108 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



I March 3, 1887. 



A CANADIAN DEER HUNT. 



AS I sit before my blazing grate to-night there come 

 memories awakened by a pair of lordly antlers that 

 grace the wall over my mantle, and hold out toward me 

 then- grim arms, 



"A thousand fantasies 

 Begin to throng into my memory, 

 Of calling shapes, and heckoning shadows dire, 

 And airy tongues, that syllable men's names 

 On sands, and shores, and desert wildernesses." 



How well I remember the day and date when the royal 

 buck which proudly bore these branching antlers was 

 brought low. It was but one incident in the fortnight 

 spent in the forest of Canada when, with two friends of 

 my own age, and in the full vigor and rush of twenty- 

 five, we determined to brave the untried rigors of'a 

 Canadian winter among the big game. 



Mackland, a hunter skilled in woodcraft, is engaged 

 with his dogs. He brings his sleigh freighted with a well- 

 fatted carcass of mutton, bred, biscuit, tea, sugar, coffee, 

 pepper and salt. Our clothing was chosen with special 

 reference to the probable exposure in the forests; fur leg- 

 gins and moccasins, tanned as soft as a kid glove, the 

 universal heavy Mackinaw blanket overcoat with a hood, 

 and coon skin or fox skin caps. We stowed ourselves 

 away in the sleigh among an abundance of robes, with 

 our rifles between our knees. The ride was a merry one, 

 and we glided over the snow, the sleigh skimming 'along 

 its frozen surface like a bird, now past clearings, then 

 through dense forests of pine, hemlock and fir, which 

 greatly relieved the monotonous dazzling whiteness of 

 winter landscape. We at length reached the lake 

 Opeonga, and the log dwelling of the hunter, and were 

 glad to gather round the roaring, blazing, crackling fire 

 in the huge chimney place, while the hospitable hostess 

 and two bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked daughters bustled 

 about getting us a substantial lunch. The juicy venison 

 steaks, rashers of bacon, baked potatoes and fragrant 

 coffee rise up before me even now a "sweet-smelling 

 savor" through the long interim of nearly forty years, 

 and the picture is made not less inviting by the trim 

 figures and shy glances of the nimble maidens skipping 

 about to do honors to the visitors. The room was what 

 the common room of a hunter and backwoodsman might 

 have been expected to be, the walls garnishsd with rifles, 

 powder horns, bullet pouches, shot pouches, steel traps, 

 while here and there the indications of a feminine taste 

 at decoration were observable. The hour for retiring in 

 the settlement was perforce an early one — there was 

 ''nothing to set up for" as one of the boys said. But be- 

 fore we had been there twenty horns there seemed to be 

 a good deal to "sit up for." Rolled up in our blankets 

 and furs we ranged ourselves around the fire on the floor, 

 and slept the refreshing sleep which is indeed tired 

 nature's sweet restorer. 



At the earliest dawn there was a movement. Your 

 backwoodsman and time hunter rises with the lark, but 

 the city bred young gentlemen made many a turn and 

 twist and remonstrance, but finally, with much effort 

 and rubbing of eyes and horrible yawning and inward 

 anathematising the folly which induced tliem to join 

 a party one form of whose insanity was to get up in the 

 middle of the night, they pulled themselves together and 

 arose. A hearty breakfast was prepared and duly dis- 

 patched. Our host and his sons mustered their dogs, and 

 the hunters separated to place themselves in pairs at the 

 runways toward which the deer would be driven by the 

 dogs. The lake was a beautiful expanse of water some 

 fifteen or twenty miles long and a mile or two wide, sur- 

 rounded by fine w^oods, and studded here and there with 

 small islands, some of them densely wooded. The scenery 

 here when nature puts on her gorgeous livery of autumn 

 is subhme; the sugar-maple displays its multitudinous 

 shades of crimson and scarlet, verging into deep and 

 paler orange; the birch and elm flaunt in yellow livery: 

 the ash and basswood put on their sober suits of brown, 

 while, the deep green of the fir tribe forms an effective 

 setting for the glories of the picture. Fish abound, and 

 the balsamic odors of the forest fill the air with health- 

 giving properties. But now everything is held in the icy 

 fetters of winter, the branches of all the monarchs save 

 the firs are barren, the waters are fast locked in ice 20in. 

 thick and covered with snow, no wing of bird about it or 

 upon it, yet with the warm days of April come myriads 

 of wildfowl and the place is transformed into the sports- 

 man's paradise. 



