THE SHOOTING SEASON; WITH A FEW PRACTICAL REMARKS UPON GUNS, game, and dogs. BY SARON. "The corn is cut, the manor full of game, Full grows his bag, and wonderful his feats. СНАР. ІІ. BYRON. A Day with the Partridges-The Sportsman's Meal-Keeper's Cottage-A few Remarks upon feeing Servants --Woodcock, Snipe, and Grouse shooting-An Anecdote of the celebrated French Cook Ude. Having devoted our first chapter to the prospects of the glorious First of September, and having briefly entered into a dissertation upon guns, ammunition, manors, pointers, setters, retrievers, and the costume of the sportsman, we now proceed to offer a few remarks upon partridgeshooting. The Tetrao Perdix of Linnæus is found throughout England, more especially in corn counties; and despite of the high authority of Buffon, who remarks, "Their cry is not very pleasant, as it is rather a sharp, grating noise like that of a scythe than a warble," to my ears no cry save the crash of a pack of hounds is more tuneable than the call of a covey of partridges. There are few birds more exposed to danger, not alone from their common enemy man, whose best energies are devoted to snare and slaughter them, but from the flying foe the hawk, who pounces upon his terrified prey, plucks them after the most approved poulterer's plan, and enjoys his assiette volante, "perdrix au naturel," with as much gusto as the gourmet does his "salmi aux truffes." But to the sport. The morning of the First arrives; and the anxious gunner, who has probably dreamed of birds, detonators, dogs, stubble, and turnips, awakes to find his habiliments and arms ready for la chasse, as our continental neighbours term hunting and shooting. The window is thrown open; and the smoke, gracefully curling towards the north-west, shows that the wind is southerly, with a little east in it— the best point in the compass from which it can come for scent. The dew on the lawn holds out great promise that the olfactory senses of the pointers will not be blunted by a dry, parched atmosphere. The toilet concluded, breakfast is announced; and however much Anacreon Moore may rail against our matutinal repast, which, in describing a Parisian dejeuné à la fourchette, he speaks thus slightingly of: "So nnlike the ghost Of your poor English breakfast-your tea and your toast," we will venture to affirm that in no other country can a more enjoyable meal be had. The snow-white damask table-cloth and napkin, the hissing urn, the bubbling coffee-pot, the hot roll, the crisp muffin, the light crumpet, the well-buttered toast, the new-laid egg, the broiled kidney, the piquant grilled fowl, the juicy mutton-chop, the tender beef-steak, the savoury game-pie, the well-seasoned venison pasty, the highly-flavoured ham and tongue, the noble cold sirloin, the nicelycured Yarmouth "bloater," the prime Scotch kippered salmon, the exquisite potted char and lamprey, the palatable marmalade, the delicious honey, with a glass of genuine mountain-dew, furnish our national fare, which may be equalled, but cannot be excelled, in any part of the habitable globe. The meal discussed, the dog-cart and ponies are at the door; and having deposited the "amonitio," or sportsman's compendium, and the unloaded guns in the vehicle, Rover, our favourite retriever, is let loose, whose frolics and gambols would almost dispose one to believe that he was in as eager anticipation of the day's pleasure as his master. Before we start for the keeper's lodge, where honest Isaac Sapwell with his pointers is to meet us, we will pause for a few moments to "say our say" upon a subject which has latterly attracted much attention, and has been fully discussed in the newspapers of the daynamely, as to the safety of allowing the lock of a detonator to be down upon the capped nipple. A man might nearly as well (we were about to say) ascend on horseback in a balloon; but the awful fate of Lieutenant Gale tells us the topic is too serious a one to be treated lightly-or sit on a barrel of gunpowder with a mild Havannah or short clay pipe in his mouth, as walk with a comrade with a gun so carried. The least jerk, the slightest strain, an accidental stumble, a sudden movement will cause the piece to go off; and woe to the wretched victim who happens to be within the line of fire! I recollect, not many winters ago, crossing the entrance-hall at Goodwood House, in company with a right noble and gallant sportsman, alas! now no more, who was carrying his gun in the way above described. Scarcely had he proceeded three yards, when off went one barrel; and before we had recovered from the shock and surprise, the other followed, the shot rattling over the marble pavement in every direction. Happily, no damage was done, as the field piece of ordnance was pointed downwards. Had the young covey of beautiful children, now grown into woman and manhood, ran out to welcome us back, the result might have been most calamitous. Never shall I forget the effect that double shot produced upon my mind. Want of due caution and thorough carelessness in the management of fire-arms have been the means of so many fatal accidents, that we cannot too forcibly impress upon the minds of our readers the necessity of carrying out the first golden rule-namely, never to let your gun be pointed in such a manner that, if it went off by an unforeseen