Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-29
RDSEASON TOOPEN
Hunters Getting Guns Ready
for Thursday.
PROSPECTS ARE OF BEST
Plenty Of Wild Grain Gives Promise
Of Big Bags.
MANY BLACKBIRDS OBSERVED
Reedys, Plover and Snipe in Evil
dence in Smaller
Numbers.
PROSPECTS ARE OF BEST
MANY BLACKBIRDs OBSERVED

Before the end Of the present week the
lunchrooms and restaurants about town
will be displaying the sign "Reedbirds on
toast" The season for them opens Thurs
day.
Washington has in its population many
enthusiastic hunters, who would rather
spend a day splashing through the
marsh Of the Eastern branch, getting an
occasional shot at bird, than they
would to eat dinner of the birds after
they have shot them. These hunters will
welcome the opening of the season and
will be on the hunting grounds about the
city early on the morning Of September 1.
Many Will Get Early Start.
Many will go into the marshes wednes-
day night in boats, SO as to be on hand
at the first peep of dawn. when the birds
come out to feed and good bags can be
made In few hours shooting.
The hunters are getting out their guns
and are oiling. cleaning and testing them
in readiness for the opening OF the first
days sport. Some guns that will be used
are fine hammerless repeaters. Others
are old army Misunderstanding muskets.
The old negro. with his army musket,
enjoys the sport as well as does the man
of wealth and says:
Deed. boss. NAH oil gun will kill de
birds JUS as well as dat shiny gun over
there"
Judging from results the old musket is
effective.
Prospects Are Inviting.
II plenty OF food for the birds is any
indication that they will be plentiful,
then the coming season will be an un-
usually good one. The marshes Of the
Eastern branch. the flats along the Vir-
ginia shore Of the river and on the Dis
trict side opposite Alexandria. Four Mile
run. Oxen run, Hunting creek and the
Highway bridge are all covered with wild
oats and other grains that the birds love
in the greatest profusion.
The wild grain is thicker this year than
1t has been for many years. The birds
have been In 1t for two weeks or longer.
the marshes In large numbers. Keedbirds.
plover and snipe are also to be seen, but
not as plentiful.
No Arrests Of Lawless Hunters.
For the past ten days or two weeks
the harbor police, under Lieut.. Russell
Dean. have been constantly patrolling the
hunting grounds In the District to prevent
any ante-season hunting. So far. II Ia as
serted. not a gun has been fired in the
marshes.
When the season opens Thursday the
birds will be tame and will give the hunt
ers plenty OF work to do. A week after
the season opens they are so wild and
the focks so scattered that to get a shot
at them requires all the skill OF the
hunter.
Many Washington hunters have taken
out Maryland licenses and will go to the
hunting grounds about the headwaters
h4
days shooting. The reports coming from
that section state that the game Is fairly
plentiful and that q good days sport
should be had.
District Marshes Thrown Open.
Under the laws OF the District OF CO.
lumbia hunting Is permitted on the
marshes OF the Eastern branch above the
Anacostia bridge and In the marshes on
the Virginia side Of the river. No shoot
ing is allowed within 200 feet of q dwell
ing house.
The little patch Of wild oats back of
Shepherds wharf. opposite the north end
OF Alexandria, Is forbidden ground. A
number Of hunters were arrested while
shooting in II last season.
Congress when IL enacted the hunting
laws Of the District did not intend to
make this spot government preserve.
not include II in the hunting limits, keep
out Of the grass there and you won't get
in trouble.
Ducks Scarce Yet.
BY law ducks can be killed from Sep |
TENDER 1. Except a few summer ducks, |
there will be none on the river when the |
hunting season opens.
Ducks Of any size will not make their |
appearance until cool weather and frost |
comes. early in October. Old hunters say |
they will come after the first cold north |
west gale Of the fall and not before. |
Beedbirds. blackbirds, snipe, plover and |
like birds are lawful game after next |
Thursday.
Hunters who wish to try their luck in |
Maryland or Virginia have a state license |
to pay before they can pull a trigger. |
The license In maryland varies in each |
county In Montgomery the tax is $3.50. |
while in Prince George il is 5000.
In Virginia a fiat tax of SO for the |
season is charged. Under II only a linn |
tied quantity Of each kind of game can |
be shot and carried out Of the state A |
guest of q Virginian can shoot oh the |
lands Of his host without paying lie |
tax.