On our way to the runways we were met by three 

 shabby looking chaps with long rifles, who were lounging 

 along through the woods, one of them a settler who gen- 

 erally gave up the working of the farm to his wife, while 

 he passed the time on the trail of deer and foxes in the 

 winter and other game in their season. They reported 

 "no game" to be seen and soon were out of sight in the 

 opposite direction, while we were at once posted at our 

 different stations on the runways by our leader. My 

 partner and myself took up our watch at a point indicated 

 by the recent tracks of a deer in the snow, passing from 

 north to south among the pine and spruce trees. We 

 walked to and fro partly concealed by a large hemlock, 

 our "shooting irons" ready at hand. Not a sound was 

 heard in the wood save the occasional tapping of the 

 woodpecker, now far off and faintly, now loud and close 

 at hand. The snow was not more than a foot deep, the 

 dense woods protected us from the wind, and the heavy 

 fur moccasins and leggins made us quite insensible to 

 the cold. Nevertheless, we waited impatiently for the 

 baying of the hounds; the forty minutes seemed two 

 hours when sharp and loud came the welcome notes of 

 Turk and Howler, and a few seconds later the crackling 

 of breaking twigs told us the game was moving in our 

 direction; then a noble buck flashed upon our excited 

 vision. Aye, a noble fellow he was, a hundred and a 

 quarter pounds weight, brown sides, snowy white belly, 

 bushy tail erect, bounded toward us. He was "end on" 

 in bad position, but delays being dangerous I concluded 

 to take things as I found them, and pulled "Old Crom- 

 well," my never-failing ally, on the oncoming game. A 

 sharp crack was followed by a violent leap into the air, 

 and the beautiful animal fell fully ten feet away. Im- 

 mediately regaining his feet he was bounding away again 

 when the bullet from the rifle of my companion arrested 

 his headlong career, and he once more lay struggling in 

 the snow. The keen blade of niy hunting knife quickly 

 dispatched him, but we had not time to dispose of the 

 carcass before -a sharp report at some distance to our left 



caused us to at once place ourselves in readiness for 

 another shot. The baying of the hounds, however, told 

 us that the game was not coming down our way, but in 

 the direction of the party on our left. We heard the 

 crash through the underbrush, another report of a rifle 

 and a shout: "Hi over there ! there's three— I've got one, 

 look sharp now!" With the last words a young buck 

 dashed by us with the speed of a cyclone, which no bullet 

 could hope to arrest, although it was essayed by both of 

 us. 



"I think he was wounded slightly," said my partner. 



"So slightly that you never will know how much, 

 young man" — and he never did. 



While we were considering future proceedings, another 

 yelp was heard, and a plump doe rushed past us about 

 twenty yards distant. A fatal bullet and a charge of 

 buckshot sped from two barrels, and she plunged forward 

 and fell near the trunk of a fallen tree. The long hunter, 

 who was close in pursuit, reached her first, and fleshed 

 his knife in her neck. We tied the legs of the two deer, 

 thrust a branch through each and dragged them to the 

 sleigh at the edge of the wood, requiring "a long pull, a 

 strong pull and a pull all together." 



We were soon joined by the hunters, who brought 

 with them a fine doe and a fox, and all proceeded to the 

 rendezvous at our host's, when we discussed the exciting 

 events of the day and a stupendous dinner, wherein a 

 haunch of venison, well larded, roasted partridges and 

 rashers of bacon figured conspicuously, to which a couple 

 of succulent mince pies of ample proportions formed a 

 fitting accompaniment. It was a jolly meal, and we 

 were in no hurry to bring it to a conclusion. Our host 

 had many an adventure to relate, and each one of the 

 rest was fully competent to "keep his end up." Mack- 

 land related that one day, when looking for a stick of 

 timber in the forest, he espied the dogs coming toward 

 him running for dear life. Presently a large w<olf ap- 

 peared in full chase. The hunter stepped behind a tree, 

 and as the varmint passed close to his place of conceal- 

 ment he reached over with Ins tomahawk, and with a 

 dexterous blow disabled the boast, dispatched it with 

 another, and carried home the skin. 



Wolves become dangerous in these Canadian forests 

 after the heavy snowfalls, and instances are related of 

 travelers being attacked and killed by the ravenous brutes 

 while journeying from the military posts to the settle- 

 ments. 



An explorer of the line of the military road while 

 alone near the Meganatawan River, was suddenly sur- 

 rounded by a pack of hungry wolves barking and howl- 

 ing for their prey. He tried to escape, but there seemed 

 no avenue. He shouted himself hoarse in the endeavor 

 to make his axemen hear-; this also kept back the beasts 

 for a time, but he would undoubtedly have been de- 

 stroyed had not the axemen at last heard his cries and 

 rushed to his rescue. An instance of extraordinary 

 craftiness in wolves was related to me by a friend living 

 near Quebec. He was once on the wooded heights com- 

 manding a view of the picturesque Lake Memphremagog. 

