Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-08-31
REED BIRD SEASON OPENS
TOMORROW.
Rail Birds and Mud Hens Can Also
Be shot.

With the first break Of dawn tomorrow
morning the marshes and meadows on both
sides Of the Delaware will begin to sound
and echo to the reports Of shot guns OF
hundreds Of gunners in quest of the dainty
reed bird. At high tide the rail bird will
be the attraction, and will furnish lots OF
sport to city and country sportsmen.
The birds appear to be plentiful this year,
and in good shape. This IS due to the fact
that the reeds are unusually thick and were
ripe earlier than usual.
With local gunners the sport OF shooting
reed and rail birds is becoming mere and
more popular. The immense popularity OF
this bird Of sport is most likely due to the
fact that plenty Of shooting can be had.
Most OF our gunners start out with seventy
i've or one hundred shells, and return with
empty cartridge belts, in pursuit OF other
game they start out with fifteen or eighteen
shells and usually return with about
dozen and half. Reed bird shooting is
Iun every gunner aumioS.
The condition Of the reeds assures the
hunter that the birds killed will be in first
class shape, even on the first day, provided
they have been on the marshes the necessary
few days to fatten them. The rail bird at
the first OF the season is unusually poor, but
before many days have passed, he TOO will
be in good condition. Pluyer, snipe, ducks
and wild water fowl can also be shot on
September |.
These birds however are scarce, and only
the stray one will be killed by the hunter
in quest Of the reed and rail bird. Next
month the duck will be on the move south
ward and will then be taken.
ds.s4 .vf-Han, which is found on the salt
marshes along the coast, is shot from light
skiff as it is pushed through the marsh
grass at high tide. Being aquatic in habits
III swims with great swiftness. The bird
feeds in the grass and along its edges at low
tide. When the water rises the bird allows
itself to become submerged until only the
tip Of its bill protrudes. In this position it
|remains until the water subsidies or until
frightens it into fight Thus,
*aking wing it flies short distance and
links again into the water. Thus does the
rail bird also live, for the rail bird and mud
hens are very closely related, the one liking
salt water, the other liking fresh
When the skif propelled by skilful
sspusher' goes through the marsh grass or
the reeds the bird is frightened into flight
land then the opportunity for shot is
|giyen. Rarely does the bird fly more than
fifty yards. The bird rises from the water
quickly, but hys slowly, presenting mark
that is by no means difficult to hit. When
the reeds are high and thick, as they always
are at the first Of the season, the rail birds
is not quick to flush. Time and time again
has be risen just in front Of the bow Of the
fboat and the sportsmen has been compelled
,to let him have good start in order that
/ be might not be shot to pieces. Birds have
been known to hop on the gunwale Of the
boat to get good start.
An entirely different mark is presented
by the reed bird. Being not much larger
than the sparrow be presents small body
easily missed. From Alloway creek north
lon the Jersey shore Of the Delaware, and
from Reedy Island north on the Pennsyl-
yania shore, reed birds flock from the mid
die or latter part Of September. OF all
places the best for shooting are the reed
arshes from Salem to Bridgeport.
On the marshes near Bridgeport opposite
hester, the most gunners are to be found.
ne game warden, Avis. said that on the
rst Of September last year, he inspected
ghty three Licenses of Chester and Phil
Ilelphia gunners, and talked with very
lany more Jersey gunners. The majority
/ 4 sportsmen visited by the warden were
booting from the river bank. For nearly
alf a mile, be said, the bank was
overed with lunch baskets kettles, bottles,
ygnn cases and every luxury that hunter
could wish. =
When the birds are thick and fly in
docks numbers are often killed at one time.
When scarce, single birds are killed. When
on The reeds the single bird is frequently
missed. This may be due to the manner in
which the shot scatters or to the poor
workmanship Of the hunter The bird,