Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-25
BIRDS ARE PLENTIFUL
Favorable Weather Conditions and
Large ceviss Of Chickens in Dakota
season Opens Sept. 2.

Large VovtOS o. NnSek0nS ~ Oakoso
-8oason Opens Sept. 7.
Esmond, N. D., July 25.-North Da-
kota sportsmen predict that chicken
shooting will be better than usual this
coming season, which opens on Sept.
Z. There have been no severe hall
storms or other unfavorable weather
conditions to injure the nests or young
birds, and observers report that the
covies are large. The young birds
seem to have Matched early and are
all we'll grown.
Two principal members Of the grouse
family are very common In North
Dakota. the pinnated grouse. common
~ called the prairie chicken" and
the sharp-tailed grouse, commonly
called 1.-The gronse.' There are also
found few specimens Of the ruffed
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
pima ted grouse seems to hold its own
with the advent Of civilization, and If
given reasonable protection it thrives
in the settled districts and is generally
found in the stubblefields. The sharp
tailed grouse. on the other hand. re-
cedes from civilization and prefers the
unbroken prairie. especially with some
brush or small trees convenient, tho
it has no objection to feeding in
stubblefields II close at hand. In the
eastern part OF North Dakota, the pin
mated grouse is the more common and
in the settled Red river valley the
hunter will bag perhaps ten Of them to
every one Of the sharp tailed variety
Out in the Missouri river county. the
proportions are reversed and the sharp
tailed are the more common. Here tn
the central part OF the state there are
about equal numbers of each. there
being sufficient pnbroken prairie and
brush to satisfy the sharp tailed
grouse, and sufficient stubble to attract
the pinnated grouse.
There is a marked ifference in the
color. habits and disposition Of these
two birds, which the novice sometimes
fails to observe, and distinguished 1t
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. Its 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 To-
cally nicknamed yellow legs" The
males have an ear-like tuft of feathers
on each side of the neck. covering
bare space. The breast feathers of the
sharp tailed grouse. on the other hand.
ov,xf ri
with a heart shaped dark spot, the
legs are feathered down to the toes,
and each OF the toes has n fringe at
each side, giving it snowshoe effect.
The center feathers Of the tail are
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 1t, making a tumult and whirl
of wings inspiring to the hunter. 1t
requires rapid work to get more than
two on rise" but the flock gem
orally settles down again. all together,
and 4 second chance Is offered. The
sharp 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 q protest.
ing ''cluck cluck, cluck,' right In
front of him. the whirr OF miniature
flying machine, with high power en-
gines driving II on a corkscrew course
to get behind and in line with a shell
tering clump of brush or trees. and the
knowing gunner must wait A moment
till the bird steadies itself. but must
not wait too long, or It will be behind
the shelter.
II he fires at the right moment. It
is all his, unless he gets ratified"
when that second flying machine goes
'cluck-clucking" away at his right or
left. He has barely fred at the sec.
ond when a third goes like a rocket
Just behind him. and 20 It is. at inter.
walls. and on all sides OF him. the 9TH
ers take wing. II he 10 experienced and
cool headed. he will often bag half 4
dozen without moving out OF his
tracks. for he may have time to re.
load between birds, or doubles. Each
gives its protesting caclle rs 1t starts.
ana each tries its favortte trick Of
getting a protecting bush between
that often saves It's life, incidentally
increases the profits Of the ammuni-
ton makers and takes the conceit out
Of the narksman.
The legal limit for each DAVIS shoot
ing Of either kind Is ten birds to a
shooter. and the Indications are that
there will be no difficulty in getting
the limit this year. Ducks are also
fs irIy numerous and tine ha1 lini: Is