 It was near sunset, and at some distance below him was 

 an open meadow where a solitary deer was seen grazing; 

 presently two wolves issued from the forest and glanced 

 at the unsuspecting deer. They were apparently plan- 

 ning an attack, when after due deliberation one went off 

 and circling around the deer lay down at some distance 

 behind it ; the other then made an open attack, when the 

 deer turned and fled, but as it passed the first wolf lying 

 concealed, the creature sprang up and fastened upon the 

 unfortunate animal, which was speedily devoured by the 

 two wolves. 



The. second day at our hunters was as successful as the 

 first, and two more deer were added to our number. The 

 third did not prove so good, our host being the only one 

 of the party who brought down his venison, though w r e 

 put in a long day in the woods, and standing hi a runway 

 for hours; watching for the expected game is by no 

 means an exciting or exhilarating occtipation. One of 

 our party was disabled by a fall caused by tripping over 

 a hidden branch in the snow, and striking his knee 

 against the sharp point of a projecting limb. Altogether 

 we secured five splended deer in four days' hunting, hav- 

 ing been gone six days. These we carried in triumph to 

 town, and the antlers from the big buck which grace the 

 wall above my mantle, are the direct suggestion of this 

 brief chronicle. Frank Heywood. 



CAPE COD RABBIT SNARES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I was much interested in report ol the thirteenth 

 annual dinner of the Massachusetts Association for the 

 Protection of Fish and Game, contained in a recent 

 number of Forest and Stream. I believe President 

 Samuels of the association right in his prediction of the 

 early extermination of quail in Massachusetts, unless 

 provision be made against the sale of these birds during 

 close season. I also believe that another valuable species 

 of game, the rabbit, is in great danger of speedy exterm- 

 ination, at least in some portions of Massachusetts, un- 

 less the pernicious practice of trapping them be stopped. 



While surveying woodlands in Plymouth and Bristol 

 counties, a few years since, I first observed the wholesale 

 and inhuman method of destroying rabbits. It is no 

 exaggeration to say I saw miles of the little hedges upon 

 which were set numerous snares, which were far worse 

 than death-traps, i. e., traps producing immediate death 

 to the timid little victims. These traps were generally 

 found in the thick woods, quite remote from human 

 dwellings, and I was told that the game caught was sent 

 to New York and Boston markets. As the trapping is 

 done in cold weather there is no danger of the captured 

 game spoiling in the traps, consequently they are not 

 visited for the removal of game very often, for to make 

 the round of these long lines of snares gives the trapper 

 a long tramp which he does not care to take of'tener than 

 necessary. Hence many rabbits are suspended for days 

 and perhaps weeks, being caught forward of the hind 

 legs around the body by the fine wire, head downward, 

 swinging about in the air as their struggles spring the 

 sapling to which the wire is attached. Perhaps, a limber 

 sprout to which the unfortunate rabbit is hung will allow 

 it to reach, in its efforts to free itself, twigs or other su^> 

 tenance, and this only defers death by starvation and 

 prolongs the torture. Our surveying party destroyed 

 every trap we came across— released rabbits which must 

 have been hanging for more than one and perhaps two 

 weeks, everything- eatable within reach had been d&- 



voured, and when liberated they were unable to stand, 

 breathing being about the only sign of life. I visited 

 Plymouth county lately to hunt, and found that rabbit 

 trapping had been carried on to such an extent that in 

 many sections this game is well nigh exterminated. It 

 seems as if this most inhuman mode of trapping the 

 rabbit should be stopped not only because of its cruelty 

 but that it is fast exterminating a game which, as food, 

 is delectable and valuable, and the sport of hunting 

 which with the musical beagle is fascinating and health- 



I sincerely hope the Massachusetts Association for the 

 Protection of Fish and Game, which has rendered such 

 praiseworthy and valuable service in the protection of 

 game will, in due time, do something in the way of in- 

 fluencing the enactment of a law or, if there be* one al- 

 ready, to cause its enforcement against this cruel and 

 destructive rabbit trapping. G. K. O. 



MY LAST PARTRIDGE. 



PARTRIDGE shooting had not been quite up to the 

 average, and usually Ave were satisfied with a bag 

 of seven to ten for one clay. Just before the first snow 

 fell, Fred and I thought we would try a new place, for 

 we had heard of a section where, according to reports, 

 they could almost be clubbed from the trees. Rising at 

 4 o'clock one November morning we started. It was a 

 pleasant ride but for the south wind which made us but- 

 ton our coats to the neck. When out about a mile we 

 took in the older of our pointer dogs, Rex, and let Grace 

 continue her run, taking in eveiy piece of brash along the 

 road, and once when passing a turn in the road we found 

 her on a point to a brush pile, but when I was about to 

 get out the gun out ran a cat. 



