Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-17

they are plentiful, no dependence can be
placed upon finding them In any gwen
place. Sometimes they are found in pairs
and again in small focks. piece of
meadow that may seemingly be crowded
with them In the evening will not have one
the next day The hunter of snipe, like the
man who pursues the black bass. must de-
pend largely upon luck to find a marsh on
moist lowland where the birds are feeding
Warm days of October and November are
the best times to capture snipe in the coun-
try about Washington. The birds seem to
be lazy with feeding and their long flights
from Canada. where they nested in sum-
mer. With full crops they may be seen
standing on one leg sleeping in the sun
shine. They rise somewhat slowly, and
can be shot more easily then than at other
times. On a cloudy day the birds are
quicker lost to the sight. and the same is
true as darkness approaches or in the early
light of morning.
Owing to the fact that the pursuit of snipe
may take the hunter into the marshes
where the mud and water are deep he
should carry as little weight as possible A
light gun Is best, as 1t will have to be
handled quickly. Cartridges loaded with
an ounce of powder and No. u shot are the
right grade. Of ammunition. unless the hunter
wishes to take his chance with ducks. which
may be met with when cunning for snipe.
when cartridges loaded with No. shot may
be used
The hunter may use a dog to good ad-
vantage, as a trained animal will save him
much tramping about In search of the feed
Ing birds. II not for stalking the birds, a
good dog Is needed for recovering those
shot. especially when more than one Is hit
on the rise. The hunter often loses birds
in his efforts to get two shots and at the
same time watch where the little flock of
birds settles at the end of heir fight
The snfpe. though wary bird in hat
he Is swift runner and can scoot out of
sight with fash. yet does not exhibit the
cunning often shown by other birds. II
wounded the snipe gives way to panic of
fear, apparently. He utters his sharp cry,
makes futile efforts to fly by dashing up
| ward upon his wings and falling back to the
ground. Then he takes to his legs and runs
into the first tuft Of grass, where he hides
until he hears the footsteps Of dog or man,
when he runs out to some other place of
| concealment.
There are few kinds OF wing shooting
more attractive to the hunter of this region
than snipe shooting. 1t calls for long
| tramp. patience in locating the birds, quick
and accurate Workmanship. and with these
| a half days sport will be rewarded with
| from six to ten Of the birds. which at this
| season OF the year are among the most sa-
| worry Of the feathered tribe. The best snipe
shooting Is to be found Along the Maryland
and Virginia shores near tidewater. Some
| Of the marshes Of the Patuxent and the
| low-lying fields which skirt the western
| shore of the Chesapeake at this season are
| full Of them. Over in the vicinity OF Alex.
andria good snipe shooting can be found.
| The marshes on the Potomac, the region
| along Four-Mile creek and below that point
both above and below Mt. Vernon, are good
grounds for snipe this month and next. II
1 the hunter has time for journey down to
| Norfolk and out into the region about the
| Dismal swamp or down Into the Pamlicc
] swamps, the shooting OF snipe can be car
ried on to an extent impossible about Wash
| ington. But for the recreation of those who
| desire to extend the pleasures OF the sum.
| mer outing and those who have only q
single day for sport snipe shooting affords
| special attractions at this season OF thu
4 year.