Jan. 15, 1891.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



of shells would offer, and would urge them to advise the 

 manufacturers of such goods, both through Forest and 

 Stream and by mail, of their desire to use them. If 

 there is a demand for these sizes the manufacturers will 

 promptly supply them and thereafter, I will warrant, 

 the present method of reboring will have become a thing 

 of the past. A. T. L. 



Chicago, ill. 



A MOOSE HUNT IN K1BBY VALLEY. 



I?OR two seasons I have not only explored, but made 

 JT many inquiries, and corresponded not a little with 

 sportsmen in different pari s of this country upon the sub- 

 ject of moose and caribou. Generally I received favor- 

 able answers from every point, which is often the case; 

 but the game is seldom realized at the season of year I 

 wish to hunt. Last summer while on a fishing trip, but 

 principally on the lookout for moose signs, I was con- 

 vinced that I had at last found my hunting ground, as 

 well as guides and teamsters, who knew the country and 

 game to be found in it probably as well or better than any 

 one else at the present day. Before leaving for home I 

 had made all arrangements with my guides for a still 

 hunt as soon as there should be snow enough, they to send 

 for me and have everything in readiness on my arrival, so 

 as to save time, as at that season of year it was incon- 

 venient to leave business for any length of time. Packing 

 a few things as hurriedly as possible, for the word had 

 arrived to come by first train, we leave New York by 

 Fall River line in the evening and Boston at 8:30 the next 

 morning by Maine Central, arriving at Kings field, Maine, 

 at seven in the evening, this being the terminus of rail- 

 road travel. The next morning we are flying along 

 behind a pah- of bays, the merry jingle of the bells keep- 

 ing time with the rushing waters of the Carrabassett, 

 along whose bank we ride for fifteen miles with con- 

 stantly changing mountain scenery on either side. A 

 change of horses here and we are off again, and in two 

 hours arrive in Eustis some twenty-eight miles from the 

 start. Here we find atypical Maine frontier village, the 

 jumpiog-off place, as it were, of civilization, for the 

 public road ends at the sawmill. The residents number- 

 ing between fifty and sixty, and most all were born and 

 reared there, and depend principally on logging in winter, 

 hunting, trapping and guiding sportsmen in season. 

 Eustis is the last of civilization we see, for the forest 

 begins here. At this place 1 was met by my guides, Gus 

 Douglass and Otis Witham, Gus being the son of the 

 famous old moose and bear hunter, Andrew Douglass, 

 who took the boy Gus into the woods hunting and'trap- 

 ping when he was only eight years of age. He is never 

 so tired when night comes, and the company is sitting 

 around the camp-fire, but what he is always ready with 

 a song or a good story. 



In starting from Eustis we cross the Dead River; and 

 up in the mountains for ten miles, one-half the way 

 through burnt timber, which now affords splendid feed- 

 ing ground for moose and deer, the unmistakable signs 

 of deer were seen, as the ground, was covered with snow. 

 We could tell every few minutes where one or more had 

 crossed or fed around among the bushes that were now 

 growing up since the fire. 



Threejhours' time brings us to the Kibby Stream Camps, 

 built, by my guides, a favorite resort for fishermen, and 

 a hunter's paradise. Here it was we made ready for the 

 hunt, each one provided with a good heavy blanket, and 

 provisions calculated to last from six to eight days. The 

 cooking utensils were composed of one four- quart pail for 

 tea and coffee, one frying pan, and a drinking cup for 

 each. A small tin plate and spoon were provided for me, 

 that I might better indulge with the luxuries. One great 

 feature of a trip of this kind is toreduce the camp kit and 

 provisions to a minimum, as it must all be carried on the 

 back, and the lightest of packs gets heavy enough before 

 night. Our provisions comprised prepared flour, rice, 

 pork, tea, coffee, butter and sugar, and nearly every day 

 we shot a partridge or two, which made our larder quite 

 complete. In starting out we found the snow about two 

 feet deep, and as we had to go on snowshoes, it was no 

 easy task for me to keep pace with my guides the first 

 day, as they were following my instructions, to push 

 along as fast as possible. As several yards of moose had 

 been located before I arrived, we lost no time in going 

 direct to where the hunt was to commence. We stopped 

 to camp for the night about half a mile from a certain 

 yard, so as not to frighten them by the noise of the ax, or 

 smoke from the camp-fire. After supper we were soon 

 rolled up in our blankets before agood fire, and had a very 

 comfortable night's rest considering the weather, as it 

 was storming hard and had been all the day before. 