At 8 o'clock A. M. we arrived at our hunting ground 

 and were soon at it. In the first pieces we entered three 

 birds were raised, two shots fired but not a feather; turn- 

 ing back toward the horse I saw one leave the brush 

 ahead of us and fly forty rods across the road to another 

 woods. I told Fred "That is one of those birds I like to 

 get, old, wild and cunning." Walking to the road and 

 looking the brush over i concluded that I would walk 

 around her and leave Fred on the outside to guard the 

 flight backward. Passing into the timber twenty rods 

 below I began to work toward where I supposed she lit, 

 and to my surprise I saw her coming directly toward me. 

 Standing still she passed within a few feet of me; I turned 

 and gave her my right barrel; immediately she rose and 

 and wheeling around and around until she" was above the 

 tops of the trees, swinging behind me she again passed 

 me and I gave her the left barrel; she struck a high limb 

 of a beech tree and came reluctantly to the ground. 

 During this performance Grace stood at my heel, and 

 now was anxious to retrieve the game. Calling Fred we 

 proceeded to surround the spot, thinking perhaps she 

 would rise again. When within 20ft. both dogs took the 

 scent and pointed. I knew she was not dead, for they 

 will not stand a dead bird. We told Rex to "fetch" and 

 he obeyed. Fred reached to take the bird, and as Rex 

 opened his mouth off she flew, much to our surprise and 

 chagrin, as we had put the hammers of our guns down 

 and were not prepared to shoot. Following" her, Grace 

 pointed a log pile and I told her to fetch. She went in 

 and it was some seconds before she was able to capture 

 her bird. She brought it to me and the prize was bagged. 

 On dressing this bird it was found to have only one shot 

 mark, and that in the head, hence those strange move- 

 ments. 



It now began to rain and we repaired to the barn and 

 remained two hours, when, the rain having slacked, we 

 started out, Fred to drive down the road, I to work out a 

 short neck of heavy timber and meet him. When within 

 a short distance of where Fred stood waiting for me, 

 Grace came to a point. I bade her flush him. Out came 

 a cat and started toward the road, and climbed a hemlock 

 tree. The cat being gray with dark stripes around its 

 body, and Fred getting an indistinct view of it as it 

 mounted to its perch on a high limb, he exclaimed: "By 

 the horn spoon ! here is a coon," and the way he dis- 

 mounted from that wagon and leveled his Ithaca at that 

 coon in double quick, while I stood laughing to myself. 

 He rushed into the brush to bring out his coon, but re- 

 turned empty-handed. Rain falling now in torrents we 

 returned to the barn, ate our lunch, concluded to adjourn 

 and drove home in the storm and mud with thirty miles' 

 drive, one partridge and no coon. G. P. B. 



Explosive Bullets.— Editor Forest and Stream: My 

 attention was called to the subject of explosive' bullets by 

 an article treating of them contributed by your corre- 

 spondent, Mr. L. L Flower, and published in your issue 

 of Feb. 3. I am using a 12-gauge gun provided with an 

 inserted rifle barrel taking a .40-50-260 cartridge. Fol- 

 lowing the directions very carefully, I doctored one of 

 these cartridges, and fired it into a 5in. basswood block. 

 It passed through the block, an inch pine fence board, 

 struck a box and fell to the ground. On examining it I 

 came to the conclusion that I was not a good doctor, as it 

 had not exploded. I then conceived the idea of inserting 

 a .22 long revolver cartridge into the end of the rifle 

 cartridge. The process was simple in the extreme. Cut- 

 ting off the part of the bullet which projected beyond the 

 cartridge, it was introduced into a cavity of sufficient 

 depth and diameter, which had been drilled in the end of 

 the rifle bullet and pressed down until the flange on the 

 head of the cartridge rested upon the end of the lead. 

 The effect of this projectile is shown by the section of a 

 hard maple block which I send to you. After numerous 

 experiments, I consider this a sample of what it will do 

 in a block. The question yet remained, What would it 

 do to "bears and things?" By a combination of circum- 

 stances an opportunity to settle this question soon pre- 

 sented itself. A friend of mine had a sick hog which he 

 requested me to shoot. A more expeditious manner of 

 putting a sick porker out of misery cannot be conceived. 

 I shot a distance of four or five rods, and planked one in 

 just back of the shoulder. The unclean beast immedu- 

 ately appeared uncommonly dead, I sent anothor, this 

 time square between the eyes, We peeled off the scalp 

 and found the skull completely shattered . With the point 

 of a knife pieces of the skull were turned back, and the 

 entire contents of the head .were found blown fine; the 

 eyes also had been forced from then' places by the ex r 

 p'losion within the head. On "examining the' effect of the 

 firstshot, a small -hole was found where the bullet en- 



