wTIERE SHED BY S-CARTRIDGE L-MASS. T //?/ 'nsr**-*^* ~f/*c+si^*L Lfrfi<zc WHERE TO HUNT AMERICAN GAME ^ PUBLISHED BY UNITED STATES CARTRIDGE COMPANY LOWELL, MASS. 1898 THE RUMFORD PRESS CONCORD, N. H. COPYRIGHT 1898 BY THE UNITED STATES CARTRIDGE COMPANY CONTENTS PAGE Preface . . 9 Alabama .... ll Arizona ... - 16 Arkansas ... 2O California .... 27 Colorado .... 39 Connecticut .... 5 l Delaware ...... 5" District of Columbia . . 59 Florida ... 60 Georgia ....... 67 Idaho ... 72 Illinois 8o Indiana 8 7 Indian Territory ... 9 1 Iowa .... . 95 Kansas 99 Kentucky .... .103 Louisiana ..... IO 7 Maine ....... 109 Maryland ....... .119 Massachusetts ... .124 Michigan .... J 37 Minnesota .... .143 Mississippi . . . . . . .148 Missouri ....... .152 Montana ...... 159 Nebraska .170 Nevada 174 New Hampshire ...... .177 New Jersey . . . . . . . . .181 466880 6 Contents New Mexico . . . . . . . .185 New York . . . . . . . . .190 North Carolina . . . . . . . .198 North Dakota ........ 205 Ohio . . . . . . . . . . 210 Oklahoma . . . . . . . . .217 Oregon . . . . . . . . .218 Pennsylvania ........ 222 Rhode Island ........ 230 South Carolina ........ 237 South Dakota 238 Tennessee ......... 242 Texas ..... .... 246 Utah . -253 Vermont ......... 257 Virginia . . . . . . . . .270 Washington ........ 276 West Virginia . . . . . . . .280 Wisconsin ......... 283 Wyoming ......... 287 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE PAGE Antelope 247 Duck, Mallard 21 Avocet, American . 267 Old-squaw . 183 Badger .... 187 Red-head . 85 Bear, Black . 73 Ring- neck 85 Grizzly . 207 Ruddy . 183 Polar . 219 Wood . 149 Beaver .... 263 Elk .... 255 Brant .... 231 Fisher .... 195 Buffalo .... 285 Fox, Gray 223 Bull -peep 267 Kid 223 Caribou, Barren-ground . 115 Red ! 75 Cat, Bob-tailed 227 Silver 223 Coot .... 105 Godwit .... 267 Coyote .... 89 Goose, Canada T 55 Crane .... 239 Grouse, Canada 131 Curlew, Jack . 61 Colorado Dusky . 131 Deer, Black-tailed . 45, 171 Mountain Ptarmi- Mule . 45 gan 131 Virginia 139 Pinnated . I 3 l Dough-bird 61 Ptarmigan . 131 Dove, Carolina 243 Ruffed, frontispiece I 3 I Ground 243 Sage . 131 White-winged 243 Sharp-tailed 131 Duck, Black . 21 ! Hare, Arctic . 191 Blue-bill 85 Prairie . 191 Butterball . 183 Jaguar . 37 Canvasback . 121 Lynx, Bay or Red . 227 Eider . . . I2 5 Canada 259 Florida 21 Mink .... 199 King-eider . 12 5 Moose .... i ii 8 Illustrations Musk-ox . . .215 Musk-rat . . .211 Ocelot . . -17 Opossum ... 69 Otter . . . . 145 Panther, American . -41 Partridge, Spruce . . 131 Peccary . . .251 Peep . . . 267 Phalorope, Northern . 267 Red . . 267 Wilson's . 267 Pigeon, Band-tailed . 243 Red-billed . . 243 Wild. . . 243 Plover, Black-breasted . 81 Golden . . 81 Kildeer . .81 Piping . .81 Ring-neck . . 81 Upland . . 61 Wilson's . . 8 1 Prairie-chicken . -131 Prairie-dogs . . .167 Quail, California Mountain 29 Valley . 33 Messina . .281 Virginia . .271 Rabbit, Gray . . .191 Jack . . 97, 191 Swamp . . 191 Trowbridge's . 191 White . .191 Raccoon . . . 101 R.ocky Mountain Goat . 161 Sheep . 193 Sable .... 77 Sandpiper, Baird's . . 267 Curlew . 267 Purple . .267 Solitary . 61 Spotted . 6 1 Stilt . . 267 White-rumped 267 Scooter, Butter-bill . 53 Skunk-head . 53 White-winged . 53 Sickle-bill . . .61 Snipe, Robin . . . 267 Red-breasted 267 Wilson's . . 25 Squirrel, Chipmunk . 179 Flying . . 179 Fox . . 1 79 Gray . .179 Missouri Striped 179 Red . -179 Swan, Whistling . . 235 Teal, Blue-winged . . 65 Cinnamon . . 65 Green-winged . 65 Turkey, Wild . . 13 Water-hen . . .105 Weasel, Ermine (Stoat) . 49 Least . . 49 Long-tailed . 49 Willet . . . .61 Wolf, Gray or Timber . 203 Woodcock . . -57 Wolverine . . 277 Yellowlegs, Summer . 61 Winter 61 PREFACE This volume is published with the hope of enlighten- ing sportsmen upon the perplexing question, Where to hunt American game. That such information is sought we have ample proof. A few years ago the United States Cartridge Com- pany published and distributed gratuitously a large edition of a work describing the game of several states, with sketches of prominent guides in those states. In less than a week the edition was exhausted, and subse- quent editions were quickly distributed. The calls for copies of this work continued, but rather than publish more editions it was thought best to prepare a new work wider in its scope ; in fact, embracing the whole United States. For about two years data were col- lected for this work. After collecting all available material, each state was fully described, and the sketches were forwarded to the governors of the re- spective states, accompanied by letters asking each governor to read carefully, or hand the matter to the person regarded as the best authority on the subject, to peruse and criticise. It was requested if the mat- ter was incorrect, to point out the error, and if correct, to so state. Most of the states responded promptly. Chapters that were approved as correct were filed ready for press ; those that were incorrect were rewrit- ten and again sent out for approval. Most of the gov- ernors referred the matter to the game commissioners, and it has their approval. io Preface No more thorough method of securing accurate information could be thought of, and it is believed that the book will furnish the most trustworthy information of any yet published on the subject. The same care has been taken to present accurate pictures of game, a task far more difficult than most people imagine. Artists of undoubted skill made the illustrations ; they were then submitted to the highest authorities in this country, both zoologists and sports- men, for criticism, and it is felt that the pictures in this work cannot be surpassed for accuracy and beauty. The preparation of such a work entailed great expense, which it is thought can be readily understood by those who see the book, and it is believed the slight charge made for it will not be objectionable to those who become possessors of it. WHERE TO HUNT ALABAMA LABAMA, with the strip of land between Florida and Mississippi, is 336 miles long. Its breadth east and west is from 148 to 200 miles, and the whole state contains an area of 50,722 square miles. The northeastern portion of the state is traversed by several offshoots of the Alleghany Mountains, which terminate in this state. South of this mountainous ridge there is a general declivity toward the Gulf of Mexico, and the extreme southern portion of the state is very level, but a little above the water surface of the ocean. The southern half of the state is made up largely of prairies and pine-barrens, interspersed with some river bottoms which are quite fertile. The middle portion of the state is covered with a rich soil. The furred game to be found in Alabama consists of Virginia deer, bear, cougar, lynx rufus or wildcat, rac- coon, beaver, otter, mink, opossum, fox, and squirrel of several species. Perhaps the most highly prized game to be found in this state is the wild turkey, which is very plentiful in parts of the state. In point of abundance it is safe to say that wild fowl are first; wild geese are numerous; duck swarm the rivers and lakes literally by the mil- 12 Where to Hunt lions ; snipe and woodcock are to be found in great numbers at some seasons of the year. Choctaw county, which is in the neighborhood of the Tombigbee river, is mentioned as one of the good game counties of the state. There are to be found in this county deer, bear, raccoon, opossum, and all the feathered game before mentioned. This is a rather rough county, of uneven surface and many hills. Lauderdale county in northern Alabama has been, and is still, said to be the best hunting region in the state. During the winter months the ponds and streams are covered with wild duck, and geese, turkey, and deer are found in the adjacent forests. The wild goose shooting on the Tennessee river is said to be exception- ally fine. Limestone county, adjoining Lauderdale county, also contains an abundance of game of the same character, and Colbert, Franklin, Marion, and Lamar counties are also well spoken of for game. Pike county is largely made up of pine forests, which contain bear, deer, wild turkey, squirrel, and other small game. There is a great deal of game throughout the state of Alabama, but the autumn and winter months offer the most attractions for the sportsman. It is said that quail or bob-white are abundant in every county of the state. Migratory birds begin to arrive early, and unless one is familiar with Southern waters it is difficult to believe what is told of the immense number of wild fowl and migratory game-birds to be found in this state. The mode of hunting deer is generally with hounds; bear are also hunted with dogs, and the shot-gun is the WILD TURKEY American Game 15 arm usually employed. Wild turkey are hunted by calling with an artificial call; sometimes, however, a decoy turkey is used successfully. Some excellent packs of hounds are owned by resident sportsmen of this state, and the visiting sportsman is fortunate if he enjoys the acquaintance of a typical Southern sportsman who possesses a good pack of hounds. Dove shooting is followed to considerable extent during the months of July and August. Wheat-fields are planted, and the wheat is allowed to fall to the ground without being harvested. This attracts count- less doves, and they are shot in large numbers. Some ring-necked pheasant have been introduced into this state, and they are protected by law for a term of eight years from the first day of June, 1893. There is no general state law on other game. ARIZONA RIZONA contains an area of 1 13,000 square miles. The general character of the coun- try, particularly in the northern part, is mountainous, but its valleys comprise more than 10,000,000 acres of arable land, and the state has nearly 40,000,- OOO acres of grazing land. The state is noted for its wild mountains and grand canyons. The region above the lowlands is of volcanic origin, and much of it is rugged and sterile. Hunting in many parts of this state is pursued under difficulties ; but besides the game is the grand scenery, which largely compensates for the toil. A great deal of game formerly existed in this state ; in fact, it is abundant still, but less than formerly. The various mining enterprises, too, have changed the habitat of game. The elk or wapiti is still abundant; deer, antelope, mountain sheep or big horn, and mountain goat exist in considerable numbers; moose, it is stated, are also found in this state. Of bear there are the grizzly and the black or brown. The large and power- ful jaguar, sometimes called the American tiger, and the sleek ocelot are occasionally found in this state. There are also cougar or mountain-lion, two varieties of lynx, the Canada and the red lynx, the gray or timber- wolf, prairie-wolf or coyote, the peccary, raccoon, opossum, rabbit, both the jack- and the cottontail, and several varieties of squirrel. American Game 19 Among the feathered game, the most highly prized is the wild turkey. The Mexican variety is found in this state. There are besides geese, duck of many varieties, grouse, wild pigeon, and Gambel's quail. The feathered game is particularly abundant in the northern and central portions of the state, and the southern part of the state is probably best for wild fowl. ARKANSAS RKANSAS has an area of 50,722 square miles. Its surface is varied. Adjacent to the Mississippi, and from twenty-five to a hundred miles inland, the country is low and contains many swamps and lakes. To the west of this sec- tion, in the middle of the state, the country is hilly, and still farther west is a mountainous region. Beyond the last named section is a series of gradually rising plains. It is thought that game has considerably diminished in this state, excepting the quail. Want of restrictive laws has had much to do with this. For a number of years many parties have shot for count on wagers in this state, and as a result the game has been slaughtered without regard to the future. Virginia deer are still to be found in large numbers in the thinly settled parts of the state ; bear are num- erous ; cougar or panther are occasionally found in the rough country; lynx and wolf are often found. Of other fur-bearing animals there are otter, beaver, mink, opossum, raccoon, rabbit, squirrel black, red, and gray found throughout the state, being very abundant in the swamps. Much of the big game hunting in Arkansas is in the swamps in the cane, it is called by the natives. Bear hunting is a prominent sport. In the eastern American Game 23 part of the state, when hunting in the cane, the sports- man will often have to get within ten feet of his game before he can shoot successfully, and then there is con- siderable danger of shooting dogs. There is consider- able wolf-poisoning done throughout the state, and the poison left about often kills dogs, which is a source of great annoyance to sportsmen. Still-hunting is chiefly pursued in the hills, and is considered the most sports- manlike. It is stated on good authority that deer have increased recently in the eastern part of Arkansas, owing to the fact that there has been no overflow in that dis- trict for about five years ; but they have decreased in the hills, where they are tracked in the snow and slaughtered. Prairie-chicken shooting was once fine in this state, but it is so no more. Good deer and turkey shooting must be looked for away from the railroads, although some of this game may be found near settlements ; but to hunt it success- fully one must understand their habits and be an expert in shooting. Eastern Arkansas is best for wild turkey shooting. The great number of swamps and bayous in the state make it the home of many aquatic birds. Water-fowl of the duck and geese families are there in myriads, also the snipe, curlew, and the various marsh birds. Snipe are especially abundant on Grand Prairie, in the eastern part of the state. Good duck shooting may be found in the northeastern part of the state. The duck are mostly mallard in the autumn, with a good sprinkling of geese, and occasion- ally a swan. Besides these are pintail, widgeon, ball- pat, black duck, blue-bill, spoon-bill, mergansers, blue- 24 Where to Hunt and green-winged teal, and wood-duck. Duck shooting is generally good when cypress brakes are plentiful. There are a number of duck-shooting clubs through- out the state, the membership being made up of sports- men from all parts of the United States. One of the difficulties encountered by sportsmen hunting in Arkansas is securing good guides ; as a rule, they are shiftless, indolent fellows, exerting themselves as little as possible. Most of the sportsmen of the state, when they hunt, select a place and rely upon themselves to find their way about. The law provides for close seasons for most game, restricts the shipment of game out of the state, and imposes a tax of $10 a year on all hunters who are non- residents of the state. CALIFORNIA ALIFORNIA, measured diago- nally, is about 750 miles in length ; it extends north and south over ten degrees of lati- tude. It has a mean breadth of about 200 miles, and its whole area is given as 188,981 square miles. The great ranges of mountains, the Sierra Nevadas and the Coast Range, traverse the state north- west and southeast, and between these is the valley of Sacramento and San Joaquin, some 500 miles long and fifty wide. The country east of the Sierra Nevadas is generally level, much of it being sandy and barren. The Coast Range extends along the state near the coast. The northern part of the state is very mountain- ous. In the southern part the climate is semi-tropical in the valleys. Game is less abundant than formerly in most parts of the state, but to some extent the great draughts on it have been checked. The principal furred game to be found in California is elk, deer, antelope, grizzly bear, black and brown bear, cougar, lynx, gray or timber- wolf, jack-rabbit and other varieties of rabbit, prairie- wolf or coyote, wolverine, and squirrel. The porcu- pine is also found in this state. Elk or wapiti, it is said, still exist in the lower part of the state, but are few in number. There are believed to be a few remaining about the head waters of Eel, 28 Where to Hunt Elk, and Trinity rivers in the northern part of the state. Antelope have become very scarce ; it is said that the few remaining are chiefly east of the Sierra Nevadas and in the Colorado desert. There are a few grizzly bear left in California. Black or brown bear are common ; they are found fre- quently in the Coast Range as well as in the Sierra Nevadas ; there are also a few grizzly bear to be found in the latter range. The neighborhood of Mt. Whitney is believed to be the most promising country for griz- zlies. Formerly the counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo contained many grizzlies, but they are there no longer, at least they are very scarce. It has been stated recently on good authority that in the coun- ties of Shasta and Siskiyou, in the northern part of the state, black bear are about as plentiful as they ever were. Mountain sheep are still abundant on the desert ranges, and especially in Lower California ; they are very wild though, and skill and experience are necessary to hunt them successfully. Deer are found in most parts of California, excepting in the large cultivated valleys ; even there they are plentiful in the extensive thickets, particularly along the Sacramento and Feather rivers. They are quite abund- ant in the Coast Range north of San Francisco. While they are not rare in the Sierra Nevadas, they are not so numerous as they were a few years ago. Scientists say there are apparently three species of deer found in California, the mule-deer, Cariacus mac- rotis, with a northern and southern sub-species; the Southern California deer, Cariacus macrotis califor- American Game 31 nius, and the black-tailed deer, Cariacus cohimbianus. The habitat of the mule-deer is given as northeast Califor- nia to Modoc and Lassen counties, and they are probably to be found on the east slope of the Sierra Nevadas to Mexico. The black-tailed deer is the deer of the Sierra Nevadas ; its habitat is south to Central Califor- nia at least, and in the Coast Range south to San Fran- cisco bay, perhaps farther south. Deer are quite plentiful in Siskiyou and Shasta coun- ties, and as far west as the head waters of Pit river. In the southern part of the state they are most abundant in Ventura county, near the head waters of Sispe and Peru ; they are also numerous in Riverside county. The northwestern part of Los Angeles county at the extreme western portion of Antelope valley is also a good deer country. Deer may be found in fair numbers all along the little mountain spurs of the Sierra Nevadas. Sportsmen of Los Angeles frequently leave their homes in the morning, and, after a drive of ten miles to a range of hills not more than three miles from the town of Burbank, secure one or more deer, and are back at their homes the same afternoon. Panther are often found in the country inhabited by deer, and are occasionally killed. Of the feathered game, the most abundant of land birds is the quail. Valley quail are found throughout the state in the valley portions and foot-hills, on the prai- ries and in the grain-fields near sheltering thickets; they avoid the deep forests. Coveys are often found in thickets which border the streams, and during the shooting season these coveys frequently contain hun- dreds of birds. They do not lie well to the dog, and 32 Where to Hunt flocks must be broken up to use the dog successfully ; the birds often perch on the limbs of trees. Mountain quail are less common than the valley quail. They are found throughout the entire length of the state in the Sierra Nevadas ; not, however, in large flocks. Excepting in very severe weather, mountain quail generally inhabit the higher plateaus or mesas, in southern California, ranging in the Sierra Nevadas in summer from about 2,000 feet altitude up to about 9,000. In the Coast Range they are found as far south as Monterey county, breeding there from sea-level up- ward. They avoid the large interior valleys of the state. They are difficult birds to flush, seeking escape by running rather than taking to wing. Gambel's quail is another representative of the quail family to be found in California. These birds frequent thick underwood near the mesquite trees, and are usu- ally wilder than the other quail ; they are not found west of the Sierra Nevadas. Oregon ruffed grouse are found only in the north- western part of California ; they are common in Hum- boldt county, and become more plentiful northward. Sooty grouse are excellent game-birds ; they are found in the mountains north of San Francisco, and in the Sierra Nevadas south to Yosemite valley, probably considerably farther. In the latter half of August and in September they afford fine sport. Richardson's grouse, it is stated, may occur in north- eastern California. These birds have been shot about Lake Harney in Oregon, not far from the line. Sage-cock or sage-grouse are found in the semi- desert or sage-brush country, east of the Sierra Nevadas '< American Game 35 as far south as Mono county. They are the largest of the American grouse, weighing from five to six pounds. Columbian sharp-tailed grouse are found only in the northeastern part of the state. They lie well to dogs. Wilson's snipe are found in favored places through- out the low parts of the state in winter, and a few breed in the subalpine marshes of the Sierra Nevadas, north of thirty-eight degrees. Band-tailed pigeon are of irregular occurrence in winter in most parts of the state below the snow belt. A few breed in the Sierra Nevadas as far south as the Yosemite valley ; in the Coast Range, as far south as the southern part of Monterey county. Sometimes these birds are very palatable, at other times very unpala- table, according to their food. The mourning dove is very abundant in the settled parts of the state ; it is about the only upland game in California in summer. Large flocks spend the winter as far north as Butte county. In all parts of the state they are more abundant in summer than in winter. Water-fowl and marsh birds are very abundant along the coast and in the marshes. Geese begin to arrive from the north early in September, but are not abun- dant until about the middle of October. During the last half of October and later, geese may be seen by the million every day in Butte county. When they first arrive they are lean, but they soon become fat from feeding on wheat which was lost in harvesting. Black brant shooting was excellent in San Diego bay until recently. The duck of California do not differ much from those of the Atlantic coast, though there are two kinds 36 Where to Hunt that are not found there, and the East has the black duck which is not found in California. There are two species of swan which spend the win- ter in California, the most numerous being the whistling swan. The coast-birds of this state are about the same as the coast- or shore-birds of the Atlantic coast. Usually in early winter mountain plover are abundant in many parts of the interior valleys, going as far south as San Diego, but they are so tame that shooting them affords but little sport. Some persons consider their flesh a great delicacy. Clubs formed for the purpose of controlling shooting territory are now numerous in this state. They control many wild fowl grounds near cities, and are the cause of much contention between themselves and non-members. The Suisun marshes in Solano county, and the San Pablo marshes in Contra Costa county, have long been known for the wild fowl shooting there in the season ; but the best localities are controlled by clubs. Good sport with water-fowl may be had in any of the valley counties of California at the proper season. Sand-hill crane shooting is generally excellent in the neighborhood of San Jacinto, San Diego county. In some parts of the state it is necessary to procure permits from farmers before shooting on their lands. This condition of affairs has been brought about by the damage done to property by some of those who shoot. Farmers often object to sportsmen shooting over their lands during the dry season on account of danger of fire, but give permission as soon as the rainy season begins. .