The Jersey City news., 1906-01-09
Cunning Ii New Jersey
Which Vas p.Oa .bite1 OF
December 81 Was Ez-
cellens
GAME WAS PLENTIFUL
THE SUPPLY OF QUAIL WAS NOT
AS LARGE AS USUAL-PRIvATE
SHOOTING PRESERVES RAPID
LY sPRINGING INTO EXIST
ENCE.

The cunning season in the state of
New Jersey is closed on rabbit, quail,
pheasants and squirrel, the final day
being December 81. In some sections
game was fairly plentiful, while in
others it could only be called fair. The
greatest abundance was in rabbits.
Through the section of country bordering
around New Egypt, big bags of the
cotton tails were killed. the estimated
number for that vicinity alone number
ing over 2,0C0
The supply of quail was not eneour-
aging, although in nearly every section
a few coyeys were to be found, but not
nearly as many as were seen during the
fall of 1904. The scarcity of last sea-
sons supply was blamed on the severe
weather of last winter. The snow lasted
from Thanksgiving until early spring.
With this the opening of mid weather
was considerably later than in former
seasons, and thus naturally delayed the
nesting, causing many of the nests to be
broken up by the moving machines.
These machines play havoc with the
quail, as most Of their nesting is con-
fined to the grass fields, the nest being
built on the surface of the grpund. With
the rabbit it is different. When the
time arrives for the female to have her
litter hole is dug about SIX inches
below the surface of the ground and
lined with dead grass, thus escaping the
danger Of the moving machine.
Squirrels were not as plentiful as III
other seasons, though every condition
was favorable for q big season. The
nut crop was heaey, the fall weather
was ideal, and many nests were noticed.
There is no doubt there were more than
Bile in finding them cannot be attributed
to any other causes than the manner in
which most hunters seek them.
In squirrel hunting, squirrels must be
hunted alone. Quetness and as few
loads of shot as possible are the strong
points for success. After load is dis
charged in a piece Of woods every squir-
rel in hearing distance Immediately seeks
a hiding place in a tall tree and stays
there until it thinks the danger is past.
Pheasants were seen in many or the
swamp woods Of South Jersey. but the
conditions under which these birds are
hunted are much in their favor. Hardly
a place where they are found is not COW
cred with green briars. suckers and scrub
oaks, and every year 1t seems as If their.
places of abode grow denser. The big
gest bags of these last season were taken
from Cape May and Cumberland coun-
ties. The pheasant has. no dread of
heavy SHOWS. the enemies they brave
being the fox, mink, weasels and hawks.
Deer were reported to have been seen
in all sections OF the southern part Of
the State, doe and fawn being seen
as far up as Almonesson. Many of the
old deer hunters claim there are easily
two to three hundred deer roaming the
woods at the present writing their infor-
nation being obtained from the numer-
GUS signs left by the deer throughout the
different stretches of woodlands 1t is a
common occurrence to see beaten tracks
which from ten to twenty deer have been
using
Besides this, numerous saplings can
be scen in the summer months where the
bucks have rubbed the velvet from their
horns. The season on deer has been
closed for several years and it was to
open next fall, but it is doubtful now
if it will. 1t has been recommended by
the Game Commissioners to close the
season for two years longer. This has
created quite a howl among the deer
HuuleES throughout Lie cOuHlleS where
they are plentiful, all claiming that if
they are compelled to wait two years
longer their chances oa hunting deer will
Re Sim
Many of the large tracts of woodlands
are beingssouf fht after by city capitalists
and sportsmen for the purpose Of turn
ing them into private shooting nres erves,
thus depriving the native of his favofite
sport. If the prey ling conditions con-
tinue 1t is assnmej thet tie supply Of
game in gsnsraI win exceed last YEAR j
supply, .hers h~irs 70 stronger point in
games farcr t:s~a si.d winter
This WILMA w~s.e eaaa.r 4 in rest orinz
the ds.,.e.ed coy-rs With quail than the
bringing Of bi,-Ax from ssufhssn eli. es,
which has te%n t-:sa by seyeT | n. ..s1
| and f$rSfs fsuis'sss. = b psts~s gail
| siwsvs dass m.iek hsttAr ttrR sc utk-
| FRI bread ard r iNA eannt&ss by sgr
aa6 ssr.~s'-r birds. 1l@ss * llttss fgs
.; tse-. Afrds sver hss4v ~ ssrsAta. ! K
| y ss.yssn*A ~ Ass sss nAssr Is
| tricky