The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-12
ALABAMA ATTRACTS
NORTHERN GUNNERS
Sport With Bear, Turkey,
Quail. Duck, Rabbit, Coon
and Postum.
TURKEY AN ARISTOCRAT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. Jan 1l.-Alabana
each year attracts more and more north
ern visitors. particularly the sportsnen
In search of game. The season IL now
open for bear. wild turkey. quail. rabbit,
squirrel. duck. coon and possu7n.
Discussing the principal game OF the
State John II. Wallace, Jr, State Game
and Fish Commissioner says:
BLACK bear are 10 lie found in goodly
numbers in the jurclcs OF the river bot
toms In Baldwin, Mobile. Washington.
Clarke and Monroe counties. They seek
the protection OF the almost impenetra-
bic labyrinth OF Wild vines. cane and
hricrs. and are hunted only with great
difficulty
''ln hunting them. pack Of bear dogs
CONSISTING % Nne- holt hounds and mon
Rreis 10 usually employed. After bear
r. jumped Il follows the narrow jungle
path alnrE which hunters are stationed
with shot guns loaded with buck shot.
or lIaes The density Of the underground
is 80 great that the bear. being chased,
car pass Within few yards OF the hun
ter without being seen.
Hear Hunting Favoritc sport.
Pear hunting Is the favoritc sport OF
/ the hunters of southwest Alabama, and
! annually p number of bears are killed
! During the winter. in the vernaouar oil
the natives OF the bear country. the bears
( 20 ~: that is, the climb up on the
outside OF large gums or other trees
where they remain until spring
The wild turkey. the handaomest and
| largest OF Alabama'A native game birds
Is truly the aristocrat of the forest. Since
their habits require large forest area
the advance of civilization has caused
% 20, ~, = 20
State where congenial environment eX'
lists
The wild turkey Is wary and sus'
picous. and II Is instantly frightened al
the sight or scent OF man.
Those features Of the Alabama gam,
law which provide that only gobbler'
can be legally killed. and then only
after they reach maturity have served
greatly to increase In numbers tNes'
splendid birds Wild turkeys are foun'
in varying numbers in every county il
the state
Premier Quail state.
tive nuon (Rob wh'te) undoubtedl,
is the most widely distributed OF al
American game birds These birds hav
multiplied unbelevably in Alabama. am
to-day ours Is the premier quail shoot
ing state Of the Union.
"Cnder ola conditions hundreds o
thousands OF quail were trapped an
shipped to concentrating points and the
sent by express TO distant markets
Market hunters also waged n constan
war OF determination against then
Happily for these birds. this perniciou
; practice ended manv years ago.
Quail band together in bevies. mum
bering from ten to twenty-five bird:
They delight IN ranging in fields and l
oren bodies OF woodland. They aboun
in the greatest numbers along waite
courses and are usually found in clos
proximity to brier Tickets, plum nur'
cries or other cover They wander br
4 short G-tance from the place Of tibet
birth. II lett unmolested. and urdc" IN
same conditions that bevy OF quail
found in a particular locality this yea
with reasonable certainty they can u
expected to he located In the same Weir
, ity next year.
In the spring the oevtes break IL
: INTO VARS TIC 'r"le becomes bold an
: h!s call OF Bob White Bob White r.
= s, unds At intervals throughout the nes
Ing season Frequently two hroods A.
! reared. and the male is dtigent in cal
: I'M, for the first brood while the secon
, Is being incubatci by the female.
although Alabama was obundantl
S Sun Piled with wild turkey and deer !:
the early period OF her statehood, y
even then quail hunting wPs esteemed
la favori;e and highly thrilling spor
Q The quail furnishes An elegant article
food.