-".',':! '' ./.;..:' COLORADO OLORADO has an area of about 104,500 square miles. The state is intersected north and south by the Rocky Mountain range. The western portion of the state consists of high table- lands, intersected by ranges of mountains and valleys. The great natural parks of the state, consisting of extensive plateaus and basins hemmed in by high mountains, and the vast plains make the state a very favorable one for game, espe- cially for big game. The Rio Grande and the Colorado rivers have their sources within the state, and the eastern slope and foot- hills of the Rocky Mountains are drained by the head streams of the Platte, Kansas, and Arkansas rivers. The character of the country and the climate enable a portion of the big game to migrate from the moun- tainous regions to the plains and back at different sea- sons, giving them good feed and great protection a por- tion of the time. The country above an altitude of 7,000 feet is more or less timbered; below that is largely bad land and desert. Deer and antelope sum- mer above 7,000 feet, and winter below; elk come down to an altitude of about 7,000 feet to winter. Of the big game to be found in Colorado, without doubt the most highly prized is the wapiti or elk, still to be found in large numbers. A prominent hunter of 40 Where to Hunt this state has stated his belief that if the present laws are enforced the number of elk in the state need not be decreased. They are protected by law throughout the year at the present time. Mule-deer are very abundant, the most plentiful of all the large game animals in the state, and they are likely to increase. Virginia deer occupy the southern and southeastern parts of the state chiefly, and are not very abundant. Antelope are very abundant. Of bear there are the grizzly or silver tip and the black or brown, all abundant. It has been stated by good authority that bear are on the increase since the bounty was removed. Of the cat family there are cougar or panther, some- times known as mountain-lion. Colorado is one of the states where cougar are plentiful enough to hunt spe- cially. They are said to be increasing. Canada lynx are found below an altitude of 7,000 feet. They are increasing and plentiful. The common lynx or bob- cat are found above an altitude of 7,000 feet, where spruce timber grows. They are also plentiful. Gray or timber-wolf are abundant, and said to be increasing. They are very destructive to stock. It has been estimated by a trustworthy hunter that there are 500 in Routt and Rio Blanco counties, but ex-Com- missioner Gordon Land thinks there are about half this number. Prairie-wolf or coyote are still plentiful. Mountain sheep are not abundant ; perhaps there are IOO in Routt and Rio Blanco counties. They are pro- tected by law. There are some Rocky Mountain goat in the state, but they are not abundant. Badger are common throughout the state. Of fox American Game 43 there are the red, cross, and silver gray, common, and plentiful in places. There are said to be a few bison or buffalo yet in the mountains of Colorado ; but they are very rare, and protected by law. Wolverine are found, but are not common. Otter are uncommon. Of beaver there are a good many left, but they are now protected by law. Mink are abundant. Marten are common, and musk- rat are found along nearly all the streams. Rabbit, especially jack-rabbit, are so plentiful in some parts of the state as to be a pest. They are found chiefly on the plains, while the cottontail is found in the mountains and plains below 7,000 feet altitude. Squirrel are numerous ; so are woodchuck and other small game, which is dwarfed into insignificance by the nobler game. The feathered game of Colorado is abundant. Of the grouse family there are the sharp-tailed grouse, dusky grouse, Richardson's grouse, sage-grouse, some ruffed grouse, and a few prairie-hen or pinnated grouse. All of the varieties of quail .have been introduced into Colo- rado, including the bob-white, but these birds are pro- tected by law at the present time. Some ptarmigan are found. Water-fowl are found in great variety, among them being geese, brant, many varieties of duck, snipe, plover, and curlew. Dove shooting is practiced by some in the months of July, August, and September. Colorado is in line of flight between Puget sound and the Gulf coast, and the more northerly flights which migrate to and from the Manitoba region and points as far south as Louisiana, Texas, and old Mexico. Migra- 44 Where to Hunt tory birds do not seem to decrease. There are not, however, very extensive shooting-grounds for water-fowl anywhere in the state, the opportunity afforded the sportsman being confined to lakes and reservoirs and marshy sections in the vicinity of the mountain parks and streams leading therefrom. Mallard and teal are most abundant, some remaining in the state throughout the year. The counties of Routt, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, Delta, Montrose, San Miguel, La Plata, Archu- leta, and Conejos are among the best in which all animals of the deer kind are found, as are also the northern counties of Eagle, Grand, and Larimer. Routt county is said to contain the most big game during the hunting season, elk and deer being found there in large numbers during August, September, and October. It was estimated that in Routt and Rio Blanco coun- ties there were, in 1896, 10,000 elk (wapiti), 75,000 mule-deer, and 50,000 antelope. Antelope are abundant in the northwestern part of the state. They are often found in large bands, ranging on the high and broad table-lands and plateaus away back from the railroads and civilization. It is said they are increasing. They were at one time very plentiful on the plains of the eastern part of the state, but are now very scarce there. They were also found in great numbers at one time in the San Luis valley, but of late years have become almost, if not entirely, extinct there. Rabbit are very abundant in the San Luis valley, also in the Arkansas valley east of La Junta, and espe- cially in the vicinity of Lamar. The ranchmen invite the sportsmen and ranchmen from the surrounding American Game 47 country to join them in ring hunts. They round up a large section of the country and slaughter rabbits. Thousands of these animals are killed off each winter by this unsportsmanlike method, but it is excused on the ground of being necessary for the protection of crops. Although the slaughter is great at these ring hunts, the rabbits become as numerous as ever in a few months. Mountain grouse are usually to be found in great numbers in the principal mountain ranges of the state, high up at the heads of small running streams, or where water is to be found. The only part of the state where the prairie-hen (pinnated grouse) are to be found is in the Wet moun- tain valleys (Fremont and Custer counties). They are undoubtedly the genuine pinnated grouse, and how they got there is a great mystery. They are not found in any great numbers. A few years ago a number of Vir- ginia quail were turned out in the Gunnison valley in the vicinity of Delta, and have recently become quite plentiful, but, as previously stated, they are at present protected by law. Quail are also found in the vicinity of Denver. Along the Platte river within easy access of Denver, and in the many lakes within a radius of fifty miles, a good bag of ducks can be made by using blinds and decoys. The varieties here found consist of mallard, canvasback, redhead, butterball, blue- and green- winged teal, widgeon, and all the migratory ducks. Snipe are plentiful here, also plover and curlew There are many geese. Some are killed on the Platte, but the best hunting for them is near the foothills of Boulder and Larimer counties. 48 Where to Hunt Good localities for wild fowl shooting are the San Luis valley (Saguache, Conejo^ and Costilla counties), and the valleys of the Platte, Arkansas, and Gunnison rivers. For the past four years wild fowl have not been so plentiful in the San Luis valley as formerly, owing to the scarcity of water, but in the spring of 1896 the lakes, ponds, sloughs, and small streams were full of water, and the ducks of all varieties, and geese, crane, brant, and other migratory game, came in in countless thousands. Not for several years had wild fowl been so plentiful in this valley. Sportsmen contemplating a trip to Colorado need apprehend no difficulty in getting accommodations or guides, as there are always ranches to be found where strangers are welcomed. A trustworthy sportsman writing on this subject says: "I have hunted a good deal over this state, and have never yet come to a ranch- man's or miner's cabin where I was not welcome and given the best they had.' 3 By the laws of Colorado, bison or buffalo, elk or wapiti, and mountain sheep are protected by law throughout the year. CONNECTICUT ONNECTICUT, measured east and west, is about ninety miles in length by fiom sixty to seventy miles north and south; it has an area of about 4,750 square miles. The surface of the state is rugged, being diversified by hills and valleys. The Housatonic Mountains enter the state in the north- west, extending through the state southward to the coast The Green Mountain range also extends through the state, terminating near New Haven. There is also the Mt. Tom range of mountains. The principal rivers are the Connecticut, the Tunxis, the Housatonic, and the Thames. The coast of Con- necticut lies upon Long Island Sound, which is 140 miles long and twenty-four miles across at the broadest part. Considerable furred game is to be found in Connecti- cut. Deer are occasionally seen, but are protected. Lynx, both the Canada and the red variety, are found in the ledges and pine swamps. Red lynx or bob- cat are surprisingly plentiful in parts of the state. Otter have been killed so often as to cause them to be regarded as common. Mink are plentiful, and musk- rat almost a pest. Rabbit and fox are numerous, as are weasel and skunk. A few years ago it was no uncommon thing for a 52 Where to Hunt party of hunters here to go out and obtain from fifty to one hundred gray squirrels in a day ; they brimstoned them in their holes, and used other unsportsmanlike tac- tics to a great degree. Then came the steam sawmills and the cutting down of much of the woods, which caused countless numbers of the squirrels to migrate elsewhere. They are still to be found in the state in fair numbers, but nowadays a bag of from fifteen to twenty is equal to the fifty or one hundred of a few years ago. Of feathered game to be found are ruffed grouse, quail, woodcock, Wilson's snipe, rail-birds of the differ- ent varieties, duck of a great variety of kinds, and geese. Ruffed grouse are plentiful, and it is believed if it were not for the snares they would soon be wonder- fully abundant. Quail were very abundant until the winter of '91 and '92, when they were almost entirely exterminated, and they were scarce until the season of 1895. They were spared, generally speaking, by sportsmen, and most of them left to breed. A good deal of stocking with quail has been done in the state. During the month of October Wilson's snipe are plentiful along the river marshes and lowlands. They are also found in large numbers from the 8th to the 2Oth of April. Up to a few years ago flight woodcock were very plentiful in Connecticut during the last of October and most of November, but of late years they have not been plentiful. Rail shooting is one of the attractions of this state. It has been excellent for several years past. The legal season for shooting this bird begins September i. The American Game 55 shooting is done almost wholly from a boat, and the services of a pusher with his boat can be procured for $2.50 a tide. Along the Connecticut river from Essex to East Haddam is an excellent place for this sport. Duck in their season are very plentiful, especially black, wood, and blue-winged teal ; there is also a good sprinkling of mallard, sprigtail, sheldrake, whistler, etc. Some excellent duck shooting may be secured on the ponds of the state, while the Sound draws many gun- ners to its waters. During the past few seasons gray squirrel, ruffed grouse, rabbit, and quail have been found plentiful throughout the state. DELAWARE ELAWARE has an area of 2,120 square miles; it is about ninety- three miles in length from north to south, and thirty-seven miles in width at the widest part. Al- though the surface of the state is hilly, it is said there is no hill in the state exceeding 500 feet in height above the ocean. The rivers of the state are small ; there are many swamps throughout the state containing game, and the low, marshy shore attracts shore-birds. The list of furred game of Delaware is short; the rabbit is the most abundant ; there are some squirrel, and occasionally a raccoon ; mink and muskrat are common. Of game-birds, there are ruffed grouse, which are not very abundant. Quail are found in fair numbers at times, and woodcock vary from season to season. Wild fowl are plentiful, black duck being perhaps the most highly esteemed of the duck family. There are some mallard and teal. Of the salt-water duck, there are the usual varieties found along the Atlantic coast. Sussex county is believed to contain the best upland shooting. The best known shore-bird shooting resorts are near Lewis and Milford. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ISTRICT OF COLUMBIA covers an area of about sixty miles. Its surface is diversified by hills and valleys ; its largest river is the Potomac, which extends along its western boundary. There is far more game to be found in this territory than is generally believed. The furred game consists of deer, which are occasionally killed, raccoon, rabbit, opossum, and squirrel ; the latter are quite abundant some seasons. Of the feathered game, perhaps the most highly prized is the wild turkey; there are also to be found ruffed grouse, quail, woodcock, snipe, duck of many varieties, and geese. Rail shooting is a sport much indulged in, and the reed-bird here is elevated to the game-bird class. The usual climate of District of Columbia is quite favorable to game and were it not for the great drain on it by the market shooter the sportsman would here find satisfactory sport. The existing game laws at this writing are not very stringent: woodcock may be shot as early as July; the open season on ruffed grouse begins on August I ; quail or bob-white shooting begins November I and continues until February I . The character of the furred game is such as to make a rifle unnecessary, except in a small bore, but if one is expert in the use of such an arm there may be found excellent sport in squirrel hunting. FLORIDA LORIDA is an interesting state to sports- men. It has with its adjacent islands an area of 59,268 square miles. A glance at a map of the state will show a long line of coast washed by the Atlantic ocean ; a still longer line is on the Gulf of Mex- ico, while its northern borders join Geor- gia and Alabama. The northern portion of Florida is level or undulating ; the western neck of the peninsula is somewhat rugged, while the southern portion of the state is made up of extensive marshlands, in which are prairies, hummocks, and pine-barrens. The game of Florida is varied and abundant. For furred game, the most highly prized are the deer. They are somewhat smaller than specimens found in the North ; they are found in most parts of the state where it is not too thickly settled. There are many bear; the cougar is rather plentiful, and the lynx rufus is common; wolf are also found. There are also raccoon, opossum, fox, squirrel, both gray and fox-squirrel, which are abundant in the hummocks, the latter species being the most abundant, rabbit, and other small game which is little sought. The feathered game of Florida is also abundant. The wild turkey, the largest and probably the most highly prized feathered game-bird in America, is found in abundance in unfrequented sections. Of the upland game-birds perhaps none are hunted more than the 3 * - i i i! American Game 63 quail. This bird is more abundant near the settlements, and rather scarce in the wilder parts of the state. There are a great many quail in Florida at the present time, notwithstanding the heavy draughts made each year on the covers. Writers have asserted that the woodcock was not to be found in Florida. This is incorrect. The bird is among the game-birds of this state, but is not common. Wilson's snipe, which is always a favorite bird with sportsmen, is very plentiful during the winter months and in favored places. Some grand sport may be secured by the snipe shooter, Octo- ber to January being the best months to hunt these birds, and in the interior of the state they are most abundant. Plover, curlew, and nearly all the shore-birds are to be found in myriads ; they are most abundant on the gulf coast. Duck and geese are also present in countless flocks; among the duck are the mallard, black duck, pintail, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, cinnamon teal, and butterball. In addition to the water-birds named are plume-birds of great variety. All the feathered game but turkey and quail is migratory. Dove shooting is recognized as a legitimate sport in Florida. While the alligator is not classed among the best of game, yet it receives the attention of sports- men, and it requires considerable skill to kill one of these saurians. Wild geese are common from Cedar Keys to the Alabama line on the gulf coast. These, birds are less abundant in the northern section of the east coast. The Indian and St. John rivers are two points most of the non-resident sportsmen visit when hunting in 64 Where to Hunt Florida. Much game is still to be found there, though these rivers are so much sailed over by house-boats containing sportsmen that the draught on the game is felt. On the east coast of Florida, adjacent to the Banana and Indian rivers, is a great place for wild fowl, Mer- ritt's island in that neighborhood and the peninsula opposite being especially good duck-shooting grounds. Escambia is a good place for sportsmen to visit, deer, bear, turkey, and quail being abundant. The quail here, however, do not lie well to the dogs after being much shot at, but take to the thickets, making shooting difficult. Levy county has afforded excellent sport for the past few seasons. Turkey are abundant. Four or five have been killed in a day by a native hunter. Lake county contains much game; turkey, squir- rel, and duck are plentiful. Minneola in this county is a good place for game. Monticello in Jefferson county is a good quail coun- try, though some of the land there is posted. Visiting sportsmen can usually obtain permission to shoot over these grounds ; in some cases the privilege must be purchased. Much of the land about Miccosukee lake affords good quail shooting. In the southern part of the county are extensive wild, flat woods, which are free to all. There is considerable big game there, and some quail. In the neighborhood of Warrington in Escambia county, and about Jackson's bayou, is said to be a good place for wild turkey. GEORGIA EORGIA is 322 miles in length, north and south, and about 224 miles in width. Its area is 52,000 square miles. The northern part of the state is wild and rugged. The central and southern portions are characterized by a rolling country, while the coast portion is fringed with islands, separated from the mainland by narrow lagoons. Along the coast are numerous swamps and marshes. Of the furred game to be found in the state of Georgia, the deer is the most highly prized. In a few localities they are still quite plentiful; they are most abundant in the southeastern part of the state. Deer hunting is nearly always done with dogs, and thanks to two natural protectors that the deer have, they will probably never become quite extinct. We refer to the rattlesnake and the alligator. Woe to the dog that hunts deer in the summer. The snake kills the dog on land, and when the deer take to water, as they nearly always do, the alligator is there. The deer being too quick for the alligator, it awaits the dog, and when the dog is in the water the alligator will swim alongside of him ; one snap, and the dog sinks to rise no more. Bear are found in the swamps along the Altamaha and also in Okefanokee swamp ; the latter is partly in Georgia. Fox are abundant in the southwestern and in the 68 Where to Hunt interior parts of the state. They are hunted for sport only, and it is done often at night. The hunters are mounted, and while they do not follow the hounds ex- actly, they keep close to them, but utilizing the roads, and where practicable riding through woods and fields. About sunrise is a good time for this sport ; but even at night, with a bright moon overhead, a good horse under you, and ten or a dozen dogs on a warm trail, the chase will make a sportsman feel young again, if any- thing will. Squirrel are scattered pretty generally over the state. There are two varieties, the fox and the Carolina gray squirrel. The former are fast disappearing. Hare, or rabbit as they are called in this state, are abundant. There are two varieties, the common rabbit or cottontail, found in all parts of the state, and the marsh-hare, found only on the Sea Islands. The latter are smaller than the former, have no white on their tails, and cannot run as fast. Of the feathered game found in Georgia, there are wild turkey, quail, woodcock, snipe, several varieties of plover, geese, and duck. All but the first two are migratory. Turkey are found in nearly all swamps bordering the rivers, being most numerous on the lower Savannah and Altamaha. Quail are well distributed over the state, being gen- erally more abundant in localities most distant from railroads. Duck and geese are found along the marshes and in ponds. Their numbers vary according as the season is severe or not. When the winters are mild they are not usually as plentiful. Large flocks of geese annually OPOSSUM American Game 71 winter in the Savannah river above Augusta, feeding on the young wheat and oats in fields bordering the river. A favorite way of shooting them is to use a horse. The sportsman rides quietly toward the flock until he judges by their actions that they are about to rise ; he then dashes forward at full speed until the geese are up, when he springs to the ground and shoots. A good rider with a fast horse can generally secure a goose, but he will not get another shot at that flock. Woodcock are not abundant, except in a very few localities. In the swamps near Savannah is one of their favorite resorts. During the month of January good sport and a fair bag may be secured almost any day within a few miles of that city. Snipe can be found in almost any open swampy ground during the winter and early spring. They sometimes remain in the state as late as the middle of April. Along the beaches a great many plover can be found, also curlew and other waders. It is nothing unusual for a sportsman in a forenoon to secure ten or a dozen varieties. While dove are not, strictly speaking, game-birds, they afford good sport in Georgia. They are quite abundant wherever large fields of corn or pease are grown. The most successful way of killing them is to bait a field, namely, scatter small grain for a few days, then shoot from blinds. A great number of these birds are killed annually. IDAHO DAHO possesses an area of 86,294 square miles. The character of the country generally is mountainous, but near the rivers are fertile val- leys. The country is favorable for maintaining a good game supply, and by checking the unreasonable killing of game by Indians it is thought the state will always contain an abundant supply. Of the big game found in Idaho, there are the silver tip or grizzly bear, and the black and brown bear ; elk are found in considerable numbers, though less numer- ous than formerly. The deer of the several kinds are still abundant. Moose exist probably in greater numbers than is generally supposed ; some of the specimens of this animal which have been killed have been noble ones. There are, too, cougar, lynx, mountain goat, big- horn, wolf both the gray or timber-wolf and the prairie-wolf or coyote fox, wolverine, fisher, marten, muskrat, beaver, otter, mink, squirrel red, silver gray, and fox badger, jack-rabbit, and other small furred animals. Beaver are becoming scarce. There are many varieties of game-birds to be found in Idaho. The grouse family is well represented. The blue grouse are to be found in great numbers during the winter in the mountains. In the spring they come down to the foot-hills to nest. Ruffed grouse are found to some extent, the spruce swamps and aspen American Game 75 groves being their usual resorts. Sharp-tailed grouse are very abundant. They are generally found along the banks of streams. Sage-hen are found in large flocks in most of the valleys. The latter birds are said to be on the increase. Small mountain grouse, commonly called fool-hen, are common. Grouse are thought to be decreasing slightly in Idaho, but not to any serious extent. They are at the present time abundant in almost all of their former haunts, especially so along the Salmon river and all its tributaries; also along the Clearwater and Snake rivers, and in the barren sage-brush valleys and foot-hills. The trumpeter swan breeds in Idaho, and remains there all winter. Quail or bob-white are believed to be increasing in Weiser and Salubria valleys. They are also found in abundance in the Boise and Pay- ette valleys. These birds were propagated success- fully from a. few pairs from Illinois. As nearly all the streams have their sources in the mountains bordering the Yellowstone Park, and as the waters coming from large springs do not freeze, the rivers remain open for many miles from their sources, which makes them good feeding-grounds for water-fowl. Among the duck the most numerous are mallard, red- head, and teal, but there are many spoonbills, wood- duck, butterballs, and others less esteemed. There are many Canada geese and some brant in the rivers during the spring and autumn. There are small game-birds of the snipe family found throughout the state, which are not hunted to any great extent on account of the abundance of larger game. Of late years many sportsmen have visited Idaho 76 Where to Hunt solely for bear-hunting, and there are many inquiries as to the best country for bear. In the country between Montpelier and Snake river, taking in the Teton basin and Jackson's Hole, bear are abundant. A good guide can take a sportsman into the mountains adjacent to Montpelier within a radius of one hundred miles, and find plenty of bear. In Star valley, fifty miles from Montpelier, there are plenty of grizzly bears or silver tips, and many are killed there every autumn, just pre- vious to their annual hibernation. They are said to be most abundant north of Clark's fork of the Columbia river, along the Bitterroot range and head waters of Clearwater river, along the Salmon river and tributaries, and in the Sawtooth and Seven Devil mountains. One hunter in Bear Lake county, who makes a specialty of bear, killed sixty in 1895. During the past few years a great many bear have been killed near Lake Idaho. While there are many bear still in Idaho, the great number killed has made a perceptible decrease. Deer (black-tailed) are found throughout the state. They are most numerous at the head waters of Clear- water river and on the middle fork of Salmon river. There are a few white-tailed deer in Idaho. Deer are believed to be fast decreasing, principally owing to their systematic butchery by the various Indian tribes, who hunt them persistently in and out of season, principally for their hides. Bighorn are scarce, and are now found in Sawtooth and Seven Devil mountains, on the south fork of Salmon river, and along the Bitterroot range. Mountain-goat are also scarce. Elk, like the deer, are disappearing, mostly owing to Indian butchery. American Game 79 They now inhabit about the same range as the moun- tain-sheep, and on the middle fork of Salmon river. Moose are nowhere abundant. A few are found on the head waters of the Clearwater river and near mid- dle fork of Salmon river. The Sawtooth range of mountains in the western part of Idaho is thought to be the best place for Rocky Mountain goat. There are some bison (buffalo) still