The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-31
SHOOTING SEASON
OPENS TOMORROW
Gunners Getting Ready for
Marsh Birds.
THE SUPPLY IS FAIRLY GOOD
Reedbirds, Plover, Snipe, Ortolan,
Ducks, Blaekbirds, and Others VIII
Fall-SpOrt Should Be Good.
THE SUPPLY IS FAIRLY GOOD
L. Is II september-

The First OF September.
II comes tomorrow. and with Il comes
the opening day Of the hunting season.
in Washington. Maryland. Virginia. and
the District Of Columbia. In fact. to-
morrow practically marks the begirz.iIig
Of the cunning season throughout the
country.
Visions OF whirring reedbirds. black
birds. ortolan. wild duck, plover, snipa.
and other members Of the feathered
gentry already loom up in the minds
Of spOrtsmen who are eagerly awaiting
the first day Of shooting
~Reedies" Better Look Out.
Reedbirds will be the principal game
after which the gUnners will venture to-
morrow. The most popular place. Of
course, will be the Benning marshes.
While not over-plentifuI. there Is a fair
Iy good supply OF birds on the marsh,
old huntsmen testify. and the sport
should be GOOD.
1t will be truly a banner day for the
gunner in general-but not for him who
has been following this kind Of sport
Cor years The old gunners will re-
main at home and go after game on the
second day.
The rice weed on the marshes is at
present eight feet high in some places,
and with such large crowd as Is sure
10 go a-gunning tomorrow there VIII
be much danger. The great height OF
the reeds AT this time OF year makes II
well-nigh impossible for the sportsman
10 see clearly objects ten feet In front
OF him Some Of the amateurs are fool
| ism enough to shoot in a direction where
they see the reeds moving. thinking a
bird caused the disturbance, ana ocea-
siOnally the result IS disastrous 10 an
other nunter.
A good crop Of rice is reported, and
this should draw many birds 10 the
marshes around Washington
Wild turkey. grouse and birds OF that
species viii not. however, be shot be-
! fore November L
When interviewed today. an old gunner
looked up from a gun he was cleaning
| to be in rea diness for the sport and said
| that bIackbiTds are more plentiful this
! fall than for same years past. while the
number Of reedbirdS around this city
/ is about the same as that OF two years
| a 90. when the sport vas fairy good
1 Last year proved a Dao seels{n l.,, 1T
/ small number Of them killed
Many Kinds of Game
The true sportsman. he with a good
gun, a good aim. and good eye. who
knows where to find game, disdains
I shooting a blaCkbird, and makes the fes-
/ tive and toothsome 'reedie' the small
est game at which he will take q crack
I But the amateur. the boy WIKI an air
! rife. Derchance, the aged negro with an
/ old musket. or the youngster with ais
/ E-calfber rife, takes no mercy on the
/ feathered member OF the bird gentry
| which bears the name OF blackbird. and
I Judging from the number seer Lnls
/ morning, there viii be thousands Of the
/ little black fellows who viii cease
I breathing in the next twenty-four hours
I Plover anC snfpe are unusually scarce
few Of them being seen Ortolan. by
I far the best and sweetest meat OF any
bird on the marshes. is out in greater
numbers than last season.