Breakfast was soon disposed of, and while waiting for 

 daylight to appear our pipes were smoked and plans all 

 talked over, even estimating the spread of the antlers we 

 should have hanging up bef ore sunset. As soon as it was 

 light enough we were off, going right up the mountain, 

 for the yard was on the very top, reaching over and down 

 on the north side, for the supposed reason that experience 

 or instinct has taught the crafty animals that snow 

 warmed by southern exposure soon forms a crust, in 

 which they cannot easily "work" or protect themselves 

 by escape, as in the softer snow lying on the colder side. 



A yard is where moose or deer congregate in early 

 winter, among the firs and spruces, where there is a 

 plentiful supply of small growth and moose wood, the 

 bark and tender branches of which they feed on while 

 there is deep snow. A yard may cover over fifty or a 

 hundred acres, possibly more, according to the number 

 of animals herding together, and is covered with paths 

 running in every direction where the game feeds from 

 bush to bush. If not molested, and their feed holds out, 

 they will remain all winter. In about an hour or so we 

 came upon signs of moose, the principal indications being 

 places where the bushes and small trees had been browsed 

 and girdled, looking as though it had been done a day 

 or so before. But we knew it was longer than that as 

 there were no tracks in the snow. However, the guides 

 were satisfied that the game was not'far away; and it 

 was here that the hunt began in earnest. The direction 

 of wind was noticed and we kept to the leeward of the 

 signs (for it must be remembered that the moose is the 

 keenest scented animal of the forest), for fear they would 

 get our scent, and that would end all chances of getting 

 a shot in the yard. 



Continuing on, we soon saw signs m the snow, although 

 covered with about six or eight inches of light snow of 

 the day and night before. This was at once brushed 

 away, that the tracks might be examined to learn the 



direction the moose were going, as we wished to do the 

 surprising instead of being the ones surprised. We had 

 not gone far when a peculiar hiss from one of the guides 

 gave us the warning, and instantly we were like statues. 

 Looking directly in front of us, we saw a fine cow moose 

 (much to our surprise) coming in our direction, browsing 

 as she passed slowly along, retracing the steps of the day 

 before. What was to be done? passed through the minds 

 of each of us. We dare not move nor shoot, as it was a 

 bull moose or nothing that I wanted. Presently she saw 

 us, and painful were the few moments that passed while 

 she was looking, not knowing really whether we were 

 stumps or human beings, as she could not at first get our 

 scent; but when she did, she gave the alarm that was un- 

 mistakable, a sound similar to that of the deer, only ten 

 times as loud. As one of the guides expressed it, "The 

 jig is up now, for every moose within half a mile is on 

 the run." 



Now, the first thing to do was to pick out the track of 

 a bull, if there was one in this yard. So we proceeded, 

 for a short distance only, when the experienced eyes of 

 my guides detected what they thought to be the track of 

 a bull. We found that two'had left the yard together, 

 one of them supposed to be a bull on account of the large 

 size of tracks and long strides, showing it to be an animal 

 of unusual size. We went but a short distance, when it 

 was discovered that one of them had gone through a 

 thicket and the other had gone around. This looked en- 

 couraging, so we took the larger track that went around, 

 only to find that the other had joined company a little 

 further on. The story was told for certain when they 

 came to another thicket, where both were obliged to go 

 through, thus betraying the bull and spread of his antlers 

 by marks on his trees. Now began our work in earnest, 

 for we must walk him down, which usually takes from 

 four to six days of steady walking from daylight until 

 dark, stopping to cook dinner and camping on his track 

 wherever night overtakes us. 



As a rule when a moose is followed he never eats, but 

 keeps steadily plodding along until he is completely ex- 

 hausted, then lies down to rest. The moose has slept 

 only, with nothing to eat, while we have had a good 

 breakfast. But before we found his bed he had heard us 

 and gone. The second day was about the repetition of the 

 first. The third day we found where he had stopped 

 occasionally, and rested a few moments, and at the same 

 time listening to hear us if possible. The fourth and 

 fifth days the guides could easily read the condition of 

 the old fellow by the number of times he would lie down 

 to rest, and on the fifth especially, when he began some 

 of his sharp practice on us, by traveling in circles trying 

 to get to the leeward and behind us, thinking, I suppose, 

 we would go on and leave him. But on the morning of 

 the sixth day the oLd monarch of the forest decided that 

 he would go no further, and as he arose from his bed , 

 about 50yds. away, with mane standing straight up, and 

 looking the picture of defiance, Gus remarked that it was 

 just about the right time to do the work, and in one 

 minute two balls from my Winchester had told the story. 

 His weight as he fell was estimated, and has since proved 

 quite correct, to have been over l,1001bs. His head and 

 antlers weighed 1021bs., and spreading a little over 4ft. 

