Sept. 6, 1883.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



125 



riding single file; young Mr. Hutchinson was ahead of 

 myself. If he missed it would be my turn, but I did not 

 get the opportunity. His shot, the tenth fired, cut it 

 down. This is the fust time I have met with a mallard 

 that spent the summer in this latitude. It must have 

 been wounded in the spring flight, and was unable to go 

 on with its mates. I now regret I did not pick it to dis- 

 cover some scars of its having been previously shot. 



The standers were placed, and Messrs. Moss and Hutchin- 

 son with Mr. Graham went down to the lower extremity 

 of the island to drive. They were gone an hour when I 

 heard a shot about 200yds. below me on the Argus Bayou. 

 It was made by Mr Poole. His little boy, Robert, stood 

 about 50yds. from my stand. In a short time I heard the 

 cry of the hounds, and then one shot seemingly about a 

 mile away. Half au hour elapsed and I heard the full 

 cry of all the pack. They ran within about 300yds. of my 

 stand and passed oat by Mr. Joyner. In a few minutes I 

 heard the horns of the drivers blowing back the dogs and 

 theu the three blasts summoning up the standers. Mr. 

 Poole came up to me and reported shooting at a flock of 

 turkeys, too far to reasonably expect to kill. We rode on 

 to the drivers and there saw a very large buck strapped 

 behind Mr. Moss's saddle. "Who killed it?" I asked. "I 

 did," said Mr. Moss; and I wdl let him tell the tale. Said 

 he, "We struck a number of trails too cold to let the dogs 

 follow them, but when we passed the pond old Buck 

 seemed to warm up on one that led to Flat Eiver, and I 

 rode as fast as possible behind him. The trail led to the 

 river, where the deer had been to water, and after it left 

 the river my dogs opened freely. 1 was satisfied the deer 

 had been to water since noon , and that if I could keep up 

 with the dogs I would get a shot as it would jump from 

 its bed. Mr. Hutchinson had driven on the other side of 

 the pond, and hearing my dogs opening, he was galloping 

 with his pack to my assistance, and was in sight as I saw 

 a large tree that 'had been blown down. It struck rue 

 that the deer was lying there. I urged my horse to full 

 speed, and as the hounds got within a few yards of the 

 tree I saw the buck spring up. Without stopping my 

 horse I fired, and had the satisfaction to see him stagger 

 and then plunge to the ground. Tn a moment old Buck 

 had him by the. throat, and Hutchinson's hounds coming 

 up, we had a fearful fight with him before I could cut his 

 throat." 



"What became of the deer that the dogs ran by Joyner?" 

 I asked of Andrew. 



"Oh, Jim said no deer passed by him. and that it had 

 run out before he got to his stand." 



"Where did you strike the track?" I asked. 



He replied, "A short distance from where I killed the 

 buck." 



"Now, Jim," I said, "just own up. It was a buck, the 

 mate to the one that Andrew killed, and it ran out by 

 you. Either you was asleep or it frightened you so that 

 you were too scared to shoot. Tell the truth, for I would 

 swear on a pack of Bibles a mile high that the deer passed 

 your stand after the drivers placed you there. Old Buck 

 never passed a deer track in his fife, if it had gone along 

 not over twenty-four hours before." 



"Did he strike as you placed Jim at the stand ?" I asked 

 of Andrew. 



"No," he replied. 



"Did your dogs open there?" I asked of Mr. Hutchinson. 



"No," was the answer. "I heard every dog in full cry 

 as they passed by me, and I know that deer ran by Jim 

 after Andrew killed his buck." 



"Come, own up, Jim," all said, and he confessed he was 

 asleep and did not wake until the deer was too far to 

 shoot. It actually ran within twenty yards of him. 



We dressed the deer there and divided. It was the 

 largest and fattest one killed this season. I went to An- 

 drew Moss to spend the night, and I know I never ate so 

 sweet a piece of venison as prepared under the inspection 

 of his charming wife, who often accompanies her hus- 

 band and enjoys the sport as much as he does. 