to be found in Idaho, but they are stragglers from the National Park and should not be shot. Rabbit are on the increase in Idaho, which is believed to be caused by the killing off of the prairie- wolf or coyote. The varieties consist of jack-rabbit, black-tailed rabbit, common cottontail, little, coney, and the snowshoe or mountain-rabbit, the latter turn- ing white in winter. The jack-rabbit is regarded as a pest along the valleys of the Snake river and the Boise and Payette basins. Hailey, Idaho, is a good point for a sportsman to visit. There are good hotel accommodations, and the surrounding country is good for game ; blue grouse are very numerous among the hills. Camas prairie, thirty miles distant, is a good game- bird region; there are pinnated grouse or prairie- chicken, blue grouse, and sage-hen there, and deer in the hills. The Sawtooth Mountains, at the head of Salmon river, is a good game country. Back in this range of mountains Rocky Mountain goat are found. Over the trail from Montpelier to Jackson's Hole one is likely to meet much large and small game. ILLINOIS LLINOIS is one of the states of this country that has suffered severely from the immense draughts upon its game. It is, however, recovering from this depletion, and good authorities assert that game of some varieties is now on the increase. The state has an area of 55,405 square miles; it is one of the most level states in this country, the ex- treme elevation being but 800 feet above tide-water; the mean height is given as 550 feet. The southern part of the state is hilly and the northern portion is unbroken, but the general surface is made up of rolling prairies. The climate of Illinois is changeable ; the summers are hot and long and the winters severe, which limits the varieties of game. The heavy snows and severe winters have often proved destructive to the non-migra- tory birds. Of the large game, there are bear, deer, wolf, an occasional lynx, and sometimes a panther. Deer are still to be found, but are not numerous; the same may be said of the wild turkey. Both are most likely to be found near the Wabash and Okaw rivers. Wolf are still found in considerable numbers, and are believed to do much in depleting the game. Fox are believed to be on the increase. Coon are still rl ill i American Game 83 abundant, and woodchuck are increasing; opossum are common ; mink are on the increase. While duck, geese, and brant are still abundant as compared with some other parts of the country, yet the state commissioners report that they are decreasing in numbers. These birds begin to wend their way south on the approach of cold weather in the autumn. Dur- ing mild winters these migrations do not extend very far south, but when severe winters come the Gulf coast is their winter quarters. Nearly all the shoal-water species of duck to be found in the United States pass through the state in autumn and return in the spring on their way to their breeding-grounds in British America ; the wood-duck remains. The most common duck are mallard, blue- and green-winged teal, pintail, widgeon, and whistlers; red- heads are killed in good numbers ; canvasbacks are occasionally killed. The Canada goose is the most common of its family ; there are brant, and some white-fronted geese and snowy geese. The sloughs of Illinois are very attractive to snipe, and fine shooting may be secured in the season. The ruffed grouse is found in fair numbers through- out the state, holding its own very well. Woodcock are not especially abundant, though in some favored places good bags are secured each year. Quail are said to have been increasing for the past three years. Pinnated grouse or prairie-hen, it was thought by most sportsmen, were decreasing rapidly, but State Game Warden Blow reports that these birds are now increasing, and that in April, 1897, they were 84 Where to Hunt more abundant than at any previous time for the past fifteen years. The Mississippi valley, and American bottom without any special location, are visited by all the migratory birds of the duck and snipe families. Of the latter family there are Wilson's snipe and the yellowlegs, perhaps the most abundant. Golden plover are also abundant in the season. Spring lake, near Pekin on the Illinois river, is a good place for wild fowl shooting Fox, Nippersink, and Grass lakes, in McHenry county, and Duck island, near Canton in Peoria county, are also good places for wild fowl shooting. The central part of the state is believed to be the best country for quail shooting. Good duck grounds are found along the Illinois river. Fox lake, McHenry county, is given as a good place for migratory birds. There is a variety of game to be found in the neigh- borhood of Lewiston, the quail shooting there being very good ; there is no good prairie-hen shooting there, but these birds are reported plentiful fifteen or twenty miles west and north of this place. There should be good prairie-hen shooting about Solomon, in Dewitt county. A good many birds are killed each year near Sycamore, in DeKalb county. In the neighborhood of Kewanee is good chicken and quail shooting. The visiting sportsman is likely to ask in vain for guides. There are, however, many gunners who will consent to take sportsmen out for shooting. INDIANA NDIANA has more in the line of feathered game than furred game. The state has an area of 33,809 square miles. Almost two thirds of the state is level ; some por- tions are undulating, but no very great elevation of land is found. Of furred game there are some deer; fox arc common; rabbit and squirrel are abundant; mink and muskrat are numerous. Of the feathered game, duck and geese are most prominent; nearly all the species of shoal-water duck found in the United States migrate through this state. The snipe family is well represented, and there are plover, rail, and other aquatic birds. Of upland game-birds there are pinnated grouse or prairie-hen, some ruffed grouse, quail, woodcock, and dove. Birds are somewhat scarce in the central part of the state, but are quite plentiful in the extreme southern portion. Among the places where the sportsman is likely to secure good shooting are the following : Bed- ford, Lawrence county, good quail shooting; Bicknell, Knox county, quail shooting; near Columbia City, good quail shooting, also fox-squirrel. This part of the state is comparatively free from underbrush, and is a 88 Where to Hunt good place for fox-squirrel. Economy is reported to be a good place for quail. There are many small lakes and swamps within a few miles of Lafayette, which duck frequent. The Wabash river and Erie canal are both good places for duck; near by quail are found, also rabbit, squirrel, and geese, INDIAN TERRITORY * ^f NDIAN TERRITORY possesses an area of 64,090 square miles. The San Bois, Washita, and Boston mountains and spurs are conspicuous, and occupy about one third of the area. There are also extensive prairies sloping gradually toward the Mississippi. Along the river valleys the land is fertile, but much of the land in this territory is barren. This territory has five separate nations or governments, which are independent of each other and known as the five civilized tribes. Each has its chief or governor and council. The tribes are Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Cherokee. The Osage is also another important tribe. The Arkansas river flows through the northeastern section, and the Red river' makes the southern boundary of the territory. Deer are abundant throughout the territory ; there are also moose, bear, lynx, squirrel, raccoon, opos- sum, and other varieties of small game. For many years sportsmen who could choose their places to hunt sought Indian Territory for the wild tur- key shooting. This highly esteemed game was con- spicuously abundant there. The great number of wild turkey killed within this territory has perceptibly less- ened them; still they are now to be found more numerous among the hills than in most parts of this p2 Where to Hunt country, and there it is believed they will remain plen- tiful. Pinnated grouse or prairie-hen are reported abund- ant in the northern part of the Cherokee reservation. Wild pigeon or passenger-pigeon were formerly plentiful within this territory, but have become almost exterminated. Vinita has proved a satisfactory place to those who have hunted there, on account of the variety of feath- ered and furred game. Near Tahlequah the sportsman is likely to find excellent deer and turkey shooting. IOWA [OWA has maintained its game supply to a surprising extent. Great drafts have been made upon it, but while its supply has been lessened it has not been depleted irrecoverably. It is believed that game is now increasing in this state. The area of Iowa is 55,045 square miles. Its surface is undulating. There are no mountains; even high hills are unknown. Along the river banks there are frequent bluffs, intersected by ravines. Prairies, covered with a growth of coarse grass and interspersed with groves, constitute about four fifths of the state. The timber growth is principally along the river banks. Deer are found in various parts of the state. Bear are few, and the panther has been seen, but it is thought was merely passing through from the north to the south, and vice versa. The timber-wolf is yet found in the wooded regions along the big rivers. The prairie-wolf or coyote is scattered over the state ; in some places plenty. The Canada lynx is found occasionally in various localities. The bob cat is quite common in the river bottoms. The fox, common red, is every- where abundant. The swift fox, about two thirds the size of the common fox, is about gone. The jack- rabbit is gaining ground all over the state. . They are very plentiful in the northern part, making fine sport. 96 Where to Hunt The small cottontail is very plentiful all over the state. The badger is also found scattered throughout the state ; the opossum is found only in the southern part, and not very plenty there. The raccoon is found all over the state, and in some places quite plentiful. The beaver and otter are still found in most parts of the state, but are growing quite scarce. Muskrat are found in all parts of the state, and some seasons are quite a source of profit to the trapper. Mink, and gray, black, and fox-squirrel, are quite plen- tiful in places, especially along the wooded streams. Woodchuck are found everywhere. Of the game-birds there are the sand-hill and trum- pet crane. They are scattered all over the state, but found principally in the northwestern part. Swan are only seen passing over. The mallard duck are found throughout the state. They breed here, as do the wood-duck and also the spoonbill. The canvas-back is found in the northern part and quite plentiful. The blue- and the green-winged teal are numerous all over the state. The blue-billed duck are found in large numbers. Brant and geese are plentiful, especially in the fields in the autumn. The redhead duck is common ; it is generally found with the canvasback. The prairie- hen is still to be found throughout the state. Quail (bob-white), pheasant, and ruffed grouse are scattered over the state in wooded parts. Upland plover are very common. Yellowlegs and jack-snipe and a few woodcock are scattered over the state. Curlew are found throughout the state quite plentiful in wet seasons. I KANSAS ANSAS, with an area of 81,318 square miles has a surface which is a slightly in- clined plain, gradually sloping toward the Missouri river. The eastern portion of the state is made up of rolling prairie, undulating country, with a rich soil, and well timbered. The western portion is more level, with a scanty growth of timber and a less number of streams. The furred game of this state is limited. Deer are to be found, but they are not abundant ; antelope are scarce ; occasional specimens of the lynx family are found ; opossum, raccoon, and squirrel are numerous. Rabbit, both the jack- and the cottontail, are very abundant, amounting to a pest in some portions of the state. Feathered game is abundant, and is reported to be on the increase on account of the stringent game laws. The grouse family is fairly well represented ; quail are fairly plentiful ; geese, duck, plover, snipe, and crane are found in great numbers. Quail shooting is generally good near Topeka, but it is frequently necessary to obtain permission to shoot from the landowners. Opossum and raccoon are also found in good numbers near this place. Western Kansas is a good place to hunt jack-rabbit. Sportsmen annually kill them by thousands, the kill- ioo Where to Hunt ing of so many being favored on account of the great damage they do to the crops. Coursing-meetings have been held near Cottonwood Falls, Chase county, on account of the abundance of rabbit there. Rabbit, both jack- and cottontail, are very abundant in the vicinity of Kiowa, RACCOON KENTUCKY ENTUCKY possesses an area of 37,680 square miles. The face of the country is generally level or slightly undulating. The Cumberland Mountains form the bound- ary of the state toward Virginia, but are only moderate elevations. The middle portion of the state is broken and hilly, and westward the country is undulating. The big game list of Kentucky is not extensive. There are deer, an occasional lynx, raccoon, opossum, fox, rabbit, squirrel, and other varieties of small game. The deer are chiefly found in the mountains. There are some wild turkey in the state, but they are not abundant. Quail and ruffed grouse are the principal upland game-birds, and duck, snipe, and plover are the most prominent aquatic birds. Carroll county is reported as being good for quail and rabbit shooting. McLean county has furnished good upland shooting for several years. Hickman county contains probably the greatest vari- ety of shooting. The counties joining Tennessee are the most prolific in game. Quail, which were formerly abundant, and the pride of the sportsman in the counties bordering the Ohio river a few seasons ago, are now almost a thing of the past. A great number of western (Kan- sas) quail were turned loose in Franklin county two 104 seasons ago, but the pot-hunters have played the game of extermination well. The local sportsmen of Wood- ford county have organized for the protection of game. The club will import about 1,500 quail from the South. The season for quail shooting in Kentucky opens November 15 and closes December 31. The game laws are poorly enforced. In the central portion of the state the bird-dogs outnumber the coveys of quail. Fox hunting is indulged in to some extent, but the equipment for the chase is wanting in many respects. LOUISIANA HE state of Louisiana, with an area of 46,43 1 square miles, possesses a surface generally level, but somewhat hilly in the western part. About one fourth of its area is included in the great delta of the Mississippi, which seldom attains an elevation of more than ten feet above the level of the sea. This delta is inundated every spring. It is composed of sea marshes. North of this delta are level prairies. A good portion of the state is covered with forests of pitch-pine, inter- spersed with cypress, oak, elm, and honey-locust. The amount of game in the state is probably far beyond the belief of most persons, and the list is prob- ably as great as that of any other. Deer are numerous ; bear are common ; lynx, fox, raccoon, and opossum are numerous. The character of the country makes hunting at times quite difficult, and affords protection to the game, the extensive swamps making fastnesses almost impenetrable. The furred game is abundant, and the feathered game is surprisingly plentiful to a stranger visiting the state. Water-fowl in great variety are to be seen by mill- ions ; cranes and plume-birds abound at every turn ; and jack-snipe furnish sport until the hunter is sur- feited with the fun. io8 Where to Hunt Quail and woodcock also abound, so the sportsman may vary his shooting. Shot-guns are generally used for hunting furred and feathered game. There is a place known as Greydan's pasture, about twenty miles from Crowley, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, where the snipe shooting has been exception- ally fine for many years. The shooting there, how- ever, is pursued under difficulties, as it is necessary to tramp over vast rice-fields which are soft and muddy. Good woodcock, snipe, and duck shooting is. gener- ally secured at Rayne in Acadia county. Near Jeaner- ette the snipe shooting is good. Quail shooting is generally good at Opelousas; there is also good duck shooting there, and by way of diversion wildcat hunting with hounds, or coon hunt- ing, may be indulged in. Quail shooting may be found at Tangipahoa. Near Shreveport the duck shooting is excellent; bags of seventy have been secured from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon. Near Baton Rouge the shooting is varied, there being an abundance of large and small game. MAINE AINE has an area of 31,766 square miles. It is bounded on the north and the north- west by the Dominion of Canada, on the east by New Brunswick, on the south and southeast by the Atlantic ocean, and on the west by New Hampshire. This state possesses unusual attractions for the sportsman. It has a great abundance of game at the present time, and bids fair to retain its supply and even to increase it. This bountiful stock of game has been brought about by a naturally favorable country, and by wise protective legislation before the game was depleted. Its future supply is insured, for the citizens of Maine insist on its proper protection in the close season ; they also limit the amount permitted to be killed, and restrict in the manner of killing. The largest game found in the state is the moose. A few years ago it was thought this highly prized game was decreasing rapidly, and it was prophesied that in a brief time it would be exterminated. This led to a better enforcement of the laws, and to prohibiting the killing of the cow and the calf-moose at any time in the year. In a surprisingly short time the benefit of these acts became apparent. It was stated by the. game com- missioners and trustworthy woodsmen that moose were holding their own ; later the commissioners were con- vinced that moose were on the increase. The caribou is believed to be the animal next in no Where to Hunt esteem to the moose, a roving, errant animal, abun- dant one season and perhaps scarce the next. It fre- quents about the same country as the moose, but is so restless it may be found at one place to-day and many miles away to-morrow. The Virginia deer is found in every county in the state. It has been asserted by Col. E. C. Farrington, secretary of the Maine Sportsmen's Association, that 10,000 deer a year could be spared, and the condition of the deer be benefited by the killing of that number. Unless one is familiar with the resources of this state, it is difficult to imagine the great number of deer which may be found in Maine. It is no uncommon sight during the warm weather to see fifteen or twenty of these animals during a paddle of a few miles along some of the rivers in the morning or evening. Every sportsman who visits Maine, and secures a competent guide, can with considerable certainty count on securing the legal number of deer. Black bear are numerous in Maine. It is said they are increasing in numbers since the lumbering opera- tions have been carried on extensively, the reason for this being that there is a great growth of rasp- berry and blueberry bushes on land from which the timber is cut, making rich food for bruin. They, how- ever, are nowhere in Maine so numerous as to make it worth while to hunt them solely. Most of the bear killed are shot while hunting other game. Of the lynx there are two ; they are found through- out the state, but in no particular place abundantly enough to warrant hunting them exclusively. There is the Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis, and the red lynx, MOOSE American Game 113 lynx rufus, the latter being somewhat smaller. For many years the writer has endeavored to learn of the presence of the cougar or panther in Maine. Several times the killing of the animal has been reported, but upon investigation it has been found that a Canada lynx or a red lynx was the animal shot. It is believed that no cougar exist in Maine at the present time. In addition to the big game already mentioned are the following : An occasional gray or timber-wolf, although this animal is nearly, if not wholly, extinct in the state. The fox is abundant, but only hunted in the more settled portions of the state, where it is pursued with hounds. The otter, which is generally trapped, though sometimes shot with a small bore rifle, is found most abundant in the northern part of the state. Of the smaller furred game, there are the fisher, the sable, the marten, the mink, some beaver, which are now pro- tected by law at all seasons and consequently are increasing, the raccoon, squirrel, woodchuck, porcu- pine, skunk, muskrat, hare, and rabbit. Some of these animals would not be regarded by sportsmen as game, but at the present time there is the inclination to class as game all animals which are hunted for sport, for meat, or for fur. The big game of Maine is its chief attraction for non-resident sportsmen. There is, however, grand sport in hunting the game-birds of Maine. This sport is pursued mainly in the settled portions of the state. Of the feathered game to be found are the geese of several varieties, chiefly the Canada goose, the Canada grouse or spruce-partridge, the ruffed grouse, which is often shot with a small bore rifle when found in the ii4 Where to Hunt portions of the state occupied by big game, while in the eastern part of the state it is hunted with dogs. Comparatively few sportsmen know of the excellent woodcock shooting in the state. Even the natives of Maine do not, as a rule, know of the rich covers, many of which have never been disturbed. From the data collected from time to time it would seem that the woodcock in their migrations follow largely a belt of country near the coast-line. Many upland plover breed on the hills of Maine. These birds migrate early, and comparatively few sportsmen know of their excellence, and the rare sport they miss in not hunting them. Snipe shooting is found in the meadows and marshes along the coast. Undoubtedly these birds are found in other portions, but are not hunted to any great extent in the middle or northern portions of the state. Many of the inland waters furnish fine black duck shooting, and a few lakes are preserved and baited by clubs solely for this purpose. The coast-line of Maine is over 300 miles in length, and the numerous bays and inlets make wild fowl shooting excellent all along the coast, but the water- fowl are largely of the coarser varieties. This shooting begins in early autumn with coot. Teal and black duck shooting is chiefly in the inlets ; eider duck shooting is followed in the winter, and sheldrake and whistler shooting in early spring. Some fine shore-bird shooting is secured along the coast and on the adjacent islands. This shooting begins in July and lasts until November I . The best country for moose and caribou is in the t : % I American Game 117 northern part of the state. This section would include the northern portions of Somerset, Piscataquis, and Penobscot counties and Aroostook county. In Somerset county, for a number of years, moose, caribou, and deer have been killed in fair numbers in the neighborhood of The Forks ; northeast from that point is the Moosehead Lake country, which has for many years yielded many moose and caribou. This is still a good country for these animals, and bids fair to continue so. The Katahdin Iron Works is a good place for the big-game hunter to start from, for the country adjacent to this place still contains many moose, and caribou are likely to be found there. The country about Schoodic, Jo Mary, and Upper Bemis pond is the home of the moose. North of Bemis pond to the Aroostook county line, from the east branch of the Penobscot and west to the Canadian line, is good big-game country. This includes Milinoket, Pamadumcook, Chesuncook, Chamberlain, and Cancomgomoc lakes. In the neigh- borhood of all these lakes, as well as in the streams adjacent thereto, moose are to be found. It was near Chesuncook lake, in 1895, that a moose with horns spreading sixty-two inches was killed, this exceeding at that time the best previously known spread by two inches. Aroostook county contains many moose at the present time, and caribou are generally found there. Qx Bow is a good place from which to start on a hunt. There are a number of excellent guides at this place, who will take sportsmen to outlying camps with good prospects of success. n8 Where to Hunt Although deer are to be found in every county of the state, Franklin, Washington, Somerset, Piscataquis, Penobscot, and Aroostook counties probably contain the greatest number. The best known sections for woodcock shooting are in Hancock county near Ellsworth, in Franklin county near Farmington, and in York county. Jack-light hunting and hunting with dogs are pro- hibited in this state ; cow-moose are protected at all seasons. The legal number of these animals which a single person may kill is one bull-moose, one cari- bou, and two deer. No person is allowed to kill or have in possession more than thirty duck, woodcock, or grouse at any one time. There is no law on shore- birds. MARYLAND ARYLAND has an area of 13,- 959 square miles. These fig- ures, however, include the wa- ters of the Chesapeake bay and its inlets and estuaries. The land area is 11,124 square miles. The portion of the state in- cluding Chesapeake bay and its shores is known as the water section. The Blue Ridge section consists of the broad plateau extending westward toward the Alle- ghany Mountains. The furred game of Maryland consists of an occa- sional bear, a few deer, fox, hare, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, and squirrel. Of non-migratory feathered game, there are quail, a few ruffed grouse, and turkey ; of migratory game, the reed-bird, woodcock, Wilson's snipe, rail, king-rail, clapper-rail, Bartram's sandpiper, Carolina dove, most of the shore-birds along the coast-line, Canada geese, swan, and many varieties of duck, including the re- nowned canvasback. To hunt in