The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-24
CHICKENS TO
BE PLENTIFUL
FAVORABLE WEATHER coNDl.
TioNs INSURE LARGE coviEs
OF BIRDS IN DAkoTAs.


Esmond. N. D.. July 2s.--North Da-
kota sportsmen predict that chicken
shooting will be better than usual this
coming season, which opens on Sept.
2. There have been no severe hall
storms or other unfayorable weather
conditions to injure the nests OF young
birds and observers report that the
covies are large, The young birds
seem to have Matched early and are
all well grown.
Two principal members of the
grouse family are very common in
North Dakota, the pinnated grouse
commonly called the prairie chicken
and the sharp-tailed grouse. commonly
called ''the grouse" There are also
found a few specimens Of the ruffled
grouse, commonly called the part
ridge" The latter, however, are not
common. and are found only In the
timber along some OF the rivers. The
pinnated grouse seems to hold it's own
with the advent Of civilization. and IL
given reasonable protection it thrives
in the settled districts and is gener-
ally found in the stubblefields. The
sharp tailed grouse, on the other hand,
recedes from civilization and prefers
the unbroken prairie, especially with
some brush or small trees convenient,
though 1t has no objection to feed
ing in stubblefields IL close at hand.
In the eastern part Of North Dakota,
the pinnated grouse is the more COM
mon, and in the settled Red river val
ley the hunter will bag perhaps ten
of them to every one of the sharp
tailed variety. Out in the Missouri
river country, the proportions are re-
versed and the sharp tailed are the
more common. Here in the central
part Of the state there are about equal
numbers of each, there being sufficient
unbroken prairie and brush to satisfy
the sharp tailed grouse. and sufficient
stubble to attract the pinnated grouse.
Difference in Two Birds.
There rs a marked difference in the
color, habits and disposition of these
two birds, which the novice sometimes
fails to observe. and distinguished it
may lend additional interest to the
hunter who fails to keep them in mind.
The two kinds are about of equal size
and build. The pinnated grouse at
first glance is seen to be darker in
color than the sharp tailed. It's breast
feathers are marked by brown bars or
stripes across each. Its tail is rather
square and blunt. It's legs are but
very slightly feathered almost bare
In the younger birds, which are often
locally nick-named yellow legs" The
males have an ear-like tuft of feathers
on each side of the neck, covering a
bare space The breast feathers of
Ehe sharp tailed grouse. on the other
sand, are lighter in color and are
marked with a heart shaped dark spot;
Ee legs are feathered down to the
R@es, and each Of the toes has fringe
ne each side, giving it snowshoe eff
Eect. The center feathers Of the tail
hre longer, hence the name.
Their habits, too, are different, and
the success of hunt often depends
on knowing those habits. The PIN
mated grouse generally keep closer to-
gether in the flock. whether resting
or feeding. When one flies, the whole
flock generally springs into the air
with II, making a tumult and whirr
OF wings inspiring to the hunter 1t
requires rapid work to get more than
two on a rise" but the flock gem
orally settle down again, all together,
and second chance is offered. The
Eharp-tailed grouse, on the other hand,
are more scattered, and the sports
man often finds himself right in the
midst Of the flock before he is aware
OF their presence. There is a protest
ing "cluck, cluck, cluck," right in front
of him, the whirr of a miniature fly
ing machine. with high power engines
driving 1t on a corkscFew course to
get behind and in line with a shelter
ing clump Of brush or trees. and the
knowing gunner must wait for a mo-