A week after this hunt I accompanied Mr. Moss, Mr. 

 Poole and his son, and Mr. John Graham, to drive this 

 same Bear Island. 



Mr. Poole stood at the head of the island, at the stand 

 Mr. Atkins took on the former hunt, and not far from 

 where Joyner stood; I went to my old stand and little 

 Robert stood near me. The hounds struck a running- 

 trail just opposite me. At that moment, not over 150yds,, 

 I counted thirty large turkeys running across the bayou, 

 and in a moment I heard two guns, and then a third one, 

 at the interval of a minute, from the point where Mr. 

 Poole stood. Then the dogs passed beyond and ran to 

 the hills. For one hour I could hear old Buck's deep 

 voice over all the roar of the pack. Finally he seemed to 

 be coming back. I rode on with little Eobert in the direc- 

 tion he was coming. He came to Alligator Bayou, and 

 Mr. John Graham just behind him. As the deer had 

 crossed, I stopped the hound, and waited for John to 

 come up. 



"What luck?" 



"None," he replied, "I followed old Buck. He was 

 running the deer Mr. Poole shot at. He ran it to Lake 

 Bistereau, then back through Sibley's fields, over fences 

 ten rails high, and though Mr. Poole said it was badly 

 wounded I have seen no blood, and 1 don't think he 

 touched it, as no wounded deer could have run so long as 

 this one with old Buck right behind him." 



"What became of the other dogs?" 



"Andrew followed them to Burr Eidge. I hear his 

 horn. Let us blow for him and Mr. Poole." 



In a short time both came to us. 



"Tell us what you shot at," I asked Mr, Poole. 



"The dogs jumped the deer not far from my stand. I 

 saw three coming straight to me. When they got within 

 50yds. the largest stopped broadside on and I fired at 

 birn. and then got a quartering shot as he dashed back. 

 The dogs met him and he turned back, and I got a shot 

 at him standing about the same distance, and if I could 

 have got the second shell in my gun I could have shot 

 the fourth time. One of the deer was a fawn. I am 

 certain I must have wounded him badly." 



"I guess not," said Andrew, "for John and I could 

 find no blood, and the dogs must have run that deer at 

 least fifteen miles. You wore looking at the deer and 

 not your gun." 



"He was a third larger than the one you killed. Plague 

 these breechloaders. I can't kill a deer with them. If I 

 had shot my old bear muzzleloader I would have killed 

 that buck then and there the first shot. I am going to 

 have it repaired, and I will show you youngsters how to 

 kill deer." 



With this sage conclusion he lighted his pipe, and we 

 separated to return to our respective homes. The next 

 week he sent his old bear slayer, over 4ft. long in the 

 barrel, to a gunsmith, had it shortened to 40in. and put 

 in good order, and I have received a, message from him 

 "to come down and he would show me how to kill deer." 

 I accompanied John Graham as far as Flat Elver Bridge; 

 he went to liis home at King Point, and I to mine some 

 three miles above. Mr. Graham is a good shot, knows 

 the woods well, and always drives for me when he is not 

 engaged. 



Ere long I shall go to Mr. Poole's to take that lesson 

 from him in deer slaying (remember, dear reader, I have 

 killed over two thousand in my life), and if all things are 

 favorable I may write it up in the near future. 



K^nx Point, La. G. A. D. 



THE CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of Aug. 30, some one who signs himself 

 "One of the Farmers" says: "I see that Mr. A. C. Collins 

 and a few selected gentlemen are trying to combine the 

 interests of farmers and city sportsmen." Now for the 

 facts relating to the "few selected gentlemen." The in- 

 formal meeting Aug. 10 was generally noticed by the 

 press throughout the State. 



Monday, Aug. 13, I, personally, mailed to sixty-five 

 daily and weekly papers throughout the State a circular 

 letter, which contained a notice of the meeting of Aug. 

