Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-30
HUNTING PROSPECTS
IN FRANKLIN COUNTY
DEER ARE Plentiful

especial TO the I\eHHeDeC JOuIlidlJ
Pennington, Nc, Sept. 29.-Duclls
are flying south, in fact they have
been for several days. On the way
they have been making short excur-
sions to local waters where they are
able to find good feeding grounds
and there are many such within few
miles of this village.
Local sportsmen who hope to get
some game this fall have been on the
look out for their favorite species for
weeks past, and many favorable
nook has been located as the resort of
partridge or woodcock, or even of
larger game, and those who claim to
have had their eyes open all during
the summer. claim that there is more
game in the woods and fields this fall
than there has been for a number of
years past. 1t has been favorable
season for both large and small game,
it is said. Last winter was fairly open
Snd the game wintered very well in
deed and was in splendid condition for
breeding in the spring, all of which
started things we'll. There has been
plenty Of food all the summer and
barring a little dry weather, which
very likely the game birds and ami
mails liked very well indeed and con-
to rapid growth and early maturity.
Even the chickens developed quickly
| and with very small percentage of
deaths this year land this speaks well
indeed for the chances of life of the
wild creatures. Anyway they have
prospered this season and the woods
are full Of birds and small animals of
all kinds, and he who shoots has a
chance of hitting something.
People driving automobiles on back
roads often see whole filters of young
grouse. or cartridges. with the mother
| bird in or beside the road, and some
| times 1T is difficult to avoid running
over or among them, they are so tame
and so like chickens in regard to stay
| ing in the road and in crossing IN
front of the rapidly approaching car.
| 1t is claimed that there are more OF
| these birds in the woods now than any
| year for a number Of years at least.
| and there are great expectations IN re-
| gard to hunting them.
| Woodcocll are more wary than
grouse and are not as often seen, in
| fact unless charmed by a hunting dog
| they are seldom seen at all. But the
| writer has seen two of these birds,
| one of them on several occasions in
| the same place, or at least it appeared
! to be the same bird. These We're seen
much nearer human habitations than
| it is customary for these birds to go,
and they did not seem at all alarmed
! at the things going on about them,
which they must have both seen and
| heard. Some good woodcock hunting
| is predicted for next month, and near
| Clearwater Lake, where the ducks are
| now lighting on their way south, or
| some other good pond or lake in this
| vicinity is cited as a place where they
are likely to be found.
| But deer are plentiful, speaking by
| comparison of course, and the law
| permits one to shoot deer under GER
| tain restrictions, provided one has his
| license to show the inquisitive game
warden who is likely to show up at
| any moment, and for whose appear
ance one had best be prepared. ii
| one is going to hunt or fish in the
, state of Maine he will get along much
| better and have whole lot more .fur
if he knows the law and obeys it, thar
if he gets the idea into his head-as
| some do-that the laws are made to be
| obeyed by everybody but him. There
has in past years-some past years al
| least-been a wholesale slaughter oil
! deer in Maine regardless of the law
the time of year or the age and sex OF
any animal that happened TO come
within gunshot and this led to tenn
porary depletion in the numbers oil
| game animals. In recent years there
has been less lawlessness in this re
spect and of course less killing ,ano
this with favorable conditions, has
resulted in noticeable increase in the
| amount of game, very gratifying
state of affairs, which it is hoped will
continue. as it certainly will if the law
is obeyed-let us say, If it is en-
forced.