Maryland, the visiting sportsman must first secure permission from tenants ; in some counties a license is required for non-residents. Gentlemen sportsmen will experience little difficulty in securing the desired permission, and in all probability the col- ored field-hand will be allowed a day off to pilot the welcome stranger over the country, and give him the 120 Where to Hunt valued assistance of a dog. There are no white guides in the country, as most of the whites are busy farmers. Rabbit are very numerous over almost all the state ; they are everywhere in good numbers, and at least are holding their own. Red fox are still numerous in some localities ; in others, giving way before the advance of settlements. Quail (bob-white) are sadly diminished by severe winters ; but the depleted covers are likely to be restored by mild winters. Ruffed grouse are plentiful in the western part of the state; fairly plentiful along the Patuxent river, with scattering couples and solitary birds in the eastern part. Wild turkey are practically extinct in the eastern and southern parts of the state, and gradually disap- pearing even in the western counties. Woodcock are steadily decreasing, from being killed off by fire shooting at the South on the winter feeding grounds. Wilson's snipe are fairly abundant in the season, but in decreasing numbers all over the state. Dove are plentiful; wild pigeon are extinct. Plover, blue grass (Bartram's), are fairly plentiful all over the state. Yel- lowlegs, greater and lesser, are found along the bay and tidal portion of rivers fairly numerous, but steadily diminishing. Wild fowl are greatly diminished except wood-duck and mallard, which are more plentiful than formerly. The principal duck shooting at present is found on the Susquehanna flats. Shore-bird shooting is still good on the coast. Some very large bags of woodcock have been killed American Game 123 in the month of July in Dorchester county, eighty-two of these birds being killed by two guns in a single day. Chincoteague bay, near Stockton, Worcester county, is a good place for duck, redhead and blue bills, whist- lers, goldeneyes, and other duck being found there, as well as geese and some swan. Quail shooting has been good for some seasons past in Worcester county, Stockton being a favorable loca- tion. There is also good goose, brant, and duck shooting there in winter. MASSACHUSETTS ASSACHUSETTS, which is known as the Bay state, possesses an area of 7,800 square miles. Its coast contains numerous peninsulas, and as a result there are many large bays. Cape Cod, which is a prominent feature, is about seventy miles in length. The gen- eral surface of the state is hilly, but there are no very great elevations. The Hoosac and Taconic mountains are in the western part, and run parallel with each other southward into Connecticut. The eastern portion is generally roll- ing, while the southeast is made up of level and sandy plains, which extend to the ocean by the way of Cape Cod. Massachusetts contains considerable game, though many portions have felt seriously the immense drain upon the woods and covers by the market-hunter. Deer are found within the state in considerable num- bers. In the northwestern portion of the state, in the neighborhood of Williamstown, Cheshire, and North Adams, a few deer are found in the mountains : they are believed to be mainly stragglers from Ver- mont and New Hampshire. In the towns of Yar- mouth, Sandwich, Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and Plymouth are large tracts of wild land in which deer are quite numerous. Bear are sometimes seen in the northwestern part American Game 127 of the state, generally in the mountainous district near Adams. The bob cat, or lynx rtiftis, is found occa- sionally throughout the state, usually in the northwest- ern part. Raccoon are not infrequent, and there is an occa- sional otter shot, although this animal is by no means common. Fox are numerous; they are most abun- dant in the western part of the state and on Cape Cod. Woodchuck are plentiful and scattered throughout the state, being more abundant in the western portion. Mink and muskrat are common ; gray squirrel vary by seasons. Some years there are migrations of these rodents across the New England states : at such times they are abundant in the middle and western portions of Massachusetts. Perhaps the most highly esteemed game-bird in Massachusetts is the ruffed grouse. It cannot be said it is anywhere abundant ; it is always very wild. To shoot ruffed grouse in Massachusetts requires the highest order of skill in the sportsman. The latest reports from different parts of the state indicate that these noble birds are rapidly decreasing in numbers, except in Berkshire county ; in the eastern part of the state they are quite rare. Market-hunting and snaring have done this. Woodcock being migratory, vary according to the seasons. Many of the old covers have been much shot over, but the birds still frequent the state in favored localities in goodly numbers. Quail are most abundant in the southeastern portion of the state, Cape Cod being most favorable for these 128 Where to Hunt birds. The severe winters, however, sometimes greatly reduce their numbers ; but still a great many are left, though in this state these birds have a habit of seeking cover after being shot at a few times, consequently hunting them is oftentimes akin to the hunting of ruffed grouse. During the midsummer months upland-plover are sometimes abundant for a brief time, but these birds have been growing less numerous for several years. Among the duck to be found in Massachusetts are the following: Dusky or black duck are quite abun- dant ; they are found on inland waters and on the coast ; some remain about the coast during the winter ; they breed to some extent within the state. Wood-duck, abundant, breeding within the state. Pintail, quite abundant in the ponds during the autumn, and fre- quently seen in flocks of forty or fifty : the heaviest flight is the first two weeks in October. Blue-winged teal, quite abundant; they are found in small bunches in the larger ponds, frequently in company with black duck. Mallard are not very abundant, though by no means rare; they are shot in the ponds throughout the state. American widgeon appear rather irregu- larly; flocks of these ducks are often seen in the ponds in the southern part of the state ; they are sometimes found in company with the black duck. Green-winged teal are not as common as the blue- winged : there seems to be a diminution of this species in the state. Shovellers have become quite rare, although some are taken each year. Gadwalls are regarded as quite rare. Canvasbacks are only killed at rare intervals. Scaup duck are very abundant : they American Game 129 are shot in ponds as well as on the coast. Ring- necked duck are uncommon. Goldeneyes are com- mon on the coast and in ponds during the autumn and winter. Bufflehead duck are quite common, and fre- quent ponds as well as the coast. Barrow's goldeneyes are rare in Massachusetts. Long-tailed duck are not very common. Harlequin duck, which were formerly considered very rare, are now regarded as common off the coast. They are generally shot by lighthouse keepers; Eider duck visit the coast in midwinter in great numbers. King eiders are occasionally shot off the coast. The scoters, or coot as they are called by gunners, are very abundant, and are shot annually by the thousand off the coast, and sometimes in the ponds. The American scoter are the least abundant, the black, velvet, and white-winged being common. Ruddy duck are quite common. Among the mergansers which are shot by sportsmen, are the red-breasted, which are quite common, the hooded, less common, and the goosander or sheldrake ; the latter are very common, and are found off the coast as well as in ponds. The Canada goose is the most common bird of its family : other varieties of geese are occasionally shot. Of the smaller ducks, perhaps the bufflehead is the most common. During the cold winter months the eider duck is found in considerable numbers, being more abundant off the northeastern coast. Throughout the state there are numerous ponds where black duck are shot in large numbers. There are also fresh-water ponds, especially in the southeast- ern part of the state, where there are club-houses built to accommodate sportsmen who wish to shoot black 130 Where to Hunt duck and geese. These club-houses are supplied with all the appliances in the way of decoys and blinds for luring duck and geese. The coast-duck shooting and the shore-bird shooting of Massachusetts are excellent. The duck are mainly the coarser varieties of sea-duck, not highly esteemed as food ; but thousands of sportsmen annually partici- pate in coast-duck shooting, which extends from Essex county along the coast to Rhode Island. By the mid- dle of November the migrations are about over. The spring migration begins the latter part of March and continues until May. With the duck come loon, cor- morant, and other aquatic birds, not included in the category of game-birds. The highly prized and dainty bird, Wilson's snipe, is a yearly visitor to Massachusetts. They are nowhere abundant as compared with some of the Southern states, but they are hunted diligently, and are killed annually in large numbers. There are places along the coast of Massachusetts which are favorable for shore-bird shooting, although the extensive building of cottages at some of the sea- side resorts has, in many instances, driven the birds away from their tarrying places. There are many shore-birds killed annually on the Newburyport marshes, near Ipswich, at Beverly, Revere, Marshfield, Duxbury, Plymouth, and all along Cape Cod. The most common of the shore-birds are the sandpipers, ignored by some sportsmen, but killed annually by thousands. The yellowlegs, both the winter and sum- mer varieties, are quite numerous. Of the plover family are the black-bellied, golden, I < s <2 Q m |! Q llT s I American Game 133 and chicken plover. There are, too, the highly prized Esquimaux curlew or dough-bird, the sickle-billed curlew, and the godwits. The Cape district of Massachusetts is annually vis- ited by a great number of sportsmen. Starting at Bourne, the sportsman will find fair quail shooting and some ruffed grouse. At Monument Beach, near by, wild fowl shooting may be found in its season, and some upland shooting. At Pocasset and Wenaumet good wild fowl shooting may be found. Bassett's island, Scraggy Neck, and vicinity are generally good grounds. At Katomet good wild fowl shooting may be found, and some quail shooting. There is also black duck shooting to be found in the ponds in the town, and shoal-water duck may also be found in early autumn. At North and West Falmouth there is upland shoot- ing, and shore-bird shooting in the season at Falmouth. There is wild fowl shooting on Long pond. Acushnet and Jones's ponds are said to be good for duck shoot- ing. There is some upland shooting near by. Accom- modations may be had at Joe Fish's, postoffice address, Tea Ticket. There is good wild fowl shooting at Waquoit; also fair upland shooting near this place. At Marshpee there are a number of deer, but at pres- ent the law forbids killing them. There is bird shoot- ing at this point. Sportsmen can find accommoda- tions at Edward Jones's, postoffice address, Mashpee. There is a little village called Santuit which is on Con- tuit bay, and in the Vineyard sound, where there is a variety of shooting to be obtained, consisting of upland and marsh shooting. Wild fowl, fox, coon, rabbit, 134 Where to Hunt and gray squirrel are to be found here. Cotuit is a good place for game. Freeman Green, whose post- office address is Santuit, will accommodate sportsmen. Marston's Mills, near by the town of Cotuit, has some excellent snipe-grounds. There is good coon hunting also at this place. George L. Hamlin will give informa- tion to sportsmen desiring to visit that country. Near Centerville there is a sheet of water known as Great pond, where many wild fowl are annually shot. There is some quail and grouse shooting there. A. S. Cros- by will accommodate sportsmen. At Hyannis there are a number of inland ponds where shoal-water duck are generally found in fair numbers. There is some grouse and quail shooting in this neighborhood. It is said that there are no ruffed grouse found on Cape Cod below the town of Orleans, but quail are found over the entire cape. At Yarmouth there is good wild fowl shooting. Follin's pond, Kelley's bay, and Bass river usually afford fair duck shooting. There is also shore-bird shooting in this neighborhood, and some upland shooting. There are a few deer in the town of Yarmouth. Crossing the cape from Centerville to Barnstable, a distance of some six miles, there are some excellent wild fowl shooting waters. Barnstable bay, between Sandy Neck light and the great marshes and the sec- tion known as Scoton's Neck, has been for years a great resort for wild fowl. Black duck are also killed there. At Nine Mile pond in this town duck and geese are killed annually in large numbers. At Nansett harbor there is some good shooting. At Eastham good quail American Game 135 shooting may be had. Sportsmen can address John Horton at North Eastham for accommodations. At South Wellfleet there is good wild fowl shooting. Mr. Charles Paine will accommodate sportsmen. Truro is a hard country in which to hunt, on account of being very hilly and sandy. There are some good quail covers there, and a number of foxes. In Bridgewater is Nipponeckett pond, where a great many duck of many varieties are killed annually. The Plymouth woods in Plymouth have long been known to sportsmen. There are deer, fox, and squir- rel in considerable numbers in these woods, and in the 'many ponds in this neighborhood a great many black duck are annually killed. Duck resort to the many inland waters of this state, but noticeably to the ponds of Plymouth county. An eminent authority states that of the twenty-eight species of duck attributed to New England, all have been noted within this county during the past few years. In the southern part of this county are Assowomsett pond, Long pond, and a group known as the Lakeville ponds and Monmouth pond. A few miles south of Plymouth is said to be one of the best places for wild fowl shooting in New England. In Kingston and Halifax is a group of ponds, Neponsett pond and Silver lake being famous for goose shooting. At Chiltonville one may generally find good wild fowl shooting in the season ; there is also fair quail and grouse shooting. .The town of Chatham has long been known as a resort for sportsmen. There is some quail shooting in the town proper, but the great Chatham flats are the Mecca toward which sportsmen turn during the shore- 136 Where to Hunt bird shooting season and the branting season. The season for shore-bird shooting in Massachusetts opens the 1 5th of July, and from that time on to October the birds are flying. Chatham flats consist of a vast extent of sand, and at ebb-tide are uncovered. They are the natural home of shore-birds. At times there will be a dearth of birds, but it is believed more shore-birds are killed each year on these great flats than at any other point in New England. About October 1st, after the summer shooters have left, the cooting season opens, and the booming of guns may be heard from morning till night. Later the black duck come, and in the early spring the branting season opens. Un- doubtedly this is the best locality for brant on the New England coast. MICHIGAN HE state of Michigan has an area of 56,451 square miles. It possesses a lake coast of 1,400 miles jn length, and the state is made tip of two peninsulas, the northern lying between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, while the southern is between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The northern peninsula is made up of a varied coun- try, a portion being mountainous while other parts are level. The eastern portion is undulating, rising gradu- ally to an elevated table-land. The western portion is hilly, with intervening plains. The forests of Michigan are famous ; the timber growth consists chiefly of hard woods, and white and yellow pine. These forests are mainly in the northern peninsula. The southern penin- sula is more settled and developed ; however, there are large tracts of wild lands in the northern part of the southern or lower peninsula. Michigan still possesses a large amount of game, and those qualified to speak, say that, with proper protec- tion, it should remain abundant for years to come. The furred game includes deer, bear, lynx, otter, badger, fisher, marten, mink, many wolves, fox, rac- coon, black and gray squirrel, rabbit, and muskrat. The seeing of elk, caribou, or moose has been occa- sionally reported, but these animals are regarded as 138 Where to Hunt almost, if not quite, extinct in this state. It is believed there are no more native moose, but they are occa- sionally seen crossing the St. Mary river from the bor- dering Canadian wilds into the northern or upper peninsula. The list of feathered game includes ruffed grouse, pinnated grouse, spruce-partridge, woodcock, quail, Wilson's snipe, golden plover, and sandpiper. There are very few wild turkeys in the state. Of the ducks, there are mallard, black duck, teal, wood-duck, pintail, butterball, blue-bill, goldeneye, widgeon, redhead, spoonbill, old-squaw ; and of the geese family, the Can- ada geese are most abundant. Mongolian pheasants have been introduced into the state, and may properly be included now in the list of game-birds. While nearly all kinds of wild fowl are to be found here, these birds are chiefly migratory, and their abundance is largely dependent upon the weather and the food-supply during their semi-annual migrations. The spring flight is shorter than the au- tumn flight. It has been found, too, that the seasons vary in the number of birds; one year they may be scarce, while the following year they may be very abundant. In St. Clair county are the famous St. Clair flats. During the fall flight these flats are probably the great- est duck-shooting grounds in the Northwest. The flight is mostly mallards and redheads and blue-bills, with smaller duck, though there are some canvasbacks. During the spring flights it is a great resting- and feed- ing-ground, and as spring duck shooting is allowed in this state at this writing, there is a good deal of shoot- American Game 141 ing at that time, during which thousands of duck are killed. This county has excellent shooting grounds for Wilson's snipe during the spring flights. Curlew and plover are there during the summer, but not very plen- tiful. Woodcock are fairly plentiful in the autumn on the islands around the St. Clair flats, along the banks of Black .river and Mill creek in St. Clair county and Sani- lac county, and on the Cass and Elk creeks in Sanilac, Huron, and Tuscola counties. The supply of duck is on the decrease, the spring shooting, which will prob- ably soon be stopped by law, driving away as well as killing nesting birds. Of native birds, quail are fairly plentiful, and the supply keeps about the same. Grouse are increasing in number, and are quite plentiful in St. Clair, Sanilac, and Huron counties, and will be more plentiful, as a recent legislature passed a law prohibiting their sale in the markets, as well as the shipping of them out of the state. Lapeer and Tuscola counties are both good quail and grouse grounds. Wild turkey are very scarce. There are a few deer in Sanilac and Tuscola counties, but the supply is increasing a little, as deer shooting is prohibited in this part of the state. A few black bear are to be had in Sanilac, Huron, and Tuscola counties. Squirrel and black and gray fox are scarce ; red fox -are plentiful. Along the streams from Bay City to Mackinaw, and along the Lake Huron shore, grouse are very abun- dant; there are also some deer. In Otsego, Crawford, loko, Alma, and Alpena counties deer and grouse are abundant. The Carp river in Mackinaw county is good for grouse and deer. Grouse and squirrel are 142 Where to Hunt numerous in the vicinity of Platt lake in Benzie county, but deer are not plentiful there. To give an idea of the quantity of game along the eastern portion of the state, extracts are given from a statement issued by the Detroit & Mackinaw Railroad of the number of deer shipped over its road during the season of 1895, naming stations: Valentine Lake and Rogers City in Presque Isle county, 62 deer ; Alpena and Ossineke, Alpena county, 387 deer, 6 bear; Black River, Harrisville, and Greenbush, Alcona county, 161 deer, 2 bear; from seven stations in losco county, 481 deer, 5 bear. These four counties join, and are lake counties reached by steamer as well as by train. MINNESOTA INNESOTA has an area of 83,531 square miles. The state occupies an elevated surface, and is the source of the Red River of the North and the great Mis- sissippi. Rivers which have their sources within this state flow into the Arctic ocean, the Atlantic ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Its gen- eral surface is made up of plateaus and elevated prai- ries, many of which are interspersed with lakes which are the resort of myriads of wild fowl. The furred game of Minnesota consists of deer, bear, antelope, moose, caribou, lynx, both the Canada and the red, cougar, gray or timber- wolf, prairie-wolf or coyote, beaver, otter, mink, wolverine, badger, muskrat, fox, sable, squirrel, jack-rabbit, and cottontail rabbit. It is claimed that there are some elk left in the state ; but if such is the case, they are few in number. State authorities say they are extinct. The law protecting moose for a period of five years has caused a considera- ble increase of these animals. This protection con- tinued until January I, 1898. Moose are found chiefly in the northern counties. Foxes are found more or less throughout the state. Wolves are still abundant. Wolf hunts are one of the recognized sports of Minnesota. Squirrel are not very abundant, but are most plentiful in the southern part. Of feathered game there are pinnated grouse, ruffed grouse, quail, woodcock, snipe, plover, and rail. With the great number of lakes, Minnesota is the breeding- 144 Where to Hunt place of many varieties of aquatic birds. Nearly all the migratory duck are found within the state. The most abundant are mallard, which come early in March and breed. There are beside, blue- and green-winged teal, black or dusky duck, blue-bill, gadwall, pintail, wood- duck, bald-pate or widgeon, shoveller or spoonbill, but- terball, red-breasted merganser, American merganser, scaup-duck, ring-necked duck, American goldeneye, bufflehead, red-headed, old-squaw. Canvasbacks are found to some extent; swan are not plentiful. The American scooter, white-winged scooter, ruddy duck, and king eider are also found. Geese are numerous. They are most abundant in the western part, and are generally shot from pits. Brant are plentiful in the west- ern part Wilson's snipe are found in large numbers ; yellowlegs are abundant, and plover plentiful Quail are found to some extent, though the severe winters keep the coveys reduced ; they are found to be most abundant in the southern part of the state. The condition of the country affects the haunts of game, especially the migratory birds. To illustrate: In the Red River valley, if the season is wet there is much water in the low, level prairie lands. Under such con- ditipns the aquatic birds are very abundant there ; but if the weather is very dry, these birds are not found there, and sportsmen must go elsewhere. This condition exists in other parts of the state and the migratory birds con- sequently often change their flights. Fires and droughts, too, disturb the haunts of non-migratory game; and it is nothing uncommon to find a scarcity of game in a part of the state where it was plentiful the season before. The northern part is still sparsely settled. Game is most abundant there. Its wild rice marshes and celery- American Game 147 beds attract the wild fowl in myriads. The timbered portions also harbor game, both large and small. Pinnated grouse or prairie-hen are most abundant in the northern and western parts of the state. At Rus- sell, in Lyon county, good chicken shooting may gener- ally be secured. Good duck shooting may be found at the pass between Big Stone lake and Lake Traverse, on the line between Dakota and Minnesota. Itasca county contains an abundance of feathered game in the season. Moose (protected until January i, 1898) are found in St. Louis, Aitkin, and Itasca counties ; deer are plentiful in these counties, and there are some bear. A great many deer are killed annually near Brainerd ; the game is to be found at this point, but there are generally many sportsmen afield. Gray and black squirrel are usually plentiful in Anoka county. Sportsmen can get good shooting on Lake Shetek, and good accommodations at the hotel near by. One can get good moose shooting at Russell. There is good white and brown rabbit shooting in winter at Monticello, near Minneapolis; also on the island in Lake Minne- tonka and near Hotel St. Louis. The quail or bob-white shooting of Minnesota is limited. The best will probably be found in Scott, Le Seuer, Sibley, and Nicollet counties. The best time to hunt quail in this state is during the latter part of Octo- ber, when the leaves are thinned out and the weeds killed. The atmosphere at that time is cool and bracing. Good chicken shooting should be found at Fulda, in Murray county. Good bags have been secured there in recent seasons. . At Long lake, some twenty miles from Fulda, there is excellent duck shooting. MISSISSIPPI ISSISS1PPI has an area of 47,156 square miles. The general surface of the state is undulating, and of a diversified character. There are no mountains within the state, but many ranges of hills, some of which termi- nate abruptly on a level plain on the banks of a river. The western portion of the state is largely made up of swamps. The southern portion is made up of a sandy, level country, on which there is chiefly a growth of pine. There are, however, in this part of the state numerous swamps and prairies, and a few hills. The northern portion of the state is more fertile, and is cul- tivated to a greater extent. The furred game