The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
SUMMER SHOOTING.


BY Grover Cleveland. in the Independent
of June 2.
AS a general rule our guns should be
put away for long rest before the days
of summer vacation. There is, however,
one game situation which justihes their
use, and 1t is this situation which some
times appropriately allows a small gauge
gun to be placed beside the rod and reel
In making up a vacation outfit.
In July or August the summer migra-
ton from their breeding places in the
far north brings shore birds and plover-
both old and full grown young-along
our eastern coast, In first-rate condition.
My experience in shooting this game has
all been within recent years, and almost
entirely in the marshes and along the
shores Of Cape Cod. Like other members
of the present generation and later corners
in a limited field. have been obliged
to hear with tiresome iteration the old,
old story of gray haired men who tell
of the arms and the man who who In
days gone by. on this Identical ground,
have slain these birds by thousands. The
establishment of these tales by all the
incidents that mark the progress of our
people In game determination I have ac-
copied as furnishing explanation Of
the meager success of many of my excur-
sions; but at the same time my condem-
nation of the methods of the fnconsid-
crate slaughterers who preceded me has
led TO a consoling consciousness OF my
own superior sporting virtues.
x.,ft1 90 Apfa Ia
siderable resentment against those who
In their shooting days were thoughtless
enough to forget that | was to come after
them, 1t must by no means be under
stood that my cunning for shore birds has
been discouraging. l have made some
fair bags. and any bag Is large enough
for me, providing I have lost no oppor
tunities and have shot well. Besides, I
have never INDUCED In any shooting so
conductive to the stimulation and
strengthening of the Incompatible vir-
tue of patience. I have sat in blind for
FIVE hours, by the watch-and awake
nearly all the time at that-without see
ing or hearing bird worth shooting.
1t is, however, neither the killing of
birds nor the cultivation of patience that
has exacted my absolute submission to
the fascination Of shore bird shooting on
Cape Cod 1t is hard to explain this fas-
cination, but my notion is that 1t grows
out of a conceited attempt to calculate
the direction of the wind and other wealth
er conditions over night. the elaborate
preparations for a daylight start, the
uncertainties of the pursuit under any
conditions, the hope, amounting almost
to expectation, that notwithstanding this
the wisdom and calculation expended In
determining upon the trip will be vim
80 Inii II r1x, ,f,,r
drive to the grounds. the anticipation of
flight of birds every moment while
there, and the final sustaining expecta-
ton of their arrival in any event just
before night. The singular thing in my
case Is that If all goes wrong at last,
and even If under the influence of fatigue
and disappointment I resolve during the
drive home in chill and darkness that
the trip will not be repeated for many
long day. 1t Is quite certain that with
In forty-eight hours l shall be again OBJ
serving the weather and guessing what
the direction of the wind will be the next
morning, In contemplation of another
start.
But some will say, how are the Incl
dents of hope and expectation, or of
preparation and calculation, which are
common to all sporting excursions made
to account for this especial infatuation
with shore bird shooting? l shall an
swer this question as well as l can by
suggesting that the difference is one of
degree. In cunning for other game ono
knows, or thinks he knows, where 1t is
or ought to be- The wind and weather.
while not entirely ignored. usually have
a subordinate place III preliminary cal
culation, and the pleasures of hope and
expectation are kept within the limits of
ability or luck in finding the game On
the other hand, the shore bird hunter
knows not the abiding place of his game
He Knows that at some times during GER
tain summer months these birds pass
southwark In their long migration, but
he cannot know whether they will keep
far out at sea or will on some unknown
day be driven by wind and weather to
the shore for temporary rest and feed
ing. and thus give him his opportunity.
Though the presence on marsh or shore
of a few bird stragglers may put him on
his guard, 1t must still remain a question
whether the game In sufficient quantities