 10, and an invitation in the following words: "It is 

 earnestly desired that all gentlemen interested in the pro- 

 tection of game and fish be present at the next meeting 

 [Aug. 7]. All are invited." This nails "One of the 

 farmers" on his assertion, "Mr. A. C. Collins and a few 

 selected gentlemen." 



I give a portion of our by-laws which reads as follows: 



The corparatc management and busiaess affairs of the Connec- 

 ticut Association of Farmers and Sportsmen for the protection 

 of game and fish shall be under and according to the following- 

 by-laws, rules and regulations: 



Abtjcdf 1. Tho office ot this Associat ion shall be at the city 

 of Hartford, Hartford county, Conn. 



Aut. 2. The officers of this Association shall bo a president, 

 vice-president, secretary and treasurer, and a board of directors, 

 to be composed of eight directors and tlic president. There may 

 be such executive or other eommittcs as the Association may see- 

 fit to appoint. 



The eight directors have not been appointed, but it is 

 the intention of the association to have one director in 

 each county in the State. Article y defines the direc- 

 ors' duties. 



Art. 9. Tho board of directors or their authorized committee, 

 may offer a reward not exceeding fifty dollars at any one time for 

 information leading to the detection and successful prosecution 

 of violations of the game and fish laws and appoint sucli agents, 

 servants or detectives as may seem necessary or expedient in 

 better carrying out the objects of the association, in enforcing the 

 game or fish laws. They may also define and limit the powers 

 and duties of such agents, servants or detectives, within the scope 

 and object of the association and fix their compensation. 



Read carefully the folio whig article of our by-laws: 

 Art. 8. The dues which shall constitute membership shall be 

 the sum of one dollar from each member for each year, and is 

 payable to the secretary at the annual meeting and shall be for 

 the year then ensuing. Each one dollar paid by any person shall 

 be deemed a membership for the current year; and each member- 

 ship shall be entitled to one vote at annual or special meeting. 

 Any person may hold one or more memberships. Any farmer in 

 the State can have one membership free and is entitled to a vote 

 on the same. 



"One of the Farmers" says: "I (he) am not overburdened 

 with this world's goods." I presume he can raise a two- 

 cent stamp and send his name to our secretary. Mr. Allen 

 Willey (editor of the- Globe), Hartford, Conn., and become 

 a member free and have a vote (see by-laws, article 8). 



Here is the "very foolish game law" that your West- 

 chester (Conn.) correspondent refers to: 



Sec. £546. No person shall at anytime kill any woodcock, ruffed 

 grouse, or quail, for tho purpose of conveying the same beyond the 

 limits of this State; or shall transport or have in possession with 

 intent to procure the transportation beyond said limits, any of 

 such birds killed within this State. 



The reception by any person within this State of any such bird 

 or birds for shipment to a point without the State, shall be prima 

 facie, evidence that the said bird or birds were killed within this 

 State, for the purpose of carrying the same beyond its limits. 



Sec. 2547. Any person violating any of the provisions of tho pre- 

 ceding section shall be fined not less than seven nor more than 

 fifty dollars. 



A very wise law in my opinion. 



Your correspondent if he chooses can prevent "city 

 sportsmen from many cities outside this State" carrying 

 "large strings of our game out of the State." All the 

 talk of "it is not a fair deal" is for effect. Your corres- 

 pondent says he is a shooter, how does he like this law? 



Sec. 2515. Every person, not the owner or occupant under 

 lease of the lands upon which said birds shall have been taken, 

 nor a member of the family of such owner or occupant who 

 shall sell or exchange, or offer or expose for sale or exchange, 

 any partridge, quail or woodcock, which have been taken or 

 killed by traps, SDares, nets, or similar devices, shall be fined not 

 more than ten dollars for each bird so sold, or exchanged, or 

 offered, or exposed for sale or exchange. 



I beg to submit the following clipping from the Globe, 

 Nov. 20, 1887: 



ITred Alger and his brothers, all of Westchester, this State, have 

 snared and sold over (100 partridges this fall. These Algers are a 

 tough crowd. One has served two forma in State prison and the 

 other two have had a term each. The attention of (tame Warden 

 Collins has been called to them, and he will proceed against them 

 as soon as testimony can be secured. Bill W allace, a Colchester 

 man, has also snared and sold a large number of birds this fall, 

 and will also be prosecuted. 