of Mississippi consists of bear, deer, lynx, fox, rabbit, and squirrel. Most of the hunting for furred game in this state is with dogs. Of feathered game the most important is the wild turkey; quail are probably the most abundant of the land game-birds. They are generally found in good numbers, except in the seasons with extremely wet springs and summers. Duck and geese are found in large numbers in the lakes, bayous, and rivers during the months of January and February. Snipe are abun- dant in the season. The country about Bobo is regarded as good for bear. Deer are quite plentiful throughout the state. Fernwood is a place highly recommended for quail American Game 151 shooting. Near Michigan City the quail shooting is generally good. Blue Mountain is also a good place for quail shooting. Near Greenwood the shooting is usually good ; quail are generally plentiful. Some twenty miles north of this place a great many deer have been found by hunting parties. Waverly is generally a good place for quail. MISSOURI 'N the state of Missouri are 65,350 square miles. The state is divided by the Mis- souri river, and the two parts have dif- ferent characteristics. South of the Missouri river to the Osage is a rolling country, gradually rising into a hilly and mountainous section. Beyond the Osage is an extensive prairie. North of the Missouri is either a flat or a rolling country. The climate is marked by severe winters and hot summers, making it a trying one for non-migratory game. The furred game of Missouri consists of bear, deer, lynx, fox, and squirrel. The feathered game includes wild turkey, grouse, quail, woodcock, and snipe. Nearly all the species of migratory duck pass through the state. Wild turkey are still plentiful in Missouri. They are naturally most abundant in the wild regions, yet they prefer a region where corn-fields, blackberry thickets, and cypress swamps are adjacent to one another. One who has studied the habits of wild turkey in this state says the birds find much of their food in the corn-fields. Their retreats are the thickets, and their roost is in the swamps, their favorite roosting-places being above water, and when the weather is not too severe they seek the higher branches. Jefferson City, the state capital, is on the main line of the Missouri & Pacific Railroad, 125 miles west of St. American Game 153 Louis and 185 miles east of Kansas City. It is a lively little town of about 7,000 inhabitants, and its number of sportsmen is large. Like river towns of the South, visitors are made welcome, and sportsmen can find there congenial fellows who will do all possible to put one on the right road to the game and fish localities. The Missouri river flows past the city, and in its sloughs and bayous in season duck, geese, and snipe are numerous. There are no better places in the state to find geese than on the great sand-bars near the city. Five miles up the river, where Gray's creek joins the Missouri, there is a sand-bar several miles in length and from one to two miles wide, covered in places with wil- lows, from which the bar gets its name of Willow bar. In places there are sloughs and small ponds near large sections of sand, covered with plantain and other wild plants the geese feed on, while on the higher part of the bar there are small fields of corn and turnips. Geese can be found there in great flocks from October until April, except in the severe winter weather of January. Duck of many kinds come in there, as well as snipe. Brown rabbit and quail are numerous in the willows and grass of the high bar ; fox can be found there also. One can find any number of blinds along the water, and in the great heaps of driftwood in various places. Decoy geese and duck will prove valuable in these places. They can be bought in town, or rented of several dealers in shooters' goods. Boats can be rented on the levees at moderate prices; and if one wants a negro to row the boat, he can hire one for a small sum per day. They are lazy and good-natured, and will do any amount of work for a shooter for very small pay. 154 Where to Hunt Opposite Jefferson City is what is locally called the Big Towhead, a long island covered with black wil- lows. In the adjacent sloughs duck can be found in season, and geese frequent the island daily in large numbers. Quail are found there in small coveys. One can reach the island from the Jefferson-street landing in five minutes by boat. Four miles below Jefferson City the Moreau flows into the Missouri. This is a wide, deep creek of many miles' length, in whose pools teal, sprigtail, and larger duck can be found in season. In the center of the Missouri opposite the mouth of the Moreau there are a number of low bars, where in the milder winter days thousands upon thousands of geese congregate. Accommodations can be secured at almost any farm- house, \vhere the sportsmen will be received kindly, and will be well cared for at moderate prices. One can find many ready-made blinds near the sloughs in the drift- woo4, and boats can be had at several places. Six miles below the capital, at Ewing's Station on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, is located a division of the Missouri River commission. A great fleet of dredg- ing- and dike-building boats is located there. The offi- cers and engineers are nearly all sportsmen, and an introduction to some of them will secure for the hunter splendid goose, duck, or quail shooting near by. The officers' steamers are constantly plying on the river, and if one can go with them he will find fine shooting. Back of the shipyards the woods and fields contain squirrel and quail. Osage City is only three miles from Ewing's. The Osage river joins the Missouri just below. On the American Game 157 islands between the rivers geese and duck are found in large numbers. The great river bottoms of the Osage and Missouri are famous for quail and brown rabbit, while in the oak-covered hills squirrel, turkey, and deer can be found. Steamers ply between Osage City and landings as far as 120 miles up the Osage, and at any of the numerous villages the sportsman can find comfortable quarters. Westphalia is in Osage county, about fifteen miles from Osage. It can be reached by daily stage from Jefferson City, or by carriage. It is a small village in the great woods on the banks of the Maries river. Within a few miles one can find deer and turkey in the autumn ; quail are everywhere ; and gray and fox- squirrel are plentiful. There are small hotels in the village, and the farmers will gladly lodge shooters at reasonable prices. The country in the vicinity is broken and hilly, covered with oak trees, and thinly settled, so that game has fine natural hiding-places. The Chicago & Alton Railroad, from Mexico to Cedar City, runs through fine quail country. At any of its stations one can find game. The Missouri, Kansas & Eastern Railroad follows the east bank of the Missouri to Boonville, and near its stations one can find geese, duck, quail, snipe, and squirrel. The Jefferson City, Lebanon & Southwestern branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad terminates at Jefferson City and Bognell, the latter a town on the Osage river. All along the line of this branch splendid quail, squir- rel, and rabbit shooting may be had, and turkey can also be found in the woods. In the Osage river bot- toms, within a few miles of Bognell, quail are found 158 Where to Hunt everywhere. Miller county is noted for this game : little shooting is done by the farmers. Along the Big and Little Gravois rivers the shooting is excellent, all within a few miles of Bognell. Bonnott's Mills, a dozen miles east of Jefferson City, is another place where good shooting can be had, east of the Missouri for quail and rabbit, on the bars for water-fowl, and in the hills to the west for turkey, squirrel, and deer, especially the last named. Gasconade, on the beautiful river of that name, is thirty-eight miles from Jefferson City ; it is also a station of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. While the Gasconade is chiefly noted for its fish, its bottom-lands and uplands are much sought by sportsmen for quail and deer as well as for small game. Vienna, on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, is a favorite starting-point for parties of sportsmen, many of whom float down the Gasconade in small boats. Few ever reach the Missouri empty-handed as regards deer and turkey ; quail are also plentiful. To those who love canoe-cruising the Osage offers great inducements. Taking the Missouri, Kansas & Texas train at Sedalia, Mo., and leaving it at Warsaw, in Benton county, one can launch the canoe for a cruise down the Osage, the distance being perhaps 250 miles. With rifle or gun one can enjoy such hunting and delightful cruising as can be found in few places. Small game can be found everywhere. The river for the first 200 miles is swift and clear, but one will find smooth running even in a dry season. In Butler county panther are occasionally found. MONTANA ONTANA possesses an area of 143,776 square miles. It is sep- arated into two parts by the Rocky Mountain range. The Bit- ter Root Mountains form the western boundary. The northeastern and eastern portions of the state are made up of prairie country ; the western and central portions are covered with a heavy growth of pine. The southern and western por- tions consist of lofty mountains, interspersed with large valleys. East of the Rocky Mountains is an extensive plain. In the southern portion of this state is a part of the Yellowstone National Park. Though still plentiful, all the game-animals are slowly decreasing in number in Montana. It is believed, though, that game will continue to be plenti- ful for years to come, as the larger part of the country cannot be utilized for any purpose except timber- growing, and large tracts can only be visited during part of the year with pack animals; therefore they will remain great game preserves, if properly protected, to supply the surrounding country. .The large game of Montana consists of bear, the grizzly, and the black and brown bear, moose, elk, black-tailed deer, white-tailed deer, Rocky Mountain sheep or bighorn, mountain-goat, antelope, cougar or 160 Where to Hunt mountain-lion, wolf, wolverine, and lynx. Of the smaller furred game, there are fox, beaver, otter, marten, fisher, mink, rabbit of several varieties, and squirrel. As to deer, black-tailed are found in the western part of the state and in the mountains, and white-tailed deer in thickets around the rivers during the early part of the season, and later on further up in the moun- tains. Elk are very plentiful in the mountains, but not so in proximity to the railroads or settlements. Mountain-goat are growing scarce, but are said to be found in fair numbers in Crazy Mountains, a range about thirty-five miles from the railroad at Livingston. Moun- tain-sheep are more plentiful, and may be found in the highest peaks of the mountains, although not close to railroads or to civilization. Antelope are scarce, although one may occasionally run across a band on some of the foot-hills not very far from the railroad. Grizzly, cinnamon, and black bear are plentiful, but the former are found only in the remote mountains, away from all civilization ; the latter are often found a few miles out of town. Beaver and marten are both found in the state ; the former are rather scarce, but the latter are plen- tiful. There are timber- and prairie-wolves, the first rather scarce, but the latter too plentiful, and a regular pest to farmers and stock-raisers. Jack-rabbit and cottontail rabbit are very plentiful ; the former may be found anywhere on the prairie in great abundance, and the latter in all brushy and tim- bered country. The snow-shoe rabbit will be found up American Game 163 in the mountains in all the little pine and fir groves, and are not nearly as plentiful as the others. Of the feathered game there are sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, Richardson's grouse, dusky grouse, and Franklin grouse (commonly called fool- hen). Of geese, the Canada goose is the most com- mon. There are some brant. Duck are very abundant : the most common are mallard, widgeon, teal, buffie- head, bluebill, pintail, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, and cinnamon teal. Swan are plentiful, many being killed each year. The mountain-grouse is one of the most abundant game-birds in this state. It may be found early in the season, low down or at the foot of the mountain where it comes to breed. It remains there to rear its young until the first snow comes, which is generally in Septem- ber, when it moves up to snow line, and as the season advances moves still farther up, and in winter seems to exist entirely on pine burs. In the early part of the season it can be found at almost any wild-berry patch ; the wild choke-cherry especially is relished by it. The young are easily shot, in the early part of the season. They are then slow to take wing, but they soon grow wary, and when scared up will alight in heavy pine or fir trees, where they lie very close to some limb and are not easily found by the novice. The sage-hen is very abundant in most parts of the state where sage is plentiful. As the name indicates, they get their food from young sage-brush, and in winter exist altogether on the same, hence are not very palatable if not prepared rightly. This bird is very amusing in many instances, as, for example, when 164 Where to Hunt hunted they often run to a bunch of sage, stick their heads under the same, and seemingly think they are obscure from view. The ruffed grouse or pheasant also make this state their home. They are most abundant in dense, close thickets, where they are generally safe from the pursuit of man or dog. Here you are also sure to find some excellent mountain stream or spring. The ruffed grouse are not as plentiful, however, as the sage-hen. The pin-tail grouse, commonly but incorrectly called prairie-chicken, are very plentiful, and are found mostly in the settled parts of the country, where they will hatch out their eggs in some hay-field, or, more frequently, along the railroad track within six to ten feet from the rail. These birds will also be found in the early morn- ing close to the railroad track, either looking for grain that may have been spilled out of cars, or for gravel for the digestion of their food. In the summer-time, and during the extreme heat of the day, they lie very close in some thicket. They prefer a willow thicket on the banks of some small stream. In the winter they con- gregate together, and are often found in flocks of 500 to 1,000. They, like the other grouse, are very fond of the choke-cherry, and it is a common occurrence to see the bushes covered with these birds. Canada geese rest on the rivers at night, but at early dawn they go up to the grain-fields for their food, returning again in a few hours, when they usually alight on some sand-bar or island in a river and sun them- selves, and play and romp in the shallow water until about four in the afternoon, when another trip is made to the fields, returning again to the river at dark to American Game 165 roost. During the cold weather they often stay on the fields all day, only returning to the river at night. Mallard remain in the state the whole year ; when sloughs and rivers are frozen up, they are found in spring creeks, which seldom freeze. These creeks are very numerous in this state, and are often of good size. They are frequently found from four to six feet deep and from ten to twelve feet wide, and their banks are inva- riably covered by a dense growth of willows from six to ten feet high, affording splendid cover to shoot from. Among the migratory duck are the green- and blue- winged teal, the sprigtail, the butterball, the spoonbill, redhead, widgeon, and black duck. Teal stay in this state all summer, and breed in the different sloughs. They, however, leave very early in the fall, and you sel- dom find them after frost sets in. The curlew is the first game-bird to make its appear- ance in the spring, usually in the latter part of March or the beginning of April. In most cases it lays its eggs on high ground, and as soon as the young are hatched they are brought down to some creek or slough by the caring parents. These birds leave very early, not later than August 25, when they assemble in large flocks, uttering their cry, and off they go to a more congenial climate. Jack-snipe arrive in Montana the latter part of April, only a few remaining to breed, but in the autumn they are very plentiful, and usually remain four or five weeks before finally leaving on their migratory flight south. They are always found in this state in the boggy sloughs or spring creeks. The yeilowlegs also make their appearance about the 166 Where to Hunt same time, although seldom breeding in the state ; but in the fall they return in large numbers, and are often found in company with Wilson's snipe. From what is regarded as a trustworthy source, we learn that the country adjoining the Yellowstone National Park on the southwest and northwest is con- sidered to be among the greatest big game hunting resorts in America. On the tributaries of Snake river, and on the head waters of the Madison and West Gallatin rivers, may be found bison, moose, elk, black-tailed deer, white-tailed deer, bighorn, antelope, grizzly, brown, and black bear, wolverine, mountain-lion, wolf, fox, otter, beaver, marten, fisher, mink, etc. Bison, known generally as buffalo, have been decreas- ing very fast, and to-day but a very small number are inhabiting the Yellowstone National Park. Almost every year a few escape from the park and venture into Idaho, never to return. Moose are fairly plentiful on the head waters of Fall river, Warm river, near Jackson lake, and tributaries of Madison, and a few on the head waters of West Galla- tin river. Elk and deer have been increasing somewhat. The Yellowstone National -Park, no doubt, contributes a lib- eral supply of elk and deer to the adjoining counties lying to the south, west, and northwest. Bighorn and antelope have been decreasing every year. It is claimed by a good many hunters that the big- horn or Rocky Mountain sheep contracted the disease known as scab, which killed them off at a lively rate. Bear and other fur-bearing animals are also decreas- ing at a rapid rate, the only exception being wolf and American Game 169 coyote, which seem to be on the increase throughout the settled portions of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Mountain-grouse and prairie-chicken are also decreas- ing. Recent seasons have been very unfavorable for breeding, consequently the hunting has been poor as compared with former years. All water-fowl are found along rivers and lakes, and are fairly plentiful. NEBRASKA EBRASKA is credited with an area of 75,995 square miles. The country belongs to the basin of the Missouri river. There are no mountains in the state. The surface of the country is rolling and broken. There are vast prairies, and between the summits which are found in the state are deep ravines. The game of Nebraska is mainly feath- ered game. There are some deer, a few antelope, an occasional gray or timber-wolf, coyote, lynx, fox, many rabbit, and some squirrel. There are also specimens of small furred game, such as mink and muskrat. Despite the stringent laws, the market-hunter kills an immense number of game-birds in Nebraska each year; they are killed by the wagon-load. Some of those who collect game-birds for the market have refrigerator plants, where they can freeze their birds and pack them for shipment East. Men are frequently hired to do the shooting. Pinnated grouse or prairie-hen are most abundant in the western part of the state. Their numbers and places change a good deal according to the seasons, which are varied. A hard, open winter, a wet or dry season, will cause these birds to change their places of abode, going where food and shelter are most favorable. On the whole, the prairie-hen is believed to be on the decrease. Quail or bob-white are quite plentiful throughout American Game 173 the state. Notwithstanding the heavy draught annually on the covers, these birds remain abundant. Geese and duck are very abundant. There are Canada geese, brant, and other stragglers of the goose family. Swan are occasionally shot. Mallard, teal, and other duck are found along the Platte, Elkhorn, Loup, and Republican rivers. Plover, curlew, Wilson's snipe, and other aquatic birds are found in large numbers during the season. There is generally good rabbit hunting near Edgar in Clay county ; and wolf are found there. Coyote are especially abundant in the eastern part of the state. NEVADA IEVADA possesses an uneven sur- face, composed largely of mountains and ridges, valleys and lakes. Even in the most mountainous portions of the state there are some fertile valleys; there are besides tracts of sterile plains of an alkaline nature. The climate is dry, which makes the plain country desolate. The area of the state is 104,125 square miles. There is considerable big game in the state, but the character of the country often makes hunting very labo- rious and sometimes hazardous. Of the big game, there are bear, both black and brown, and the grizzly ; also deer, antelope, mountain-sheep, lynx, wolf, and rabbit. The feathered game is made up of pinnated grouse, sage-hen, ruffed grouse, duck, geese, and quail. There are also aquatic birds, such as curlew, snipe, and plover. Good hunting may generally be found in Humboldt, Washoe, Elk, and Lander counties. The big game hunting season begins September I, but it is desirable for the sportsman contemplating a visit to this state to plan his trip well in advance, and be ready to commence his journey to the hunting regions some time before the opening date, as the trip is often a laborious one, and returning may be worse on account of storms. NEW HAMPSHIRE EW HAMPSHIRE possesses an area of 9,280 square miles. The character of the country is varied. In the southeast- ern part is a stretch of seacoast eighteen miles long, but, including the irregulari- ties, forty-eight miles in extent. The coast-line is made up chiefly of sandy beaches backed by salt marshes. Be- hind the marshes the country becomes hilly, and further north, mountainous. The extreme northern portion of the state is a wild, picturesque country, with moun- tains, lakes, and forest. The state contains considerable game, the moose being the largest and most highly prized by sportsmen : they are confined to the northern portion. There are some caribou, which are very irregular in their resorts: they also are found in the northern counties. There are many black bear in this state ; an occa- sional Canada lynx is found; red lynx or bob cat are common but shy. Deer are found in every county, being more abundant in the northern half. Fox are plentiful ; raccoon, hedgehog, squirrel, muskrat, and woodchuck are numerous. Otter are found occasion- ally. Gray squirrel are generally plentiful, and are usually abundant in the country from the middle por- tion of the state to its southern boundary. Of feathered game there are two varieties of grouse, the Canada grouse or spruce-partridge and the ruffed grouse. They are found throughout the state. The 178 Where to Hunt highly prized woodcock migrate through this state in goodly numbers. There are some choice covers in the country about Lake Winnipiseogee ; also in the neigh- borhood of Concord and Manchester are covers which have yielded many birds for a number of years. They are shot up to the month of December. There are some upland plover on the hills. This dainty bird breeds there, but departs for its southern migration early. There is some duck and goose shoot- ing in the lakes and ponds, but this game is hunted but little except in the southern part. The duck are chiefly black and wood-duck. There are but few quail in the state ; they are con- fined to the southern part. Near the coast there is some snipe and shore-bird shooting, and along the coast there is good duck shooting during the autumn, winter, and spring months. This game consists mainly of coot, sheldrake, and eider duck. The great habitat of the big game of New Hampshire is the northern counties, Grafton, Carroll, and more particularly Coos. The moose is found in the extreme northern part of Coos county at the head waters of the Connecticut river, and on the Diamond stream flowing into the Magalloway. Both the moose and the caribou roam across from one water to the other. They are decreasing in numbers. Deer, on the contrary, are increasing rapidly, and are plentiful in Coos county and quite numerous in Carroll and Grafton counties. The best localities in northern New Hampshire for hunting big game are in the neighborhood of the Con- necticut lakes, Diamond pond, Hell Gate camp, and Greenough and neighboring ponds. NEW JERSEY . EW JERSEY possesses an area of 8,320 square miles. The northern part of the state is somewhat mountainous, those elevations being offshoots from the Alleghanies ; between these mountains are fertile valleys. The southern part of the state is low and sandy. The eastern boundary is marked by the famous Palisades which border the Hudson river for some twenty miles ; then come Newark bay, Raritan bay, and the Atlantic coast with the famous Barnegat bay, Great bay, and others well known to many sportsmen. Delaware bay and Delaware river separate the state, the former on the south from Delaware, and the latter on the west from Pennsylvania. There is considerable game in the state of New Jersey, but its accessibility from many large cities has greatly depleted the non-migratory game. There are a few deer, and probably a very few bear ; fox are numer- ous, and squirrel are generally plentiful ; raccoon, wood- chuck, and muskrat are common ; an occasional otter is killed ; rabbit are common. Ruffed grouse are still abundant, more particularly in the mountainous districts ; woodcock vary with differ- ent seasons, but it is thought they are less abundant than formerly ; quail are not so plentiful as formerly, but still exist in good numbers in some parts of the state. 