circumstance, it would endanger the life of any one. Over every sportsman's hall the following code of laws, to be as strictly enforced as those of the Medes and Persians, ought to be emblazoned in prominent characters: "Any person loading a gun, carrying, or leaving it loaded in the house, will be subject to the penalty of five pounds, to be distributed among the poor of the parish."" With these hints upon safety, we proceed to old Isaac's cottage, a small, snug, neat tenement, on the skirts of a well-preserved plantation. There may be seen the sexagenarian himself, looking as hale and hearty as many a man of five-and-forty. He is surrounded by his stalwart myrmidons in Lincoln green, who, with a brace of highly-broke pointers, seem "eager for the fray." At the door of the rural abode may be found the representatives of three generations--the venerable grandmother, the buxom matron, and the blooming child. The budding wild-rose, the jessamine in full flower, clinging to the old ivy which surrounds the porch, are not inappropriate emblems of the keeper's family. The garden is the perfection of neatness, with its green velvet sward, its variegated flower-beds, its gravelled walk, terminating in a rustic arbour, where, after the toils of the day, the happy occupier enjoys his pipe and glass of home-brewed ale. 66 The kennel is admirably arranged both as to space, air, and cleanliness, Isaac's motto being, Love me, love my dog.' As we drove up, a thorough-bred bull-terrier, the guardian of the place, showed his scarred visage, but at the bidding of his master-"Quiet, Viper !" retired to his wooden tenement, still however keeping an eye (for he had but one, the other having been lost in a canine encounter) upon the new comers. The wall of the adjoining farm building showed many a trophy, which gave abundant proof of the successful warfare that had been carried on against the enemy. There might be seen, skeletons of cats, rats, weazels, stoats, and hawks, with here and there a variety of vermin-traps, some of such huge dimensions that should a poacher perchance get his leg within their iron grasp, he would find it rather difficult to extricate it. As the law directs that no man-trap or springgun can be set, the keeper evaded the act (as most acts can be evaded) by having Brobdignag snares for bipeds and quadrupeds. "Good morning, gentlemen," said Isaac Sapwell, as we alighted from our vehicle. "We had better try the five-and-twenty-acre field first; John Palmer saw some fine coveys there this morning. I've sent two men on to mark for us; the scent seems good, and I hope to show you a fair day's sport." With this cheering assurance we loaded our guns, and made the best of our way to the stubble. Scarcely had we entered it, than "Beppo" came to a stand, and was admirably backed by "Sancho." The keepers remained motionless, "Rover" crouching himself at their feet. Our line advanced, I forming (as they say in the army) the centre of threes, waved my hand to my companions to make a circuit to head the dogs, so as to break the covey. With that trepidation which is generally felt at the first shot of the season, we marched steadily on, when suddenly from sixteen to eighteen birds were on the wing; five dropped down clean killed, one (to my shame be it spoken) was hard hit, which gave the Newfoundland Rover an opportunity of showing his qualifications, which he speedily did, by returning with the wounded bird in his mouth. The remnant of the dispersed covey were marked down in the next turnip field, and in due course of time we reduced their number to four. Before one o'clock we had bagged twentytwo brace, ten hares, and a rabbit. At that hour, having worked up to a spot selected for our luncheon, we were gratified with the preparations old Isaac had made for the comfort of the inner man. By the side of a deep running, clear, crystal stream, and under the shade of a patriarch oak-tree, were spread two white tablecloths upon temporary tables made of sheep-hurdles; upon one appeared a fine large pigeon pie, cold fowls, tongue, and ham; on the other, a splendid sirloin of beef, with an ample provision of bread and cheese. Three or four huge cans of homebrewed ale frothed most invitingly by their side. The repast over, we again took the field with a new relay of pointers; and two finer specimens of dogs than Rock and Trump never stood to bird. "Handsome as paint," as old Isaac called them; "lightish in their limbs, small heads, deep chests, and lank about the abdomen. At five o'clock we finished our first day's sport, and found the return of 'killed" as follows: Thirty-seven brace of partridges, Two rabbits. Having "fee'd" the keepers, we mounted our ponies and trotted home. One word with respect to the much-abused system of paying other people's servants. There can be doubt but that it is extremely unpleasant to have to put your hand in your pocket to reward those who are considered to be amply remunerated for their services; but, however well this may sound in theory, it will prove not to be available in practice. If the custom was abolished there would not be half the attention paid to the shooter that there now is; the keeper would do his duty to his master and his friends, but there would be no incentive for extra exertion ; and when we consider the laborious and