As Westchester, Conn., is the stamping ground of "One 

 of the Farmers," I beg to ask him if he will allow these 

 snarers to get their work in this season ? ' 'One of the 

 Farmers" says he is "as much interested (perhaps more) 

 in the protection of game as our would-be city friends." 

 I want proof of this assertion. I am for punishing any 

 one who violates game and fish laws, be the violator rich 

 or poor. If your correspondent is "as much interested" 

 as his city friends, will he allow the same parties to snare 

 in his town as he did last season? Can "One of the 

 Farmers" name a single citizen in his town that does not 

 fear the snarers named in the Globe ? I could not get a 

 soul in Westchester to act with me last season, they were 

 simply afraid. 



I trust the majority of farmers will take a more liberal 

 view of our association than the one who signs "One of 

 the Farmers," and they are most cordially invited to join 

 our association: we have a number now. Editor Willey, 

 in referring editorially to this association, says: 



It is a farmers' as well as a sportsman's association, and it is to 

 the farmers that the city men, who are better able than the 

 farmers to call together the land owners and sportsmen, appeal 

 for a hearty support and cooperation. W« know from a number 

 of years' residence in the county, how unwilling farmers are to call 

 their neighbors to account f or unlawfal game killing and deeds 



which they themselves condemn, yet they are unwilling to stir 

 up euuiity with neighbors, although tney deprecate such illegal 

 acts. It is possible, however, by the selection of fearless game 

 wardens, who have no local interests at stake, to carry out the 

 game laws thoroughly, and thus protect, the farmers and game, 

 so that in a very few years game will bo very plenty. We feel 

 certain that this new State Game and Fish Association will do 

 much good, and it is sincerely hoped that all farmers will cooper- 

 ate with the city men in this most commendable association. 



A meeting of the association is called Sept. 7 (Friday) 

 at Hon. Geo. P. McLean's office, Hartford, Conn., at 4 

 P. M.. for the election of a vice-president and eight direc- 

 tors, one from each county in the State. We extend a 

 cordial and earnest invitation to all farmers and sports- 

 men in the State to lend their aid. Let the State be well 

 represented. 



I invite your Connecticut readers to understand that 

 this is no close corporation, and that it is one that is 

 organized for business. Abbott C. Collins, 

 President Connecticut Association of Farmers and 

 Sportsmen for the Protection of Grame and Fish. 



nARTFORn, Conn., Aug. 31. 



A FAWN SCRAPE. 



APART of my boyhood was spent in Virginia, or what 

 is now West Virginia. There were then, as now, 

 large tracts of land lying among the cultivated farms, the 

 title to which was so imperfect that they had never 

 been improved; and others owned by non-residents who 

 were holding them until they should become more valu- 

 able. Some of these sections were thousands of acres in 

 extent, and there were others equally as large adjoin- 

 ing; and thus the improved lands were mountain lands 

 lying further back. In these wooded sections there was 

 plenty of game. The people who lived there were so 

 used to having it within reach that they did not take 

 much trouble to hunt it, except once in a while, a party 

 would be made up, who would go some distance and 

 camp out for a hunting trip. I remember seeing them 

 return wfth the sled loaded with venison, with a bear or 

 two, frozen stiff, and standing up to look as if they were 

 alive. 