182 Where to Hunt The bays and marshes of New Jersey will always furnish good marsh-bird and duck shooting. Snipe come to the marshes in the spring and autumn. The water-fowl will forever be found in greater or less numbers in spring and autumn. These latter birds consist of the shoal-water and sea-duck, geese, and brant. Almost every variety of migratory marsh-birds is to be found in the state. Barnegat bay has long been known as a resort for wild fowl. Good shooting is still to be had there in the season. There is good marsh-bird and wild fowl shooting in Atlantic county. The Hackensack mead- ows in Bergen county are the tarrying place for snipe, and a great many birds are annually killed there. In Cape May county there are to be found both upland and aquatic bird shooting. Stillwater in Sussex county is mentioned as a place where small game is abundant, the woodchuck being very plentiful. Tremley, considering that it is only about forty min- utes' ride from New York, is a good place for marsh- birds. Yellowlegs are generally found in the adjacent marshes in the season. In the neighborhood of Perth Amboy fair quail and rabbit shooting is generally found ; there are flights of woodcock there in the season, and at the right time good wild fowl shooting may be had on Raritan bay. NEW MEXICO 'EW MEXICO has an area of 121,201 square miles. The northern and west- ern portions of the territory are quite mountainous, the altitude ranging from 5,000 feet above sea-levei in the foot- hill valleys to about 13,000 feet in the mountains. The interior and eastern portions consist mainly of level prairies with occasional high table-lands provided with tim- ber, and some hills and mountains. The valley lands in the foot-hills and along the streams are devoted to agriculture, and are fanned under systems of irrigation. The prairies, being fine grazing lands, are covered with herds of cattle, horses, and sheep. Much game is to be found in New Mexico. In the mountains and foot-hills large game abounds, such as elk, mountain-sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, black- tailed deer, Virginia deer, bear, both cinnamon and black, with occasionally a silver tip or grizzly, cougar or panther, commonly called mountain-lion, wildcat, lynx, gray or timber-wolf, coyote, red fox, swift, badger, beaver, otter, coon, squirrel, marmot, and other small furred animals. On the prairies, antelope are still abundant in some localities, and with the jack-rabbit afford sport for those who are fond of the chase. Of the feathered game, there are wild turkey, duck of all the migratory kinds, wild geese, brant, swan, sand- hill crane, curlew, ibis, and many species of snipe, 1 86 Where to Hunt mountain-grouse, ptarmigan, quail, and in some places sage-hen and prairie-hen in small numbers. Elk are found only in the highest mountains and are becoming quite scarce, as are mountain-sheep and Rocky Mountain goat. They are found in limited num- bers in the Sacramento, Gaudalupe, Mogollon, and other mountain ranches. Deer have also been decreas- ing with the advance of civilization, but with the enact- ment of stringent laws for their protection, and owing to the fact that there are thousands of square miles of rough, mountainous country and forests which will always be vast breeding-grounds for deer, they will be sufficiently plentiful to afford fine sport for a long time to come. Bear are found in the roughest mountains, in the foot-hills, and along the rough breaks of the deep can- yons. They do not molest stock to any great extent, but subsist mostly upon acorns, pinon nuts, berries, roots, and insects. They are hunted chiefly with hounds, of which there are several large packs in New Mexico. Bear hunting is a very exciting sport, and with a well trained pack of hounds is not at all dan- gerous, as the bear usually takes to a tree or takes refuge under a shelving rock, and will not attack a man, even when wounded, if there is a dog in sight. Fox, coyote, mountain-lion, coon, wild- or bob cat, and gray wolf are also hunted by the same kind of hounds, a species of the English foxhound. Gray wolf are quite plentiful, and are increasing. They are large and powerful animals, and their pelts make fine robes. They are destructive to cattle, sheep, and goats, and a bounty of five dollars for each scalp is paid on I American Game 189 them by the government. These wolves are very fleet and shrewd animals, and not many of them are caught or killed. The cougar or mountain-lion of this state will not attack a man, and when chased with a pack of hounds quickly climbs a tree and is easily killed. Wild turkey are still quite abundant in some localities, and are found more or less in all the mountainous por- tions and in the foot-hills. In the high mountains, grouse and the mountain-quail and ptarmigan are fairly abundant ; while in some of the lower interior valleys, particularly in the southern and southwestern portions of the territory, quail are so plentiful as to be almost a nuisance to farmers. Duck and geese, which are migrator}', appear in the fall and spring, remaining for several weeks, stopping in the ponds, reservoirs, and lakes along the streams ; in some portions of the territory they remain throughout the winter. Other migratory birds, such as snipe and sand-hill crane, appear at the same time. NEW YORK EW YORK has an area of 47,000 square miles. The surface is largely made up of elevated table-lands and mountainous dis- tricts. In the northeastern cor- ner is Lake Champlain, and adja- cent to it is Lake George. Near by is the great Adirondack region, so well known to sportsmen, which contains over 5,000 square miles. Lakes Ontario and Erie are its northwestern bounda- ries. The majestic Hudson, over 300 miles long, which has its source in the Adirondacks, flows through the state. Long Island, a part of the state an important part from the sportsman's point of view is about 140 miles long, and is a favorable place for game. The state for- merly possessed a great amount of game, and on account of its northern wilderness, its mountainous dis- tricts, and its open waters, will always contain a good supply. The game animals consist of deer, bear, and elk (introduced into private preserves). Cougar or panther are extremely rare ; the same may be said of moose, though it is believed they are extinct. Canada lynx are occasionally found. Red lynx or bob cat, rac- coon, fox, rabbit, squirrel, mink, and muskrat are common. Beaver are nearly extinct, a few colonies remaining in the Adirondack region. Otter are found only occasionally ; the same may be said of fisher. ! ! : tg _ CQ 1 I I I s 1 2 American Game 193 There are, besides, rabbit, hare, woodchuck, marten, skunk, and squirrel. In 1896, William F. Fox, superintendent of the state forests, estimated the number of deer in the great north- ern forest as 30,000. A carefully prepared census for the season of 1895 shows that 4,900 were killed by hunters. Of this number, 2,207 were bucks and 2,936 does; 2,694 were killed by hounding, 1,233 by jacking or night-hunting, and 973 by still-hunting. The same authority states that deer are increasing in the Adiron- dack region, owing to restrictions in hunting. Of the feathered game, the ruffed grouse is the largest of the common native upland game-birds ; there are some Canada grouse or spruce-partridge. Quail are most common in the southern part and Long Island. Woodcock migrate through the state ; so do the various shore- or marsh- birds, and the migratory duck, geese, and brant. Some wild or passenger pigeon are seen, also the Carolina dove. Woodcock remain in central New York late in the season. The wood-duck breeds within the state, and is quite common in the Adiron- dacks. Warwick in Orange county was once a grand country for woodcock and grouse ; it still furnishes annu- ally a great many. Ruffed grouse are very evenly dis- tributed through Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties, though Hamilton and Warren perhaps furnish somewhat better sport than the other two. There are also a few spruce-grouse along the Moose river in Hamilton county. For woodcock shooting, Saratoga, Washington, and Warren counties stand best, in the order named, a few birds have been killed along the Indian river in Hamil- 194 Where to Hunt ton county. Snipe shooting in the inland counties has fallen off greatly during the past few years, though in favorable seasons a brace or two are bagged occasion- ally in the course of a day's shooting. Hamilton is the county par excellence for deer. Duck shooting cannot be depended upon on the inland waters, but good sport is sometimes met with on Saratoga, Round, and Ball- ston lakes, Fish creek, and the Hudson river in Sara- toga county, Cossayuna lake in Washington county, and Lake George in Warren county. Near Underwood in Essex county is a good place for deer and ruffed grouse. One of the state foresters says, "My experience for the past ten years as forester has led me over a great deal of the forest in these parts, and I can safely say that I know of no portion of this county that affords better shooting or fishing than the upland valley of the Boquet river. It is easy of access from Port Henry on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad." The country about Mottville, in Onondaga county, is reported to be excel- lent for foxes. Good partridge and woodcock shooting has been found in recent years at Smithville Flats in Jefferson county. There is good ruffed grouse shooting at the head of Lake Keocka in Steuben county. Wood- cock are not very plentiful. Rabbit and fox are abun- dant. There is fine duck and snipe shooting. Tomp- kins county has furnished excellent ruffed grouse shoot- ing for a number of years, and still has an abundance of these birds. Many ruffed grouse are killed each year in Sullivan county; woodcock are found there in good numbers. Long Island is naturally well adapted for game, and a great deal is found there. The draught annually by killing is great. If summers are wet, it American Game 197 interferes with the hatching of birds ; but a favorable summer seems to restore depleted covers quickly. Much of the country where quail, ruffed grouse, and woodcock may be found plentiful is posted ; the same is true of the deer-shooting country, though there are many places where sportsmen can hunt without being disturbed as trespassers. There are a great many wild deer on Long Island. The law permits killing every alternate two years. It is said they are most abundant within a territory of about sixty square miles, extending from Central Islip on the north, southeast to Bayport and southwest to Islip. A portion of this territory, however, is a club preserve, the Southside Club at Oakdale, which con- trols 5,000 acres where no deer are shot. There are also other smaller tracts leased by sportsmen, besides estates the owners of which forbid shooting. Many deer are killed during the brief open season by sports- men from Patchogue, Bayport, Sayvillc, and Islip. Westhampton, at the eastern end of Long Island, is an excellent place for bay-bird shooting, plover and yellowlegs being most abundant. Shinnecock bay has long been famous for wild fowl shooting, and Good Ground on Long Island is a good place for the sport. Broad-bill, black duck, coot, and sheldrake are perhaps the most common duck killed, although nearly all the migratory duck are shot during the season ; also geese, brant, and an occasional swan. NORTH CAROLINA HE state of North Carolina has much game within its territory. It has an area of 52,286 square miles. The coast line is fringed with low sand islands and bars, making numerous lagoons between these islands and the mainland, which draw thither myriads of wild fowl. Currituck, Albemarle, Pamlico, Bogue, and Core sounds are all famous wild fowling resorts. Although some of the desirable territory in islands and points is controlled by clubs, there is still much good gunning territory open to the sportsman. From the coast, inland for about fifty miles, the country is level, with many swamps and marshes. Behind this level country the surface is uneven and rolling; the extreme western end of the state is moun- tainous. The swamps within the state harbor much game, and are famous. The Great Dismal Swamp, which is some twenty miles in length and about twelve miles in width, lies partly in this state and partly in Virginia. Alligator swamp is another that is famous ; it is between Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. The principal large game to be found in North Caro- lina is deer and bear, which are plentiful; there are also lynx, otter, raccoon, opossum, rabbit, and squirrel. Woodchuck are common in the mountains, and a few wolf are still to be found in the same region. Gray fox are common throughout the state; red fox are American Game 201 to be found in the northern and western regions. Alli- gator are plentiful, and grow to large size in the south- ern half of the eastern seaboard. Of feathered aquatic game, there are nearly all the species of the duck family, at least twenty-five species being known to exist; the most sought for are the canvasback, redhead, ruddy duck, mallard, and black duck. Geese of several varieties are found in large numbers ; swan are common on the northern sounds ; there are besides quantities of the other species of water-birds. Of the upland game-birds the most highly prized is the wild turkey ; there are some ruffed grouse ; quail (bob-white) are very abundant; woodcock migrate through the state, as do Wilson's snipe. The various kinds of shore-birds are very abundant, but there is so much larger game as to cause the shore- birds to be unmolested to a large degree. Dace county covers all of the beaches and shoals between Roanoke island and Hatteras inlet, and is a great resort for wild fowl ; early in November there are thousands of duck, geese, swan, and brant there. Most of the shooting is done on the sound on the shoals from batteries or sink-boxes. During the westerly gales the tides are high, driving the birds from their feeding- grounds; at such times good shooting can be secured from the points of the marshes. Beaufort is a first- class center for wild fowl and shore-birds. Near Marines in Onslow county there is a great variety of sport. Large and small game is abundant there, and includes deer, bear, turkey, quail, opossum, raccoon, and rabbit. 202 Where to Hunt At Newbern the duck and snipe shooting is generally good in the season. Near Washington, on the Pamlico river in Beaufort county, is a place where the sports- man is likely to find good furred and feathered game shooting. Maysville in Jones county, and Riverdale in Craven county, are said to be excellent places for wild turkey. Duck and brant shooting is excellent in season about Roanoke island. Hobgood in Halifax county is good for quail shooting. Edenton in Chowan county is an attractive town on the east coast. It is on Edenton bay, where the Chowan and Roanoke rivers enter Albemarle sound. The country in this neighborhood is excellent for quail shooting ; after November the shooting is best. A great deal of the land in North Carolina is posted, but as a rule the sportsman, by gentlemanly conduct, can secure permission to shoot from farmers for a small consideration. Belfast in Beaufort county usually gives good sport, consisting of deer, water-fowl, and quail shooting. Good quail shooting is to be found at Salisbury in Rowan county. Those fond of snipe shooting can generally find good shooting about Newbern the first three months of the year ; there is also good shooting of other game. NORTH DAKOTA ORTH DAKOTA has an area of 74,312 square miles, which is mainly made up of open prairie. The furred game con- sists of elk, moose, deer, both black- tailed and the Virginia varieties, antelope, caribou, gray or timber-wolf, prairie- wolf or coyote, otter, beaver, fox, badger, and rabbit. Of the feathered game, the most common are the prairie-hen and the sharp-tailed grouse ; geese of sev- eral varieties are usually abundant ; swan are often killed. There are, too, duck of many varieties, and curlew and some quail in the eastern part of the state. Deer of the black-tailed variety are scarce, except west of the Missouri river. White-tailed deer are quite plentiful along the Missouri river and tributaries, increasing in some places owing to settlement retro- grading and to the decrease of professional hunters. Antelope are found in the hills, Grand Coteaux du Missouri, quite plentiful ; also in some portions of Bad Lands. They are not decreasing. Wolf or coyote are quite plentiful throughout North Dakota, and are increasing. The state pays a bounty of three dollars for each wolf scalp. Fox are rather scarce. Otter are scarce and are decreasing; they are chiefly found along the Missouri and tributary creeks. Beaver are also scarce. Skunk are numerous all over the state, but the fur is poor. Badger are found everywhere. Beaver and otter are protected for ten years. Of the feathered game, prairie-hen are very numer- 2o6 Where to Hunt ous in some sections, and are increasing. The best shooting is along the line of the Northern Pacific Rail- road, between Fargo and Windsor, and on the Great Northern & Sioux Railroad. The birds are well fed and strong, making fine shooting. Of duck, there are many mallard, widgeon, gadwal, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, sprigtail, and spoonbill ; canvasback are not plentiful ; wood-duck are rather scarce. Canada geese have been scarce for several years, but it is believed they will be plentiful if wet seasons come. Of the millions that once were found in North Dakota, the number killed could not have affected them. Hutchins's goose and the snow-goose are found in favor- able seasons ; also some of the blue geese and white- fronted geese. There are two varieties of crane that are often killed, the sand-bill crane and the whooping white crane. Swan are frequently shot. The variation in the seasons has much to do with the abundance of pinnated grouse or prairie-hen, heavy rainfalls during the spring months interfering with the hatching of the eggs and diminishing the number of birds. Duck shooting is also affected by a dry season. A system of drainage has been introduced into North Dakota which has spoiled some of the best duck grounds. Eldridge, Windsor, and Coteaux are good hunting grounds for geese ; also Devil's lake, or any place where wheat is raised and water is plentiful. Brant are decreasing in number : they are found in all the localities mentioned for other geese. Sand-hill and white crane are fairly numerous on the edge of the hills or on the edge of settlements. Swan American Game 209 and pelican do not come as close to settlements as geese ; they are fairly numerous, but are on the decrease. Duck, mallard, canvasback, redhead, pintail, widgeon, spoonbill, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, and many others, are very numerous. They do not increase any. The best shooting-grounds in wet seasons are found all over Dakota wherever there is water. Curlew are quite plentiful ; common plover, very numerous ; golden plover, not so plentiful ; snipe of various kinds, including jack-, in large numbers. Owing to the climate of North Dakota, all feathered game is migratory except pinnated grouse or prairie- hen, and the sharp-tailed grouse, which winter here in the timber. The pinnated grouse or prairie-hen, how- ever, migrate in the fall to the corn-belt of southern Minnesota and South Dakota. Excellent goose shooting is generally to be had at Stump lake near Lakota, Devil's lake, Sweetwater, and from there west to Turtle Mountains. At Dawson in Kidder county there has been fine pinnated grouse and duck shooting for some time past. Large covers of grouse are generally found near this town. Grand Forks in the same county is a good starting-place for the sportsmen. Good prairie-hen shooting is generally secured near by, and excellent snipe shooting. Medora in Billings county is adjacent to good game country for both furred and feathered game. In the neighborhood of Devil's lake in Ramsey county there is good water- fowl and other game shooting. Good wild fowl shooting can be found at Dawson, Kidder county. Minnequaken, Benson county, on the west shore of Devil's lake, is a very popular place for visiting sportsmen. OHIO HE state of Ohio contains an area of 41,060 square miles. Its surface is varied. The cen- tral, northern, and western por- tions of the state are flat, while other sections are more undu- lating - The soil is s enerall y fertile. Climatic conditions, the cutting away of forests, and shooting for the market have greatly depleted the game of this state. The list of furred game is not large. Fox are found in some counties ; raccoon and opossum are not very abundant. There are a few mink and many muskrat. Rabbit and squirrel are plentiful. Of feathered game, the most abundant of the land birds is the quail (bob-white) ; grouse are seen in some parts of the state ; snipe come in fair numbers ; woodcock continue about the same year after year, until their covers are disturbed. Duck of all the migratory kinds are rather abundant in spring and autumn ; there are also some geese and brant. Golden plover do not appear in large numbers. There are a few curlew and other members of the snipe and plover families. The Mongolian and ring-necked pheasant have been introduced into the state, 300 being liberated in November, 1896. The experiment has been so successful that more will be liberated in the near future. While there are still many quail in this state, they American Game 213 are far less numerous than formerly. Those qualified to judge believe they are now slowly increasing, owing to protective laws. Market-shooting has nearly exter- minated them in some parts of the state. The quail- shooter cannot hunt at will now, for most of the farms are posted, and it is often difficult for a stranger to gain the desired permission to shoot. These birds are most numerous along creeks and river-bottoms. Grouse are most likely to be found on the hills which are timbered. Southeast of Canton, and situated in what is known as the Sandy valley, a stretch of country extending through the counties of Stark, Carroll, and Tuscarawas for a distance of say twenty-five miles, is a good hunt- ing region. Through the centre of this valley runs Sandy creek for two thirds its length, finally flowing into the Tuscarawas river. On either side of this valley are ridges of moderate elevation, quite well timbered. Small game in favorable seasons is usually quite plenti- ful, although within the past few years farmers have grown somewhat hostile to sportsmen, as a result of the ill treatment they have received at the hands of a few unscrupulous persons who unfortunately pose as sports- men. However, there is still good sport to be had there, and by taking the trouble to get permission from the landowners, one may have very good shooting at a small cost. The country is a good one for squirrel, grouse, quail, and rabbit, and these are usually plentiful. Gray, red, and fox-squirrel are all to be had, although the last are not found as readily as the other two. The timber is mainly oak, hickory, chestnut, and elm, which makes it a good home for squirrel. 