240 FKA^'K forester's field sports. 



The venison of the American Deer is a very favorite meat, 

 and is particularly famous for its tenderness, and easiness of 

 digestion ; I must, however, record my own opinion, that it is 

 very much over-rated, as it appears to me deficient in flavor and 

 fatness, and in no wise comparable to good four or five year 

 old mutton, which has hung long enough to become tender. 



This beautiful animal abounded formerly in every part of 

 this Continent, from the extreme North-east to Mexico, or even 

 farther South ; and it is even now found in considerable num- 

 bers, wherever the destruction of the forests, and the wanton 

 rajjacity of man, have not caused its extinction. 



But a few years ago it abounded in the State of New- York, 

 as far south as Orange, Rockland, and Putnam counties, but its 

 range is rapidly becoming circumscribed ; and, though a few 

 scattered herds may be found still north of the Shawangunks, 

 the sportsman must go to Greene or Ulster counties, Hamilto7i 

 county, or the valley of the Chemung, and the head waters of 

 the Alleghany, before he can be secure of sport. In New 

 Jersey, a few are found yet on the highlands of Navesink, and 

 perhaps a few on the mountains toward the Delaware river, but 

 their number is small, and daily decreasing. To the eastward, 

 they are still tolerably plentiful in the northern parts of Ver- 

 mont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire; and in Maine they 

 abound in the great evergreen forests, their worst enemy there 

 being the Wolf, as there is, perhaps, less of the sporting ardor 

 to be found in the hardy and laborious natives of that fine State, 

 than in any other part of the Union. The loggers and lumber- 

 men may occasionally filch time from graver occupation to still - 

 hunt, or fire-hunt a Deer or two, and in their leisure time may 

 get up a hunt or two in parties, for a frolic or a bet- — a hunt in 

 which, by the way, every thing that flies or runs, from an Owl 

 to a Skunk, is brought to bag promiscuously, and counted as 

 game, — but hunting proper and scientific, I may say there is 

 none. 



What game comes into market is mostly brought by Indians, 

 who watch patiently at the run-ways by the lake margins, and 