Near one of the towns where we lived, lived a farmer, 

 whose land joined one of these wild tracts. He had sev- 

 eral half -tamed deer, Avhich he kept in a lot surrounded 

 by a very high fence. From this inclosure there was a 

 lane leading out to the woods beyond, and the deer would 

 go out in the morning and generally return in the even- 

 ing. Wild deer would often come with them as far aa 

 the top of the hill overlooking the farm, and stand there 

 while the tame ones came down. I used to stand by the 

 fence and look at the beautiful creatures when they were 

 in the inclosure, but never ventured inside the fence, as 

 it was not safe. In the spring I learned that there was a 

 fawn in the flock, and was very anxious to see it. So I 

 went out one day to get a sight of it. But it was nowhere 

 about. I looked all around, but could not see any of the 

 deer. I knew it was hidden awaiting the mother's re- 

 turn, and concluded that it would be a good opportunity 

 to get hold of it while the mother was not there to defend 

 it. I crawled through between the rails and began search- 

 ing. It took me a long time, but at last I saw the little 

 spotted beauty lying beside a log, fast asleep. I looked 

 at it until I concluded that I wanted to get it in my 

 hands. 



Slipping up on the other side of the log I threw myself 

 over on top of it. I knew enough about deer to know 

 that it would not be healthy for me in that lot as soon as 

 it began to cry. Gathering it in my arms, with its back 

 against me and my arms around its belly, while it kicked 

 and howled, I made a break for the fence. My load was 

 so heavy and struggled so, that I could not run fast; and 

 before I had gotten more than halt' way I heard some- 

 thing that made me stop and face the music. I was in 

 for it, for there were the doe and a buck within a few 

 feet of me, and they .did not seem pleased at the attention 

 I was paying to that member of their family. The buck 

 made for me, but I turned the fawn toward him and. 

 backed toward the fence. It was evident by the way he 

 pranced about that he wanted to interview me on some 

 interesting theme, but I was busy, and did not want to 

 be interrupted just then. It seemed a long time before I 

 felt the rails against my back; and even then I was not 

 out of the scrape. The bttle reprobate that I was holding 

 so lovingly had been kicking and wriggling so that he 

 would get his sharp hoofs in contact with my 

 clothes, and then I would hear something rip and 

 knew that not only the cloth was being damaged, but 

 that he was skinning me alive. I could not let him go 

 because his loving parent hovered near, waiting for his 

 turn to finish the skinning business. I watched my op- 

 portunity, and when the irate father had gone a little 

 further away than usual, I flung the little wriggler 

 from me, and made a jump for the fence. I reached it 

 safely, but not a minute too soon, as the horns of the 

 kind parent, in his attempt to help me over the fence, 

 just failed to reach the part of my anatomy aimed at. 

 When safely over, I looked back at him, and he seemed 

 to feel disappointed. He stood by the fence stamping 

 and snorting and looking altogether so unpleasant that I 

 imagined he would try to climb the fence; so I went in 

 the opposite direction as fast as I could, and have never 

 since had any desire to handle any such creature as one 

 which carries a butcher knife on each foot, Homertjs. 



CLEVELAND, O. _ _ 



Deer Crusters.— Lowville, N. Y., Aug. 31. — Truman 

 Burnham and two sons, George and Frederick, of Wat- 

 son, who were arrested on complaint of Game Protector 

 George Mover, of this village, charged with crusting deer 

 last March," in the Independence River country, had their 

 trial yesterday and to-day before Justice A. Perry Har- 

 rington and a jury. The jury rendered a verdict of 

 guilty against Truman and Frederick Burnham, but the 

 evidence did not warrant a verdict against the other son 

 George Burnham, and he was therefore discharged. 

 Truman and Frederick Burnham were given the privil- 

 ege of paying $50 each or serving fifty days in jail. 

 Being unable to pay the fine they were committed. 

 District Attorney Ryel appeared for the people and Jas. 

 D. Smith for the accused. An appeal may be brought. 



Tourists seeking rest and recreation during the hot summer 

 months can obtain valuable information from the illustrated guide 

 books entitled "A Summer Jaunt " and "Summer of 1888" issued by 

 the. Wisconsin Central Line. These books are descriptive of the sum- 

 mer resorts in Wisconsin and Minnesota, reached by the Wisconsin 

 Central Line, and will be sent free to any address upon applica- 

 tion to .Tames Barker, General Passenger and Ticket Agent, 

 Milwaukee, Wis.— Adv. 