2J4 Where to Hunt Fox- and gray squirrel and rabbit are quite plentiful in the counties of Union, Champaign, Logan, Hardin, Delaware, and Madison. It is said they are on the increase. Quail are also quite plentiful in those coun- ties. Rabbit are very abundant in Logan county, Belle- fontaine county being also well supplied with them. Rush Creek swamp in the latter county is a particularly good place. Near Lake View, in Logan county, is an excellent place for woodcock. Good duck and snipe shooting is generally to be jound near Lewiston in Logan county, and Celina in Mercer county. Coshoc- ton county is considered excellent for quail. It is quite hilly, and hunting is attended with work. Quail shoot- ing in Clermont, Brown, and Hamilton counties is good, and squirrel are found in the two former counties, where woods are numerous. As deserted and abandoned farms and vineyards are quickly grown over with black- berry briers, hazelnut bushes, and small undergrowth, the quail, rabbit, and squirrel do not suffer so much from exposure or from shooters. This applies to both sides of the Ohio river above Cincinnati for over 100 miles. There is not much wild fowl shooting except in the valleys of the Ohio river and its largest tributaries. Spring shooting is popular along the Ohio. In Feb- ruary, March, and April the river overflows, leaving vast stretches of back-water over fields and woods, and making a lake of every tributary. Duck come then in large numbers. OKLAHOMA KLAHOMA territory contains an area of 37,183 square miles. The game found within its borders consists of deer the black-tailed and other varieties, gray or timber-wolf, coyote, raccoon, opossum, mink, rabbit, some otter and bear, and other small furred game ; also grouse of sev- eral varieties, wild turkey, all the migratory duck, geese, brant, snipe, plover, and quail. The southeastern part of the territory, where there is much underbrush, is regarded as the best part of the territory for quail. It is to be regretted that game laws were not among the very first to be enacted in this territory. Although the country is comparatively newly settled, the game has become scarce. Ruffed grouse and pinnated grouse are said to be almost exter- minated. In the timbered portion of the territory the wild turkey is found in fair abundance. Woodcock are very scarce, and it is rare that one is found. East of the Santa Fe railway squirrels of the gray and fox varieties are quite abundant. Jack-rabbit are very plentiful and on the increase. Fox and wolf are said to be decreasing. - ** OREGON REGON is divided by the Cascade range of mountains and the Blue Moun- tains into sections. Between the i former range and the Pacific ocean lies western Oregon, a great agricul- tural, timber, and game district. The country between the Cascade and the Blue Mountains is made up of mountains and valleys, the latter being very fertile. Southeastern Ore- gon east of the Blue Mountains is arid, devoted largely to stock-raising. The state contains 94,560 square miles. Oregon has a wonderful amount of game, of nearly all varieties. Of the large game there are wapiti or elk, which still exist in abundance ; deer of the black-tailed and white-tailed varieties are very plentiful ; bear are very numerous, the grizzly bear quite common, as are the black and brown bear ; moose of great size are often killed by sportsmen ; cougar or panther or mountain- lion are common ; gray or timber-wolf and prairie-wolf or coyote are plentiful. There are, besides, lynx, fox, otter, beaver, marten, fisher, rabbit, mink, raccoon, squirrel, and small furred game. Feathered game is also abundant. There are several varieties of grouse, duck of many kinds, geese, brant, swan, snipe, plover, curlew, rail, mountain-quail, and other feathered game. Mongolian pheasants, intro- duced some time ago, are now recognized as among American Game 221 the game-birds of Oregon. They are increasing in number. Among the duck are canvasback, mallard, widgeon, spoonbill, sprig tail, and blue- and green- winged teal. Wild pigeon are still found in this state. They arrive about April I, and leave about October i. Duck shoot- ing is generally good all along the Columbia river. Duck return from their northern flight in September, and they leave again for the north in April. Duck shooting is also good in southern Oregon. Grouse are most abundant in the western part ; bear in the Coast and Cascade ranges ; cougar and lynx are also plentiful in the same country. Mountain-quail are holding their own in number. Tillamook is a good county for game. Tillamook bay, on the western coast, fifty miles south of the Columbia river, is fifteen miles long, four miles wide, and has various marshes and inlets surrounding a network of salt-water sloughs adjacent, and fine nav- igable rivers. This is said to be an excellent place for a large variety of water-fowl, such as duck, geese, and snipe. Near by is good quail and grouse shooting, and a little further away good deer and elk shooting. Bear are also plentiful here. Curry county has for a number of years been so good a big-game section, that head and hide hunters were attracted there. It is said still to abound with game. Deer are very plentiful in Laus, Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine counties, and in the Coast Range in Tillamook, Lincoln, and Benton coun- ties. Big game is so plentiful in Benton county as quite recently to warrant the offering of a bounty of $2.50 for the scalps of cougar, bear, and wildcat, and $i each for wolf scalps. PENNSYLVANIA ^ENNSYLVANIA has an area of 46,000 square miles. The eastern portion, known as the Atlantic slope, is largely undulating and hilly ; the central is mountainous ; while the western is made up of table-lands. This state is nat- urally a favorable one for game, which at one time was very plentiful, but was largely diminished by commercial, manufacturing, and mining enterprises. Its central situation, too, has made it a favorable place for market-hunters, who have helped materially in diminishing the game. Its furred game consists of bear, deer, lynx, fox, both red and gray, raccoon, opossum, otter, mink, muskrat, woodchuck, and squirrel. The records of Dr. B. H. Warren, state geologist, show the number of deer killed during the season of i895-'96 as follows: Potter county, 1895 -'96, twenty- five deer; Schuylkill, 1896, two; Snyder, i895-'96, from five to ten; Venango, i895-'96, probably fifty, later returns say five or six were killed in 1 896 ; War- ren, i895~'96, at least twenty-five; Wyoming, a few killed in the western part; Luzerne, 189 5 -'96, eight; Monroe, about fifteen; Adams, about fifty in 1895 an ^ about thirty in 1896; Mifflin, 1896, twelve to fifteen; Franklin, 1896, probably twenty-five; Wayne, 1896, about twenty-five ; Centre, not many deer were scarce ; Forest, 1896, probably thirty or forty; Clearfield, twenty-five ; in Lebanon deer were formerly quite abundant, but they are scarce now, five or six only American Game 225 being killed each year ; in Fulton a few deer are killed annually; Tioga has a special law protecting deer for three years ; the last deer reported killed in York county was in 1873; in Diamond valley, Huntingdon county, eleven were killed in 1896 eight years ago about seventy were taken in this valley. Black bear are by no means rare; about 150 are killed annually. The bay lynx or wildcat is common in many counties ; in fact, these destructive animals are increasing in some sections. According to the records, as many as one hundred are annually taken by hunters in some of the counties. Raccoon are common, and they are reported to do considerable damage in the corn-fields in some sections; they are also said to de- stroy multitudes of brook trout when the streams are low. Opossum are very numerous in some of the southern counties. Otter are rare ; probably not over twenty-five are taken annually. Mink are numerous about the water-courses ; they are very destructive to fish and poultry. Muskrat are common, and in some sections do great damage in corn-fields. Ground-hog or woodchuck are abundant in many places, and are the cause of much annoyance. Gray and black squirrel are found everywhere. The fox-squirrel is rare, and is restricted to a few localities, being found chiefly in Cumberland, Juniata, Dauphin, and Mifflin counties. The feathered game consists of wild turkey, grouse, woodcock, quail, snipe, and plover of several varieties. Water-fowl of nearly all the migratory kinds are found. Rail shooting is good, and marsh-birds are plentiful. Earnest efforts to restock depleted covers with quail have not met with deserved success ; the severe winters 226 Where to Hunt have proved disastrous to the imported birds. Wild turkey are fairly common in Juniata, Dauphin, Centre, Union, Snyder, Bedford, and Blair counties, and are sometimes met with elsewhere. Ruffed grouse are found generally throughout this state, except in some of the southeastern and western counties. The best coun- ties for grouse shooting are Forest, Elk, Potter, Clear- field, Wayne, Bradford, Centre, Union, Clinton, Lycom- ing, Luzerne, Pike, Cameron, Monroe, Susquehanna, Tioga, Warren, Jefferson, and Cambria. Wilson's or English snipe are quite plentiful about the meadow- lands during spring migrations. Probably the best locality for snipe shooting is in northwestern Pennsyl- vania, in the vicinity of Lake Erie, in Crawford and Erie counties. During the spring and fall migrations there is very good shooting on the Susquehanna river, from Sunbury to Havre De Grace, Md. At this time there is also good duck shooting at Presque Isle bay, Lake Erie. Rail (sora) and reed-bird shooting is quite good along the Delaware river in September. The sora breed quite plentifully at Presque Isle, where good bags of these birds are often taken in September. Quail shooting for the last two or three years, owing to the severe winters, has not been very good except in some few localities. Shore-birds are some years quite plentiful, during migrations, about Lake Erie's shores. Ruffed grouse have been plentiful for several seasons in Venango county, but market hunting has depleted their number. During the season of 1896 at least 2,000 were shot in this county, where one pot- hunter captured about 700. The same may be said of Tioga county. It is reported that market-hunters sent American Game 229 to New York during the season of 1895 over $5 ,000 worth of grouse. Wayne county has yielded many grouse and woodcock; it is said about 10,000 grouse were shot in this county during the season of 1896- Westmoreland county yielded about $1,000 worth of game in 1896, consisting chiefly of wild turkey, grouse, quail, rabbit, and squirrel. Five merchants in Wilkesbarre, from October, 1895, to January, 1897, sold 3,500 grouse, all, or nearly all, of which were killed in Luzerne and the neighboring counties. One Luzerne county hunter is reported to have killed in 1896, within a radius of thirty miles of Wilkesbarre, 804 grouse, which were shipped to New York city, and in 1895 tm ' s same individual, it is stated, marketed about 1,200 grouse, killed in Luzerne and neighboring counties. York county formerly contained a great deal of game. A few years ago fully $8,000 worth was annually shipped from this county, but market-shooting has greatly reduced the game. From five townships in York county in 1896 there were sent to the market 1, 800 quail, 2,800 rabbit, and 3,000 wild duck. In 1896, from September I to December 31, inclusive, a firm in Susquehanna county purchased 3,000 grouse, 1,500 quail, 30,000 squirrel, and a large number of rabbit (40,000 or 50,000), which were sent to New York. The value of the game marketed in 1896 from Bradford county is given as fully $16,000. Three gun- ners in the northeastern part are said -to have shipped I ,OOO grouse, and in the western part one market-hunter sold 540 grouse during the season. Gray squirrel were very numerous in Bradford county in recent seasons, and thousands of these animals were killed and sold. RHODE ISLAND HODE ISLAND is the smallest state in area in the Union ; it con- tains 1,300 square miles. Most of its surface is hilly, but near Narragansett bay the land is al- most level. Its list of furred game is not extensive. In 1892 a deer was killed near Westerly, and another was reported as seen in 1895 ; but deer are rarely found in the wild state. Red fox are common. They are generally of good size, and are usually of handsome color ; they are killed nearly every winter within a few miles of Provi- dence. Otter are not plentiful ; mink are quite abun- dant; opossum are sometimes killed ; raccoon are com- mon ; so are muskrat. Gray squirrel are common in favorable seasons. In the town of Warwick squirrel have a tendency toward albionism ; some killed there almost every year are white, with faded eyes. There are some flying squirrel. Rabbit and hare are plentiful, many being killed each year in the season within a radius of ten miles of Providence ; the swamps at Kingston are good places for them. There are some red lynx or bob cat in the state. During the season there is considerable feathered game inland and along the coast. Ruffed grouse, the commissioners say, are holding their own. They are most abundant in the central and northern counties. The supply in 1895, ft is believed, was greater than in several years past. The northern part of Kent and Providence counties furnishes American Game 233 the best covers for these birds. Some ringnecked pheasant have been introduced. These birds bred and increased for a time, but, owing to insufficient protec- tion, have been about exterminated. Woodcock, it is thought, have increased recently. Wilson's snipe come during the spring and fall migrations (April, and Sep- tember and October) ; they may be found in consider- able numbers in proper localities ; in spring inland, and in autumn nearer the shore. Golden plover, known locally as green-head, were formerly very abundant dur- ing time of migration, late in August and early in Sep- tember, the islands in Narragansett bay being their favorite stopping-places. It is said that at the present time the flights pass the shores far out at sea. A heavy easterly gale occurring during the migrations brings a few birds to the shore, but they do not stop in any numbers, and very few have been killed of late years. Black-bellied plover or beetle-head come along shore in August and September in limited numbers. Brant pass the coast in vast numbers during the spring and fall migrations, but usually keep well out at sea; a few are killed each year in Narragansett bay, where they formerly abounded. Red-breasted merganser, common sheldrake, are very plentiful. The American and hooded merganser are rather rare. Goldeneyed duck, called whistler, old- squaw, buffle-head or butter-ball, and greater scaup duck, called widgeon, are plentiful in Narragansett bay. Lesser scaup are not common. Black duck are quite plentiful ; mallard and the pintail are rare ; common eider duck are numerous in winter about Newport, Sea- connet, and Narragansett Pier. American widgeon or 234 Where to Hunt baldpate arc rather scarce ; red-head are occasionally shot ; canvasback are very rare. Blue-winged teal are not uncommon ; green-winged are rarer ; wood-duck are reasonably plentiful, varying as all birds do with different years. They drop into all the fresh-water rivers, but are most commonly found near Westerly and Hope. Ruddy duck are common ; shovellers are occa- sional. Of sandpipers the most abundant are least, semipalmated, and spotted. The last named breed within the state. They are too small for purposes of sport or for the table, but are nevertheless killed in great numbers each year. Greater and lesser yellow- legs are to be found in fair abundance. Pectoral sand- piper or grass-bird are common ; turnstone, red-breasted snipe, dowitcher, stilt-sandpiper, and white-rumped sand- piper are fairly numerous. Knot or red-breasted sand- piper are rather rare. Solitary and buff-breasted sand- piper are occasionally found, the latter the rarer. Bartramian sandpiper or upland-plover were formerly very abundant, but they are now quite rare. Killdeer- plover are now rare; piping-plover are quite common, and sometimes breed within the state. Ringnecked plover arc occasionally found. Long-billed curlew (sickle-bill) are very rare; Hudsonian or jack-curlew are not uncommon ; Esquimaux or dough-bird are now quite rare ; Hudsonian godwit, also known as the white- rumped marlin, are very rare; great marbled godwit are also very rare. Purple sandpiper are occasionally found on the coast; willet are at times quite plentiful; red-backed sandpiper are common late in fall. Sander- ling were formerly quite abundant, but of late years have become scarce. SOUTH CAROLINA OUTH CAROLINA possesses an area of 29,385 square miles. Its coast-line is about 220 miles in length, the southern part of which is skirted by a range of islands covered with live-oak, palmetto, and pine trees. The country for a hundred miles back from the ocean is low and flat, the timber growth being pitch-pine. Beyond this is a territory of sand-hills known as the middle country, and further beyond, in the northwestern part of the state, are hills and mountains, the most conspicuous of the latter being the Blue Ridge. There is considerable game in the state. Deer, bear, panther or wildcat, fox, raccoon, and opossum are common. As these animals frequent almost impenetra- ble places, they have not been exterminated as game has in many other states. Rabbit, squirrel, and other small furred game are abundant. Wild turkey are found in good numbers ; quail or bob-white are abundant; woodcock are common in the counties near the coast ; snipe are plentiful in the season. The water-fowl are very numerous along the coast during the season. There are geese and duck of nearly all the migratory species, conspicuous among which are the canvasback, mallard, red-head and teal, widgeon, and spoonbill. SOUTH DAKOTA DAKOTA contains an area of about 76,620 square miles. Its surface consists largely of open prairie, except in the southwest, where it is mountainous, the Black Hills being located there. The great Missouri river flows through the center of the state. The big game of South Dakota is becoming scarce. It consists of cougar, lynx, elk, deer, gray or timber- wolf, prairie-wolf or coyote, badger, jack-rabbit and cottontail rabbit, mink, otter, and muskrat. Of the feathered game there are grouse, pinnated and ruffed, the latter not being very abundant, snipe, plover, quail, several varieties of geese, and nearly all the mi- gratory ducks. The abundance of feathered game depends much upon the season. When rain is abun- dant, there are lakes and sloughs which attract myriads of water-fowl. If rain is scarce, these lakes become dry and the wild fowl do not come. Drought also affects the abundance of pinnated grouse or prairie-chicken. There has, however, generally been an abundance of game of all kinds, with the exception of wild geese, which have decreased. This is attributed to the dry seasons. Trapping has played havoc with prairie-hen. Quail shooting, which formerly was very abundant, is now hard to find. The broad Missouri bottoms, covered with brush, were formerly alive with quail, and one hun- dred birds was no uncommon bag for two men in a I American Game 241 day's hunt. Plover are usually abundant in the south- eastern part of the state. West of the Missouri river, during the past few years, sage-grouse have been plen- tiful. Jack-rabbit are common in all parts of the state, excepting east of the Missouri river; wolf are most com- mon west of that river. Near Scotland, in Bonhomme county, is a good place for them. In a rabbit hunt at that place in 1896, 51 I rabbits were killed. Fall River county formerly paid a bounty of $5 for gray-wolf scalps ; but as this was largely in excess of the bounty paid in Nebraska and Wyoming, adjoining this county, and the practice of killing wolves in these states and bringing them to Fall River county and claiming the bounty became such a burden, the com- missioners reduced the bounty to $1.50. In conse- quence there are few wolf-hunters, and the number of the grays has largely increased during the last few years. TENNESSEE ENNESSEE possesses an area of 42,500 square miles, which includes 350 square miles of water. The eastern portion of the state is mountainous ; the middle portion is largely a rolling country; in I. the western part of the state the surface is nearly level. The cli- mate is temperate. The furred game of this state are bear, deer, fox, lynx, raccoon, opossum, rabbit, mink, squirrel, and muskrat. Otter are occasionally killed. It is believed that there are a few panther in the state. It is reported by good authorities that deer have in- creased to some extent within the past two or three years. Most, if not all, of the mountains in Tennessee contain more or less deer ; some counties protect them. In the unfrequented plateaus of the Cumberland Moun- tains, deer, turkey, and squirrel are usually plentiful. Fox are numerous throughout the state ; squirrel vary in numbers in different seasons. The feathered game of Tennessee consists of wild tur- key, quail or bob-white (partridge, as they are known here), grouse, snipe, woodcock, Wilson's snipe, and water-fowl. Quail or bob-white are most abundant in the western and southeastern parts of the state ; wild turkey, too, are found there in fair numbers. Quail shooting is generally good near Lucy, in Shelby American Game 245 county. A (air number are usually to be found in the neighborhood of Chattanooga. About Brownsville, in Hayvvood county, the quail-shooting is usually good. These birds arc usually abundant in the Tennessee val- ley, between the Cumberland and the Alleghany ranges. Duck are present in the lakes and streams in great numbers during the months of October, November, and December, nearly all the migratory species being repre- sented. Duck-shooting, with some geese and swan, is generally good on the St. Francis river opposite Mem- phis, in the season. There are extensive marshes there. Ruffed grouse, or pheasant as they are called in this state, arc scarce. The Carolina dove (wild pigeon, as they are often called) visit this state in large numbers, and many are shot each year. TEXAS HE great state of Texas contains an area of 274,356 square miles, over three times the area of all the New Eng- land states. The country within fifty miles of the coast line is level ; be- hind this, in the interior and north, the country is undulating ; the northwestern part is made up largely of mountains and table-lands. In this locality is the great Staked plain, containing more than 50,000 square miles. The furred game of Texas consists of elk, deer, ante- lope, panther, bear, lynx, wolf, both gray or timber- wolf, and the prairie-wolf or coyote, jack-rabbit, cot- tontail rabbit, and badger. Occasionally an ocelot and a jaguar are killed ; straggling peccary, too, are some- times shot. The list of feathered game of Texas is long. There are wild turkey, several species of grouse, including the ruffed grouse and pinnated grouse, snipe, and several species of quail. There are believed to be some wild, or passenger-, pigeon in Texas. Deer are abundant in Anderson county. At Pales- tine, deer are frequently shot within five or six miles of the city. They are hunted almost exclusively with hounds. In the Pecos river country in western Texas there are cougar or mountain-lion, black and cinnamon bear, American Game 249 wolf, both gray or timber-, and prairie- or coyote. Red deer and black-tailed deer are abundant. North Texas still abounds in antelope and deer. The region known as southwest Texas, between Alice and Brownsville, is probably the best deer country. Herds of 500 have been seen there. Turkey are plentiful north of Kerrville, about 150 miles from San Antonio. Raccoon, opossum, wildcat, and mink are plentiful everywhere, as but little trapping has taken place in Texas. In the Colorado river country, west of Velasco, the sportsman can usually find excellent sport. There arc deer, grouse in abundance, and myriads of duck and snipe in the season. Near Lufkin, in Angelina county, there is excellent deer shooting. The country between the Angelina and Nueces rivers is favorable for the sport. There is also good quail shooting in this neighborhood. Of the quail, there arc the bob-white, which are very plentiful almost everywhere, the Mexican blue quail, to be found in western counties, and the black quail, which some claim to be Messina, to be found in the mountains of western Texas. The droughts of the past few years have been the cause of much more game being slaught- ered than otherwise would have taken place, as the farmers and ranchmen, being pressed for something to subsist on, took to hunting for meat and hides. A return of good seasons, however, has already made game more plentiful, and no doubt game is on the increase at the present time. Quail shooting is good, usually, at Elmendorf in Bexar county. In the neighborhood of Waco good 250 Where to Hunt quail shooting may be secured. In Montague county quail are said to be very abundant. Near Galveston there are many quail, and a great many are shot annu- ally ; snipe shooting is also good through the winter ; and the pinnated grouse or prairie-hen are still found in good numbers. Very large bags of quail have been secured in Weimar in Colorado county, and it is still an excellent place for these birds. Texas is the winter home of wild fowl of all kinds, and sportsmen have enjoyed the best of that kind of shooting on the Texas coast. Duck shooting may be found near Galveston, Rock- port, and other Texas coast cities. Port Lavaca, in Calhoun county, is a place where there is generally fine duck shooting in the season. Near Rockport, in Aransas county, there is good wild-fowl shooting in the season. Gregory, in San Patricio county, is also good for duck shooting, Nueces bay being the resort of many wild fowl. UTAH possesses an area of 84,476 square miles. It is divided by the Wahsatch mountains, traversing the - territory from north to south. East of these mountains the country is hilly; west, the country is hilly, with much barren table-land. There are some fertile valleys, but the elevated portions are generally sterile. Of the furred game found in Utah, there arc black- tailed or mule-deer, elk, antelope, mountain-sheep, grizzly bear, brown and black bear, mountain-lion, wild- cat, gray- or timber-wolf, prairie-wolf or coyote, bea- ver, mink, otter, jack-rabbit, and cottontail rabbit. Deer are to be found quite plentiful in the southern and eastern portions of the state, and some few near Salt Lake City during the winters, when the snow is deep on the mountains. Elk are scarce and hard to find. Antelope are found in the southern part of the state, but are not very often killed, as the country which they frequent is very flat and open, which makes hunting difficult. Mountain-sheep are not numerous, and are very hard to find, inhabiting the highest peaks, which are very rocky and steep. Special efforts are now being made to extend protec- tion to elk, mountain-sheep, antelope, beaver, and otter, as all of these animals have become very rare in this state. Grizzly bear are not so plentiful as the other 254 Where to Hunt species, but are found in the same localities, in most of the canons. Mountain-lion arc becoming quite plenti- ful in some localities ; lynx arc also on the increase. The gray wolf and coyote are found out on the dry plains in nearly all parts of the state ; the first is becom- ing rather scarce, while the latter is plentiful. Jack-rabbit are most plentiful of all the furred game, but are diminishing somewhat on account of disease and the great slaughter of them annually. They can be found in most parts of the state, but are most numerous at Cedar valley, about thirty-five miles by rail from Salt Lake City, where in two days' shooting the results were 2,200 for the first and 1,800 for the second day, about thirty shooters participating. Of the feathered game, there arc sage-hen or cock-of- the-plains, willow-grouse, ruffed grouse, blue or dusky grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and a few California quail. A few bob-white are found in the vicinity of Salt Lake City. California quail are very numerous in the south part of Utah, often being found in flocks of as many as two or three hundred in the latter part of the season after breeding-time. Mallard duck, canvasback, redhead, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, pintail, widgeon, ruddy, and butter- ball are migratory. The only species of duck said to breed in Utah arc widgeon and teal, mostly the latter. Duck arc not very numerous during the fall season, but in the spring are quite plentiful, although not in very good condition. Snipe and plover are migratory birds. ERMONT, or the Green Mountain state as it is called, contains an area of 10,212 square miles; it is 157 miles long and about thirty to forty miles wide. Its surface is quite mountainous, but these mountains are generally cov- ered with evergreen trees and shrubs ; the hills are fer- tile to their tops, and the valleys are beautiful in their productiveness. The Connecticut river extends along its eastern border ; Lake Champlain is its western boun- dary for some 140 miles; and Lake Memphremagog for about thirty miles long, is on the north. Its furred game includes the common Virginia deer, which are getting quite plentiful in the mountains, and are often seen in the