dangerous life of a keeper, who is exposed to all weather, subject to the murderous attack of poachers, and whose mind, as well as body, is harassed with the responsibility attached to his situation, a small gratuity ought not to be grudged. The sum total at the end of the season will probably not be felt by the donor; while to the recipient it will not alone be the means of furnishing him or his family with many a comfort during the inclement seasons, but would act as a stimulant to further exertion. Some few years ago a popular Peer of the realm, since gathered to his ancestors, adopted a very" artful dodge." It was generally remarked that the individual in question universally got the best place out shooting; and the surprise of his brother-sportmen was greatly increased as during the time they were quietly placing some golden token of their gratitude in the hands of the keepers the noble Lord simply confined himself to a saccharine smile and a most gracious acknowledgment. Now, according to the old but somewhat homely proverb that "fair words butter no parsnips," the mystery was for a length of time unsolved; but at length, through the prying propensities of a friend, it was discovered that the titled sportsman always sought a quiet opportunity of seeing and feeing the parties in question before the day's shooting commenced, accompanying his liberal donation with a remark that the same system would be continued during the season upon every like occasion. "The bird-in-the-hand plan worked marvels with the keepers, and produced the beneficial result to the "wide-awake" giver we have above recorded. Το October now sets in, and pheasant-shooting commences. ensure thorough good sport there is nothing like a team of welltrained spaniels, strong in the chest and loins, very short in the legs, and who are steady, keen, obedient, and courageous. Great care must be taken with the breed; for if a taint of the hound, however remote, exists, the produce will be wild babblers, who will put up the game at a great distance, and quit feathers for fluck. As battue shooting is one of our abominations, we shall not even pause to anathematize the dull, tame, unexciting, slaughtering amusement of our modern gunners, but proceed at once to the exhilarating, health-preserving sport of our ancestors. Nothing can exceed the delight of a bright, crisp, grey autumnal morning, with good dogs and well-stocked covers. As phea sants often lie extremely close, winding in among briars and low brushwood, great attention must be paid in beating out every yard. Early in the season they prefer grassy, brambly spots, covered with privet; as the season advances they will lie in clearer places, especially among pits of water, which are occasionally found in the "woods and forests." Where game is not very plentiful we should advise the sportsman to commence by beating the skirts of the cover, by which means the birds that have been feeding in the adjoining fields will be hit off; he ought then, by degrees, to penetrate deeper into it. After traversing the wood with beaters and dogs, it is advisable to make a circuit round the extremities of it, by which means you get at those birds which may have run or escaped from the interior; a gun or two inside, and the rest outside, will be the best distribution, but especial care must be taken to know the where and whereabouts of your companions in arms, or you may possibly bag" your friend instead of your game, "a consummation not very devoutly to be wished." As we write for the million, for old, middle-aged, and young, for the experienced sportsman who during a long life has bagged his thousands, for the tyro who during his winter holidays has brought down a few sparrows and blackbirds, we will venture to offer one or two suggestions before we conclude our remarks upon pheasant shooting. In cover, the very greatest care ought to be taken to avoid accidents. The line of guns and beaters ought to advance in strict military order, dressing on the centre; for a man in advance, or a straggler in the rear, runs a fair chance of being shot. In stopping to load, the word halt" should be given in a loud, distinct tone, and should be repeated by the keepers : "Go on" is the signal for recommencing the attack. Special injunctions should be given to the whole force never to run forward or back for a dead or wounded hare or pheasant, for in endeavouring to recover your game the life of the secker may be sacrificed; and last, not least, let the muzzle be always pointed in such a way that in the event of an accidental explosion no mischief may occur. To the above important points of advice we would add two of a minor nature, and which may be available to the beginner; viz., to take ample time and aim at the head, allowing a moderate advance for the bird's flight, which is at first very rapid. Secondly, never to draw the trigger until the bird is full thirty yards' distance from you; or in the event of your hitting, or rather "blowing him" up, you will assuredly spoil him for "dressing," and will most likely get well "blown up" yourself for your unsportsmanlike proceeding. 66 Woodcock shooting is a sport that, as the Americans say, cannot be dittoed" anywhere. These migratory "fly-by-nights" generally arrive among us soon after the Michaelmas full moon, and about Christmas |