FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



447 



shot just behind me. I turned, and there 

 lay a large panther snarling and clawing at 

 the ground. He had been following us 

 up the river and hearing the shots had 

 crouched in the brush. In running I passed 

 in front of him, within 2 yards. As he 

 sprang over me and started to turn, the 

 prompt shot of my companion settled him 

 and perhaps saved me from some trouble. 

 The turkeys meantime had escaped, and 

 thinking we had had enough sport for one 

 morning we returned, taking a few shots at 

 squirrels on our way to camp. 



During our 10 days' stay we saw many 

 turkeys in flocks of 6 to 60. Among the 

 cedar brakes of the hills, large flocks of 

 Mexican, or top knot, quails could always 

 be found, while the glades along the river 

 abounded in Bob Whites. The Mexican 

 quails are a little larger and fly swifter, but 

 are not so game as the common quails. 

 Mexican quails run rapidly and it is diffi- 

 cult to get shots on the ground. We saw 

 several deer, but the innumerable crossings 

 on the river and the vast territory in which 

 they roam, render deer hunting a failure 

 except to those familiar with the country. 



We brought into camp 137 quails and 14 

 turkeys. All our turkeys were killed in day- 

 light shooting, not on the roost. 



On the plains and along the streams of 

 North Texas there seems to be a greater 

 abundance of game than for many years. 

 The game laws are more strict and are be- 

 ing more faithfully enforced each year. As 

 a result, game of all kinds is increasing, and 

 we are likely to have fine hunting grounds 

 for many years to come. 



E. H. Hudson, Wichita Falls, Tex. 



DEER HUNTING AT MILLINOCKETT. 



With J. B. Carpenter and G. R. Hors- 

 man I left Boston for Millinockett, Maine, 

 November 5, arriving next morning about 

 10 a. m. We were met at the station by 

 our guide, John O. Hale, at whose camp 

 on Lake Millinockett we purposed staying 

 2 weeks. After dinner we started for 

 camp, a walk of 9 miles over a tote road 

 through the forest. We entered the woods 

 •immediately after leaving the station and 

 before we had gone 2 miles we saw abund- 

 ance of deer sign. Thereafter we ceased all 

 unnecessary noise and proceeded cautiously. 



Mr. . Carpenter, the veteran of the party, 

 was the first to start game. He saw a 

 grouse budding a tree and shot off its head 

 in a way that elicited praise from the guide. 

 We had not gone 200 yards farther when 

 another grouse fell under the accurate aim 

 of Mr. Carpenter. 



At 2 p. m. we reached Smith brook, half 

 way to camp, and after resting a few min- 

 utes again started. I took the lead and 

 had gone perhaps a mile when I jumped 



a doe, but did not shoot, as she was small 

 and I preferred to wait for a chance at 

 larger game. Before reaching camp Mr. 

 Horsman dropped a grouse, making 3 in 

 all. We got in about 4 p. m., a little tired 

 but in excellent spirits. 



The next morning we arose at 6, had 

 breakfast and started out, intending to hunt 

 until dusk ; but though we hunted faith- 

 fully all day we returned to camp, tired 

 and weary, without having seen game of 

 any description. 



Thursday we set out early, each taking 

 a different direction and hunting alone. Mr. 

 Carpenter came in at 4, having killed a 

 buck. Mr. Horsman and I did not suc- 

 ceed in getting anything, though we found 

 deer signs plentiful. No rain had fallen 

 for several days, the leaves were dry, and 

 it was impossible to travel without making 

 considerable noise, though we moved with 

 the greatest care. 



Next morning w r e took in the buck shot 

 the day before, and did little hunting. 



Saturday we hunted separately. I had 

 the good fortune to kill a large buck with 

 handsome antlers, and on returning to camp 

 shot a grouse from a tree. 



Sunday we observed as a day of rest. 

 Monday we hunted all day and returned in 

 the evening with 5 grouse. That night 

 snow began falling and by morning it was 

 8 inches deep on level ground. It was still 

 snowing furiously when we started to hunt. 

 Mr. Horsman shot -a large doe, which he 

 had tracked 2 hours. Mr. Carpenter got 

 another buck. Wednesday we visited a 

 point which extended into the lake near 

 the camp. We spread out and started a 

 doe, which I killed. 



Thursday we decided to return home, and 

 were obliged to break the road 9 miles 

 through snow 20 to 35 inches deep. It was 

 no easy task, and we were well nigh ex- 

 hausted when we finally reached Milli- 

 nockett. 



We have nothing but the highest praise 

 for our guide, John O. Hale. He has 

 been a guide 25 years, is a thorough woods- 

 man and hunter, an excellent cook, congen- 

 ial and obliging. His camp is beautifully 

 situated on the South shore of Millinockett. 

 The lake affords good fishing and boating, 

 and the camp is provided with several row 

 boats and canoes. 



J. D. Collins, Cambridge, Mass. 



WHY THE BIGGEST ONE GOT AWAY. 



Some time has elapsed since last we met. 

 I have been bobbing about from place to 

 place, while you have been growing in 

 grace and popularity. So great have you 

 grown that it would indeed be surprising 

 if _ you could remember me as one of the 

 friends of your youth. 