more thickly settled lake towns. The common black bear are the only variety of that family. They are found largely among the mountains, and do not decrease in numbers. Raccoon are found in every section, though nowhere abundant, and they are rapidly decreasing in numbers. Common red fox are found in every locality though in diminishing num- bers, and in all shades of color from almost a pure sil- ver to a pure black, known as the black or silver-gray. Some are found having a dark band across their shoul- ders and along their backs, with reddish sides ; these are called cross-foxes; if these bands are faintly marked, they are called bastards. All these different colored foxes, it is said, come from red mothers. The 258 Where to Hunt panther, catamount, cougar, and painter are very rare. Occasionally one may be found on the more densely wooded mountains. An occasional lynx is found in the mountain towns. They are decreasing in numbers. The red lynx is even more rare than Lynx canadcnsis. The habits and range of the two species are the same, though Lynx rufns often degrades himself by robbing hen-roosts. Otter have become quite rare. A few, however, still follow up and down the larger streams in the central and northern parts. Fisher or black cat are becoming scarce ; they are most plentiful among the mountains and woods in the northern and northeastern parts. Pine-marten sable are on nearly all of the mountains in the northern part, but are nowhere plentiful. They are decreasing in numbers. Weasel (stoat) are found everywhere. Muskrat are generally distributed in all waters, whether lake or river. Mink are found roaming along the banks of every stream or lake that contains fish. Hare, commonly called rabbit, are abundant, but are steadily decreasing in numbers in the vicinity of the largest villages. Gray squirrel some years are quite numerous in all the localities that furnish a good crop of nuts. They are often migratory in their habits, moving from one locality to another as their favorite food increases or diminishes. They are decreasing in numbers. Wood- chuck are common, and seem to hold their own against all enemies. The feathered game consists of ruffed grouse, which are found in every section, but in great- est number in the towns west of the mountains, where the large timber has been cut off and its place has been American Game 261 taken by a second growth of white birch and other small timber. This bird is also found on the pine plains, where the sweet-fern grows and the ground is covered with a carpet of chick or partridge-berry, vines, and fragrant winter-green ; there he loves to dwell, especially if there be some dark, bushy ravines near by to be used for cover in times of danger. In the sweet-fern he will oftentimes lie for a dog equal to the prairie-hen. In many sections the ruffed grouse is becoming more plentiful. Canada grouse are nowhere numerous, a few being found in the mountains in the northern and northwestern parts. Quail or bob-white are scarce. Repeated attempts have been made to introduce them, but without much success, as the birds cannot endure the winter weather. Woodcock arrive from the south late in the spring. A portion of the flight remain here to breed, and the others, after a short rest, pass on to more northern localities. While nowhere plentiful, they are to be found during the summer months in favorable spots in nearly every town. The native-bred birds begin their migrations southward about September i, after the first cold autumn storm, and the flight-birds from the north begin to arrive soon afterward. There are but few breeding-grounds directly north between the northern boundary of the state and the St. Lawrence, which makes the flight into the north- ern part light, unless there are heavy west winds that bring the birds in from the big breeding-grounds west of the St. Johns or the Richelieu river. They are usually plentiful in the central and northern portions. Wilson's snipe are migratory ; they breed to a lim- ited extent in the marshes around the Missisquoi bay of 262 Where to Hunt Lake Champlain, and in a few localities farther south along its eastern shores. Flight-birds arrive soon after the so called equinoctial storm, and are then found in goodly numbers in the Missisquoi marshes, and in nearly every marsh along the eastern shore of the lake, and along the low, soft banks of some of the small creeks in the interior. The first hard frost starts the great bulk of the birds southward, though a few remain until the surface of the marshes is frozen. A few pairs of sharp-tailed grouse were recently re- leased, and are reported as thriving. Red-breasted snipe occasionally arrive with the late flight of English snipe. Jack-snipe are sometimes found around the lake marshes in October. Greater yellowlegs are not plenti- ful. Some are found on the sand-bars of the lake dur- ing October. They are occasionally found in the inte- rior late in the fall. Lesser yellowlegs have the same habits as their greater brothers. Great marble godwit arrive in small numbers in October, and frequent the shores and sand-bars of the lake. The Hudsonian godwit arrives about the middle of October, rests, and feeds along the sand-bars of the lake. Willet are occa- sionally found late in October and early in November along the lake shores and sand-bars. Golden plover arrive early in September, and frequent old and closely cropped fields on the islands and farms bordering the lake ; they stool well, and are easily shot over dogs. Black-breasted plover are generally found in smaller numbers along with golden plover. Upland plover breed abundantly on the hill farms in the northwestern part of the state, but leave early in the season, about September i, for the south. Ringnecked plover are American Game 265 occasionally found late in the season along the shores of the lake. Sandpiper breed abundantly. Canada geese arrive at the lake in April, on their way to their north- ern breeding-grounds, which are among the shallow lakes north of the " great divide," where the waters flow northward and into the Hudson bay and Arctic ocean. They stop in Vermont on their southward migration, about October I, and remain until the hard frost comes, staying afternoons and nights out on the broad waters of the lake, and feeding during the early part of the day in the stubble-fields. Their numbers are yearly decreas- ing. Brant, of late years, are seldom seen. An occa- sional flock comes, but makes a short stay. Black duck breed in considerable numbers in the Missisquoi marshes, and also in other sections of Lake Champlain, and in a few of the most secluded ponds and creeks in the interior of the state. They would undoubtedly breed here in far greater numbers if they were not driven away in the spring by muskrat-trappers and pickerel-shooters. During the past two years there has been a marked increase in the number of native-bred duck, and no perceptible decrease in the migratory flight, which begins to arrive the last of September, or soon after the first cold storm in September. Mallard are occasionally found with their dusky brethren, the black duck. Wood-duck formerly bred abundantly in Vermont, but the wood-choppers have cut down most of their nesting-places. This has caused the majority of these duck to go to the great northern wilds to find suitable breeding-places. The few wood-duck that are natives leave for the south early in September. The flight-duck arrive soon afterward, and after a short stay 266 Where to Hunt resume their journey toward a warmer clime. A few blue-winged teal breed in the marshes around Lake Champlain, but the majority of those that are shot are flight-duck. Their numbers are less and less every sea- son. Green-winged teal are rarer. Pin-tail duck breed in small numbers in the larger marshes of Lake Cham- plain, and leave for southern waters early in September. They are decreasing in numbers. Blue-bill arrive in November from their far northern breeding-grounds. They come in readily to decoys, and give good sport to the shooter who has a blind out on the open waters of the lake. Broad-bill are often found with the common blue bill. The breeding- grounds and habits of these two birds are similar. Spoonbill duck or shoveller are rare. Redhead arrive in November, occasionally the last of October. They come to decoys readily. Their numbers are rapidly decreasing. Whistlers, which arc scarce, arrive about November, and also make several weeks' stay early in the spring. Barrow's goldeneye arc occasionally found. Butterball arrive the last of September, and frequent all the lakes and rivers. Ruddy duck are not common in Lake Champlain. They are migratory. Sheldrake are found until the ice forms on all the ponds and rivers of any size. They arrive again the middle of April, on their way to their northern breeding-grounds. They are decreasing. Red-breasted sheldrake are migratory, and quite common in the lake and in the mouths of the rivers that flow into it, late in the fall and early in the spring. They are decreasing in numbers. Hooded merganser are rare. Widgeon are occasionally found along with the late fall duck. Gadwall are occasionally I \ 11 8 2 I 1 American Game 269 found. The scooters include the black and the velvet, and come in late in the season. Virginia rail breed in limited numbers in and about the lake marshes. Sora-rail are occasionally found among the lily-pads in the pond-holes of the Missisquoi marshes. They go southward early in September. Wild pigeon breed in small numbers every year in the northwestern part. Turtle dove, also called mourning dove, are frequently seen in the western and southern parts of Vermont. They are migratory, arriving in the early summer, and departing for the south in September. The highest authority in the state thinks there is no one county best for ruffed grouse. Woodcock are plentiful in Rutland county and as far north as Chitten- den county; south of the central part of the state is the best territory for woodcock. Duck shooting at the mouth of the Missisquoi is very good. A good shot will occasionally bag twenty or thirty birds from a blind in one morning's shooting. There is more or less duck shooting all the way up the lake (Champlain) and in the creeks tributary to it. English pheasant, introduced by Dr. W. S. Webb, have spread through several counties. The commissioners of fisheries an.d game report for the two years ending June 30, 1896, the following bounties paid for destruction of noxious animals: Bear, $1,215 > panther, $20; lynx, $710; fox, $6,704.10. They also report that deer are undoubtedly on the increase. Ruffed grouse have increased in number, reports for 1895 indi- cating that they are more plentiful than for many pre- vious years. The Mongolian and English pheasant have been introduced, the former thriving quite well. Black- game and capercailzie are about being introduced. VIRGINIA IRGINIA has an area of 38,348 square miles. The three sections of the state are known as Tide-water, the Piedmont, and the Valley. The Tide-water is made up of a low, sandy plain, inter- spersed with marshes with growth of rank vegetation ; the Piedmont is first undulat- ing, then hilly, and finally mountainous ; the Valley lies between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghany ridge, and is a very attractive country, consisting of elevated, fer- tile valleys. The furred game consists of deer, black bear, lynx, opossum, beaver, raccoon, mink, otter, muskrat, squir- rel, rabbit, and some other small fur-bearing animals. Of the feathered game there are turkey, ruffed grouse, or pheasant as it is called in this state, quail or bob-white, woodcock, rail, and snipe ; and nearly all the shore-birds, migratory ducks, and geese during the season. Wild turkey are plentiful, and are increasing, it is said, as they are not hunted much in some parts of the state owing to the hard work required and the wari- ness of the bird. Wild turkey can be found at Ravens- worth on the line of the Southern Railway, twelve miles from Alexandria, and in the oak woods near the Big Dike. In upper Tide-water wild turkey are abundant; also on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge. The sea- son is from November I to January 15. Quail or bob-white are becoming scarce in many American Game 273 localities, owing to severe winters. At Springfield sta- tion in Fairfax county, about ten miles from Alexan- dria, good shooting is generally to be found. Sports- men feel certain that quail will increase with favorable weather and fair protection. The legislature of Virginia recently passed a law protecting these birds for the period of two years, and sportsmen intend to aid in increasing the supply by liberating live birds which they succeed in getting from North Carolina. Ruffed grouse or pheasant is the scarcest of game- birds. Good shooting could be had several years ago at Ravensworth, but the birds there are now almost exterminated. Wilson's snipe are migratory. The first flight from the south arrive here about March 1st. They do not breed in this section, but are plentiful in the marshes and wet meadows around Alexandria and Washington from the middle of March to the first of May. Some of the places where good snipe shooting may be had are Eastern branch, outside of Washing- ton, D. C. ; Danigerficld marsh, between Washington, D. C., and Alexandria ; also in the marshes on Great and Little Hunting creeks in Fairfax county. Good snipe shooting may be had in April. Snipe arrive from the north about October I, and remain about three weeks, but are not nearly as plentiful as in the spring. Woodcock arrive from the south about the first of March, and breed in the state quite freely. Great num bers of these birds may be found in Fairfax county, about six miles from Alexandria, at a place the sports- men call " the double ditches;" also at Woodbridge on the line of the Alexandria & Fredericksburg Rail- road, about twenty miles from Alexandria. On the 274 Where to Hunt main line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad one may find good woodcock covers. Leave the train at Branchville, and hunt up the stream to Beltsville, a distance of about five miles. Fine shooting may be had at either place from July to September, except in an exceedingly dry season. Good shooting may be had at "the big dike," two and a half miles from Alex- andria, on the line of the Washington & Mt. Vernon electric Railway. In the last two summer months sportsmen can get good shooting at flight-birds from the north at Franconia, Accotinck, and Lorton stations, on the line of the Alexandria & Fredericks- burg Railroad. The distances from Alexandria to these stations arc seven, eleven, and fifteen miles respectively. From the middle of October to the mid- dle of September the shooting is good. After that time the birds have all migrated south. It is thought woodcock are not decreasing. They were more plenti- ful in 1895 tnan f r a number of years. Good duck shooting can be had on the Potomac, near Washington, from October to April. From all reports duck are decreasing very rapidly. Canvasback, blue-bill, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, butter- ball, mallard, redhead, whistler, and wood-duck are found ; there are a few swan and geese. A few wood- duck breed in Virginia. Sora-rail arrive in the marshes about the middle of August, and are very plentiful. It is no unusual thing to bag seventy to eighty birds on one trip of two hours' shooting. Several years ago a sportsman succeeded in bagging 1 1 5 rail in three hours' shooting, in the big marsh two miles from Alexandria. These birds mi- American Game 275 grate at the coming of the first frost. Some of the marshes where good shooting can be had in September are Eastern branch, a four-mile run between Washing- ton and Alexandria; marshes on Great and Little Hunting creek ; Big marsh, two miles from Alexandria, in Fairfax county. These birds are shot out of a light skiff, which is poled through the wild oats on high water. There seems to be no decrease in the number of these birds. In Accomac county there is generally to be found turkey, quail, duck, and brant shooting. The bay-bird shooting, in August and September, is generally very fine. Good deer shooting is usually found in the neighborhood of Alleghany. In the neighborhood of West Point, in King William county, there is a variety of game, mainly feathered, consisting of turkey, snipe, and duck. Virginia beach is a famous place for shore-bird shooting. The seasons for birds at that place are : Yellowlegs, plover, willet, and all kinds of bay-birds, commence to fly about July 20, and continue until October I ; duck shooting com- mences on October 10 and continues until March 10. Surry, in the same county, is on the south bank of the James. Good deer and turkey shooting has been secured in that vicinity during the past few years, Duck shooting is good at this place in cold weather. Deer and other game have been quite plentiful re- cently in the neighborhood of Williamsburg in James City county. Fox, hare, opossum, and raccoon are plentiful from the top of the Blue Ridge into Tide-water. Bear are found in the Dismal Swamp, in the wooded heights of the Blue Ridge and its foot-hills, and in the Appalachian heights. WASHINGTON ASHINGTON contains an area of 69,994 square miles. Its surface is generally mountainous. A branch of the Rocky Mountains makes up its eastern boundary; the Coast Range extends through the northwestern portion ; and the Cascade Range runs through the state, north to south. Washington possesses much game, including the grizzly and the black and brown bear, the bighorn, Rocky Mountain goat, elk, deer of the black-tailed and Virginia varieties, cougar, lynx, otter, badger, fisher, marten, mink, rabbit, squirrel, and other small furred animals ; grouse of several varieties, including the blue, ruffed, pinnated or prairie-hen (in eastern Washington), quail of different kinds, sage-hen (in eastern Washing- ton), ptarmigan, duck, swan, geese, and other aquatic birds, and dove of several varieties. Duck and geese shooting has not been as good of late as formerly. Geese are mostly shot in eastern Washington. They do not remain here long, but pass on to Oregon and California. Mallard, wood-duck, and green-winged teal breed here. A very few blue-winged teal are shot. Quail shooting is likely to improve, as they have enjoyed five years' protection or close sea- son, and are growing more numerous. A favorite place on Puget sound for California quail is Whidby island. Some California mountain quail are shot, but they are American Game 279 exceedingly scarce. Pigeon shooting is rather poor, but at times affords good sport, bags of fifty and sixty being made on the grain fields in the spring. Snipe shooting is best in April when they come north ; it is poor in winter. Grouse shooting has also been decreas- ing. Wild pigeon seem to frequent the coast lands, and dove the eastern part. The state is divided into eastern and western Wash- ington by the Cascade Mountains. Ptarmigan are found, but not in very large numbers, in all northern mountainous counties. Ruffed and blue grouse are most plentiful in western Washington, the latter fre- quenting rather hilly districts ; but fairly good sport is had around the Sound cities. Duck and goose shooting is generally good in the western part of the state ; the various mud flats at the mouths of rivers entering Puget sound are favorite sporting resorts, including Skagit flats at the mouth of Skagit river; the Stillaquamish flats at Stanwood, at the mouth of Stillaquamish river, eight miles south of Skagit; Swinomish slough and Nesqually, all on Puget Sound flats. Whidby island is also a good point for shooting. These points afford good snipe and pigeon shooting when the grain has just been planted in the spring, but not after it is up a few inches. Pigeon are shot on the fields inside the dikes. There is no shoot- ing of pheasant except on Protection island, which is private property. Crab creek in Lincoln county is a good point for the sportsman to visit. Moses lake near this place is some thirty miles in length, but only about half a mile wide. There is excellent duck shooting in these waters, and large furred game is found near by. WEST VIRGINIA HE state of West Virginia has an area of 23,000 square miles. A large portion of the country is mountainous, and the moun- tains are quite fertile. The valleys are also fertile, and the generally mild climate makes the state favorable for some varie- ties of game. In some parts of this state game laws are woefully disregarded, and this has nearly exterminated the game ; there are, too, occa- sional severe winters, which prove disastrous to the quail or bob-white, generally known in this state as partridge. At the present time a strong effort is being made to protect this favorite game-bird, which no doubt will restore some of the depleted covers. The furred game of West Virginia is mainly deer, bear, a few lynx, rabbit, squirrel, mink, and muskrat. The principal feathered game is wild turkey, grouse, wood- cock, quail, snipe, migratory shore-birds, duck, and geese. Deer remain plentiful in some of the moun- tainous districts. Most of the duck shooting is done on the Potomac river, where their abundance varies with the seasons. Wild turkey are likely to be found between Cherry Run and Green Spring, on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Moorefield and Rom- ney are favorite hunting-grounds for local sportsmen ; and Pocahontas, Randolph, and Webster counties, where there are plenty of deer, are also good-hunting grounds. WISCONSIN ISCONSIN'S area is 53,924 square miles. Its surface is undulating ; no portion is mountainous, hilly, or flat. The western portion is more nearly hilly than other parts. There are rolling prairies, covered with luxuriant growths of grass and flowers. In the northern part the soil is of a sandy nature, and the timber growth is heavy ; this portion contains rapid streams. The furred game of Wisconsin consists mainly of bear, deer, moose, caribou, cougar, Canada lynx, red lynx or bob cat, otter, fisher, beaver, mink, marten, fox, timber- or gray wolf, raccoon, muskrat, rabbit, and squirrel, all found in the northwestern part. Deer are plentiful in all the northern and northwestern coun- ties, and bear and wolf in the northern counties. Many fox are found, and coon are abundant in northwestern and southwestern counties. Moose are few, and prob- ably decreasing. Rabbit abound everywhere, but espe- cially in Dunn, Eau Claire, Chippewa, and Barren counties ; and squirrel are on the increase in the north- ern and southwestern counties. The feathered game consists of wild turkey, ruffed grouse, Canadian grouse or spruce-partridge, pinnated grouse, prairie-hen, plover, canvasback, mallard, teal, redhead, wood-duck, and butterball duck, several varic- 284 Where to Hunt ties of the goose family, and ruffed grouse are quite plentiful in all northwestern counties, though not as abundant as formerly. Prairie-hen and other varieties of grouse are fairly plentiful in central and southwest- ern counties. A few bevies of quail may be found in the central and southern counties. Duck frequent all lakes and marshes. Northern duck are quite abundant in the fall on Chain lakes and the marshes near the city of Madison. Duck are decreasing rapidly. Geese are found in the fall on Chain lakes and other inland waters. Snipe are quite plentiful in spring and fall, especially near the Mississippi river bottoms and on the marshes near Eau Claire and Madison. Woodcock are found on Chippewa river bottoms. The best shooting may be had near Alma and on the Mississippi river bot- toms. Many of the good duck-shooting grounds in this state are now controlled by clubs or individuals. The famous Horicon marshes are excellent places for wild fowl, but are controlled by clubs. Deer, bear, and wolf are on the increase in Iron county. Mercer in that county is a good place for hunting. Cable in Bayfield county is a good place for deer. Many are each year brought into Marsh- field in Wood county, which have been killed in thai' neighborhood. Abbotsford in Clark county is a ren- dezvous for many deer hunters, whence they go in dif- ferent directions along the line of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, where there is good deer shooting. WYOMING YOMING has an area of 93,883 square miles. The Rocky Moun- tains cross the state from north- west to southeast, and there arc other ranges, making its general surface bold and mountainous. Much of the country is heavily timbered. The southwestern portion is well watered and very fertile. The principal rivers arc the Yellow- stone, Big Horn, and Powder. In the northwestern corner is the great Yellowstone National Park, part of it being in Montana. The climate is severe in the mountains but mild in the valleys. Among the furred game of Wyoming are grizzly bear, black and brown bear, wapiti or elk, black-tailed and Virginia deer, cougar, lynx of the two varieties, gray or timber-wolf, prairie-wolf or coyote, antelope, bighorn or mountain-sheep, mountain-goat, jack-rabbit, cottontail rabbit, otter, beaver, fisher, marten or sable, and muskrat. Among the feathered game are grouse of several varieties, including the ruffed, sage, pinnated, and blue grouse, besides quail, plover, duck, geese, swan, snipe, plover, and other migratory birds. But little attention is paid to the game-birds on account of the proximity to large game. W T apiti or elk frequent the mountains in warm weather, coming down to the foot-hills and plains 288 Where to Hunt with, the approach of winter. Recently it was esti- mated that no fewer than 10,000 elk came from the mountains and foot-hills to the plains, between Fort Washakie and the head of the Wind river in Wyoming, to escape the deep snows. Bison or buffalo occasion- ally wander from the National Park. Bear of the several kinds, cougar, wolf, elk, and deer are to be found in greater or less abundance in the mountain counties of Wyoming. It is a significant fact that game continues plentiful in this state, especially in the northern part, except where the Indians are allowed to hunt. THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE" OF 25 CENTS OVERDUE. LD 21-100m-7,'33 YB 10169 4G6880 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY