File:American game-bird shooting (1910) (14775333493).jpg

Identifier: americangamebird00grin (find matches)
Title: American game-bird shooting
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Grinnell, George Bird, 1849-1938
Subjects: Game and game-birds Hunting
Publisher: New York, Forest and stream publishing company
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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uttering a shrill, twitteringwhistle and twists about in his upward flight to dodgethe branches which spread in a network above him,until he has topped the undergrowth, and then dartsoff in a straight line for fifty or a hundred yards, toplunge once more into his beloved cover. The dog is a most important auxiliary in woodcockshooting. A very few sportsmen employ cocker orfield spaniels, which are trained to range close to thegun, and to give tongue as soon as they strike thescent, thus warning the shooter of the proximity ofthe bird and preparing him for its possible rising.But most men use the setter or pointer. A good wood-cock dog should work close; that is, within sight ofthe gun. Often where the undergrowth is very thick,it becomes necessary to attach a bell to the dogs col-lar, so that if it pass out of sight for a few momentsits whereabouts may still be known by the sound. Late in November you will still find a few birds,and at this time they will be lusty and strong of wing,
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WOODCOCK SHOOTING 307 and will test your skill. Cross the meadows then andgo down into the swamp, working along near the edge,where the underbrush is not too thick, and the soilunder the leaves, as you can see in the cattle tracks,is rich and black. Just beyond you, on the left, a steephillside rises sharply from the edge of the swamp, itssurface overgrown with low cedars, sumacs and bay-berry bushes. The old dog comes out of the swampand turns toward the slope, and as he crosses beforeyou glances back inquiringly. He knows the hillside,and understands as well as you do that a cock is usu-ally to be found on that warm southern exposure atthis time of the year. No need to wave the hand oruse any elaborate signal to tell him to work up amongthe cedars and through the brush. A little sidewisemovement of the head, and he is breasting the steepascent and rustling among the twigs and the crispleaves, while you walk along a cowpath at the foot ofthe slope. If there be a bird there it will be

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