The San Francisco call., 1910-01-09
Bv Ben Blow

~ALIFORNTA as a hunters state
A is second to none in the United
States. The long stretch Of noun
tains that extends from north to
south in the eastern part Of the state
affords a place Of safety to much big
game and the foothills that slope
gently toward the valleys TO the west
are ideal feeding grounds In every
canyon OF the mountains there are
deer, and in the southern part Of the
state, in InyO county, where the rug
Eed nature Of the country renders it
little freqUented by man, that rarest
OF all North American game animals,
the mountain sheep. exists in goodly
quantities To him who turns his mind
70 bruin. the infrequented forest places
OF Plumas county afford bear hunting
fn plenty. and one of the finest packs
OF hounds in the United States is to be
found there. the property of q club
that makes 4 speciality OF hunting
bears and that has scored a surprising
number each year.
In northern California, close to the
Oregon line. the Chinese pheasant
has become quite common, whether
owing to the efforts Of the state
fish and game commission or the
curiosity OF the Oregon pheasants
es 20 the land that lies south OF
the Siskiyous, and in a few years this
fast flying bird that furnishes the
hunter so much real sport, and that is
80 well able 10 take care Of itself will
be quite common throughout the state.
Regarding California as q duck hunt
er's paradise nothing need be said. for
there are no finer feeding places for
water fowl than the broad stretches
Of marsh land with their myriad
sloughs that lie along the San Joa-
ouin and Sacramento rivers.
But with the increase Of the states
population and the trend toward the
outdoor life that takes so many toll
ers afeld these days, the need has
arisen not only for game protection
but also for artificial propagation, and
at its farm in Hayward the state com
mission is endeavoring TO acclimate and
Introduce such game birds as are suit
able TO the conditions and the climate
lncomparable that exist in California,
~ that place they have several hun
ored Hungarian partridges. which are
doing well and increasing at q very
satisfactory rate. and in the course OF
the next summer, after the broods are
raised, hundreds Of these birds will be
liberated In suitables localities and.
under the protection that is afforded
them, viii no doubt INCREASE, until in
time they viii become an important fac
=
which is a matter to be much desired,
for the Hungarian pheasant is fully
equal in point Of gaminess to the bob
white quail OF the eastern and south
ern states. being equally as fast a
flyer and far more wary.
The rearing and distribution of the
various kinds Of pheasants is also re-
ceiving much attention at the state
game farm and there are hundreds of
these beautiful birds left there. while
there have been many other hun
dreds raised and distributed in differ
ent parts OF the state, for the pheasant
is a fast breeder and while raised in
captivity, and thriving there IN an
altogether satisfactory manner. IT re-
verts to viIdness at once upon release.
and Is eninently able TO take care OF
Itself, which fact promises that IN a
few years the Californian will have
equally as good sport with the China
men" as his Oregon brother sportsman
enjoys
BY far the most interesting attempt
toward the implantation OF foreign
game that is taking place at the game