THK AX<iLKI{ AXD HUNTsMAX 141 



ries an axe with which to chop down the tree wherein his 

 ringtailed Majesty has taken refuge, but he does not need a 

 gun, for the coon is never shot. The usual procedure is to 

 get the coon out of the tree, or den, and let the dogs and the 

 coon fight it out to the satisfaction of all concerned. On 

 such occasions, not infrequently the coon gets the best of the 

 dogs and makes good his escape. It is a method, the writer 

 believes, Avorthy the traditions of sportsmanship, wherein 

 the hunter gives the quarry a fighting chance. 



As to quail shooting, duck and geese shooting, wild tur- 

 key hunting, and other land and waterfowl hunting, the 

 methods all over our country appear to be much more 

 similar. 



in the Following pages we shall describe hunting 

 methods as, applied to all sections of the country and which, 

 therefore, may be of benefit to sportsmen in every part of 

 North America. 



These reflections and stories are the result of a lifetime 

 spent close to Nature's Fount. If they prove an inspira- 

 tion to 'brother sportsmen and to those not as yet fully ini- 

 tiated into tlie secrets of Nature's realm, they will abun- 

 dantly have achieved the author's aim in writing them 

 down. lie can hope for no greater reward than that some 

 suggestion offered herein may help a fellow craftsman. 



To aid another is really the creed of every true sports- 

 man, and if we have failed to aid you, either in lightening 

 your burden or by offering timely and instructive sugges- 

 tions, we have failed in our mission. 



FOX HUNTING: 



The fox hunter is held by many to be the most demo- 

 cratic of all outdoorsmen, for is not fox hunting the most 

 democratic of all sports? 



\\ hen fox hunters assemble for the royal chase, all 

 caste and social distinction is thrown aside, and each man 

 is judged by his fellow r s solely on his merits as a sportsman. 



