T{)e (3dirondacI> Deer. 



THERIi were 347 more deer killed this year (1896) in the Adirondacks than in 

 1895. Although the period for hounding had been shortened from one 

 month to two weeks, there were 280 more deer killed ahead of the hounds 

 in these ten weeks than in the four weeks allowed in 1895. Shortening the hound- 

 ing season did not lessen the number of hunters and hounds; it merely resulted in 

 bringing them all there together. As a consequence, there was not oply the same 

 number of hunters, but, as they were all hunting at about the same time, every 

 runway was fully manned and few deer escaped. If hounding is to be permitted, 

 the period may as well include four weeks as two. 



The statistics compiled from the various localities indicate a decrease in the 

 number killed by "jacking" or night hunting as compared with t]ie previous year. 

 This may be due to the moonlight nights which occurred during the first part of the 

 jacking season, and the cold, foggy niglits later on. In St. Lawrence County, where 

 hounding is not permitted by law, and where the hunters rely largely on night 

 hunting for their venison, there was also a decrease in the number killed by 

 * jacking. 



It will be noticed in the table submitted herewith that a few deer were killed in 

 St. Lawrence County by hounding in violati(in of the law. Some of these were shot 

 by hunters who were running dogs illegally, but most of them were deer that were 

 killed on the border, having been driven there by hounds that were put out in an 

 adjoining county. 



The large number of deer shot in St. Lawrence County, which are included in the 

 column marked "still Inmting," were not hunted by the method usually known by 

 that term. These deer were killed by what are known as evening shots, daylight 

 shots or morning shots ; that is, they were killed for the most part while feeding 

 along the ponds or water courses, the hunter in such cases using a boat, in which he 

 sits concealed or paddles noiselessly to within easy range of his game. This kind of 

 hunting, like jacking, is destructive to the does, for they frequent the water in greater 

 number than the bucks. Many of the does killed this way have young fawns, which 

 are left to starve. 



Moreover, the deer killed at this time of year — when they frequent the lake 

 shores to feed — are weak and thin in flesh ; the \-enison is tough, tasteless, and 

 mighty poor eating. The same animals in October and November would weigh 

 one-third more and furnish good venison. 



