED GROUSE.
man to Find. but Not for
the Guide.

Amateurs who go into the woods
after ruffed grouse know that the birds
light generally in trees after they are
flushed. but they are puzzled to dis
cover which tree. They take line on
the grouseS fight and follow it for 200
or even 400 yards. staring UP into the
naples, Dirches, spruces and hemlocks,
but they do not find the bird, and they
wonder how it is that guides are able
TO find them and tumble them from
their perches all as matter Of course,
says the New York Sun.
The guides work IN this way. They
know that the ruffed grouse never
goes so far as it seems to have gone:
unless shot at ii will perch generally
within a hundred yards of where it has
flushed
II gets up from the ground ard IN
less there is imperative reason to the
contrary it selects perch close against
the trunk of a tree Possibly it does
this because it is aware that the hue
of it's coat matches well with the hue
of the tree trunk.
Before it lights the ruhed grouse
will swing to the left. There is posi-
lively no exception to this rule II
after swinging to tle left it does not
find a tree to suit it or any tree at all,
it will go on until it finds one. but the
leftward swing will be continued.
So the guide who has an amateur
with him finds flushed grouse time and
again, wnilo MS patron is not able tn
find any. He follows the birds line OF
Hight, knowing that ii has not gone
more than hundred yards and prCba-
bly, not more than fifty. He looks at
the trees close to their trunks instead
of far out on the limbs.
After going forty wards or so along
the line OF flight, he begins 10 inspect
only those trees which stand a few
yards TO the left of the line. He pays
no attention al all 10 the others.
Thus lie is able 10 concentrate his at
tentiOI upon comparatively few trees,
and thus ne finds the grouse. Of course.
the faci that he is perfectly familiar
with the shape and color of She bird
and lis appearance when it is perched
is a hcip TO him. but mainly he depends
upon knowledge Of the simple facts
given here
Shooting ruffled grouse with the %
calibre rife is sport of a high order
knocking them from trees with a shot
gun has no more sport in II than there
would be IN numbering a farmers
chickens IN his bardyard. Finding the
birds in the trees not only demands
considerable knowledge of their habits
and of woOdcraft but successful marks
mauship.
1t is mistake to suppose that
grouse, even though nigh in a tree. will
sit still until man approaches openly
and as closely as he cares to come.
They must be stalked carefully. be-
cause they are keeuly on the alert.
with wonderful eyes and ears 10 aid
them in detecting a foe.
1t IS rare that man can get nearer
TO them than twenty-five yards. and
they often fly when nc is within fifty
yards. provided they catch a clear
glimpse of him. They will sit better if
a dog is under the tree barking at
them. because then most of their at
tention is taken up by the dog
If they are shot through the body
the meat is apt TO be injured. and es-
pecially inc breast, much the finest
part Of them. Therefore the sitting
grouse Shot with the small rifle should
be hit through The head The mead of a
grouse al Twenty-Five yords. besides
Aein6 of an mconsplcuous color. is no
larger than nickle, and the man who
centers !; has made a cracking GOOD
shot.