Maryland Game Interests
STOCKTON, Md., Oct. 20. -- Editor Forest and Stream: I have had little to say of game or shooting since the beach birds were here, but now that the honk of the wild goose is borne along with the northeast gale, I feel that perhaps others would like to know of the fine prospects for fall shooting promised to us here. Shell ducks are already on the shoals in good numbers, and every day adds to the increasing bunches; this is at least two weeks earlier than usual, and as yet we have had no weather that could even be called cool. They are not much of a duck, although many here eat them, especially the colored population, but they fly swiftly, decoy nicely, and make very good shooting. I have seen no brant yet, but a few geese are dropping in.
Never in all my life have I seen the quail in such numbers: they are everywhere -- in every field, in the woods, and in the thickets. In a 60-acre field joining my farm there are no less than five coveys -- not divided bunches, but separate coveys of fifteen birds or more each. I am sorry to say that but little attention is paid here to game laws, and already quail are being shot by boys and irresponsible parties. These parties go, as they say, for squirrels (by the way, there is about one squirrel here for every five shooters), but shoot everything they can that flies or runs; all are meat to them. Then again our quail season does not open until Nov. 15, but the rabbit law is out on Nov. 1. Every rabbit shooter seems priveleged to shoot at all the quail he finds, while the rest of us must keep our dogs chained and stay at home or follow the example of the others and go rabbit shooting for quail.
Why all our shooting does not commence on Nov. 1 is a mystery not only to me, but to all our local sportsmen. It seems to me that often but very little judgment is used in framing game laws. Some say, be your own game warden. This is nonsense, for no farmer is foolish enough to inform on a neighbor and gain his enmity for all time just on account of two or three quail. What we want here is a good warden, one who will do his duty and take an interest in the work. Woodcock are shot as soon as they come in the spring; ducks at any and all times, even the young black ducks are caught before they can fly, while quail and rabbits are good game as soon as the corn is cut. A few convictions would break this up, for many of the gunners are law-abiding men. The damage is mostly done by the idle and careless, and by boys. Then the others say, "If these fellows are going to kill the birds, I might as well have my share." With all this, I know of but one, perhaps two, game hogs in the whole section. I saw in FOREST AND STREAM last August, a note from an old gunner who had shot with numbers of other men, who said that in all this time he never saw anyone ready to stop when the game was flying. If he were here, he would find plenty who stop when they get enough for a meal or two. Very few here go ducking more than a few hours in the morning; they get two or three pair of ducks, and are back to late breakfast and their work. If you ask them, they will simply tell you that they came home because they had all they wanted. It is the same with quail and beach birds; those who live here rarely kill more than half-dozen or so of quail, or a dozen or two of beach birds. An hour or two of good shooting is all we ask, but then "there are others." By the way, we have another crop of game here, our oysters; they are the finest and fattest for years.
O. D. FOULKS.