IIUN'PING CROl'NDS OK 1 IX)R1I).\. 



«7 



Along the be.ich between Indian Ri\er and tlie ocean is a par- 

 ticularly tine hunting ground for bears. Thev are connnon in 

 many localities, but trained dogs are required to hunt them suc- 

 cessfully. 



A few deer also occur in that countr\', but for deer it would be 

 better to go into the interior, and one can nearh- always get a guide 

 at an^' of the smaller towns. Ten miles from the north fork of the 

 St. LfUcie River \vas at one time a particidarly noted hunting 

 ground, and during my tirst \isit to that locality game was yery 

 plenty. It was at St. Lucie in 1S85 that I iiad my hrst experience 

 with what is known in Florida as a shooting match, where the prize 



'^<.JaiMl[!iMNHte<' 



**«i«p*>PWHi» 







WII.D DUCKS. 



is a bull or cow, which is rounded up and dri\en in from the " bush '" 

 for the occasion. "-Alligator"" Jim Russell was a particularly 

 noted character at this time, and was also considered a yery good 

 shot. He and the Payne bo\s and two or three others, whose 

 names I haye unfortunately forgotten, took part in this contest. 



Each contestant paid a dollar to the owner of the animal and was 

 allowed tiye chances. The target was a piece of bark fastened to 

 a tree, about one hundred yards distant. 



We tirst competed for choice of the " hind quarters," each man 

 shooting once and the one hitting nearest the center of the bull's 

 eye being adjudged the winner. We then tried again for the re- 

 maining hind quarter, and again for the choice of the fore quarters. 