 8in. The blades of the horns are 12|in. wide; the horns 

 are evenly balanced, each containing eleven perfect 

 prongs. It is considered a very fine specimen, and pro- 

 nounced by very good authority to be as large as any on 

 record. Feeling very well satisfied with the work done 

 in Maine, I shall leave the rest of it to the well-known 

 taxidermist, Mr. Akhurst, of this city. C. B. Parker. 



Brooklyn, N. Y. 



ADIRONDACK DEER. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The reply given you by Messrs. Knapp and Van 

 Nostrand in Jan. 1st number on the New York Game 

 Laws, coincides so completely with the views entertained 

 by many of our sportsmen, as regards the season and 

 manner in which deer are now killed, that it gives me an 

 excuse for alluding to the subject. When game dealers 

 express their opinions so decidedly and join those of the 

 still-hunter, should all this cumulative testimony be set 

 aside in the framing of just game laws? 



Hear what they say: "No dealer cares to handle New 

 York State venison, for it is as a ride thin and dark colored. 

 The fine deer meat does not commence to arrive from 

 Minnesota until Dec, 1. The market-hunters have fifteen 

 days to kill in; they hang the deer up and freeze them, 

 and ship them at that time." 



Yes, they don't care to handle it, and why? As a rule 

 it is thin and dark colored. Why thin and dark colored? 

 can any of the hounding fraternity give us a reason for 

 this? Will any of them come forward before the Codify- 

 ing Committee and state that Adirondack deer at their 

 best, furnish thin and dark colored meat, and of such an 

 inferior quality that our dealers do not care to handle it? 

 Is such the fact? I think not. Adirondack deer have an 

 abundance of fine food, and if left to run until the latter 

 part of November as are those shipped from Minnesota, 

 the venison would compare favorably with that sent from 

 the West. In fact the saddles would be completely en- 

 veloped with a thick covering of tallow like a carcass of 

 fat mutton. What more could one ask? 



But while this running of deer with dogs into water 

 during the warm weather of September or October con- 

 tinues; killing them before they have time to lay on a 

 winter's store of fat, and after a heating up by running 

 before the dogs, and a plunge into cold water, may I ask 

 while this continues, is it any wonder to hear that our 

 venison is thin, dark in color, and in fact extremely un- 

 salable if not unwholesome? 



And they also add that "they would be pleased if the 

 killing of deer in New York State was prohibited entirely, 

 and only meat allowed to be sold that was proved to be 

 lawfully killed in the West from Nov. 1 to March 1." 

 Why do they wish meat only sold that was proved law- 

 fully killed within those dates? 



I wish to speak regarding our other nuisance that is 

 being perpetrated all through this part of the State, every 

 fall by a class of professional bloodsuckers, with dogs 

 trained to either tree or set our ruffed grouse, who make 

 a business all through the time limited, to bag every covey 

 for miles around, shipping them by the barrel, while the 

 ordinary hunter may roam the woods for days and not 

 succeed in securing even one pair during the open season. 

 Why not limit the number of ruffed grouse to be killed 

 as well as of deer to be lawfully taken by one person, can 

 any one give a reasonable answer? Cap-Look. 



ROCHESTER AND VICINITY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The Monroe Sportsman's Association (the "County" has 

 been dropped) has contracted for 5,000 quail and expects 

 the birds to begin to arrive in about ten days. Special 

 crates are being built here and wfll be shipped early this 

 week. Quarters are being prepared where the birds will 

 be confined until spring. 



At the meeting held last Friday a communication from 

 the Connecticut State Association was read, explaining 

 their methods; also one of their circulars which they send 

 to land-owners. The idea was voted a good one, and a 

 similar letter is being prepared for circulation in this 

 section. A postal card is to be inclosed, by signing which 

 the party becomes a full member of the association with- 

 out expense, and also binds himself not to allow others 

 than members of the association to fish or hunt on his 

 premises. A copy of the circular and card will be sent to 

 this journal as soon as printed. 



Numerous applications for quail have been made by 

 land owners in answer to an advertisement in the daily 

 papers by the Association, 



In addition to the quail it is also expected that several 

 streams will be stocked with brown trout, there are hints 

 also of grouse to'be brought here and liberated. 



By its action thus far this new association has earned 

 the approval and cooperation of every sportsman in the 

 State, and it is hoped that the membership may reach 

 the thousand mark the first year. The central location 

 of this city gives the Association an opportunity to reach 

 out all over the State, and with the wealth, energy and 

 enterprise now identified with it shows that it means 

 business. 



There will be a stated reward offered for information 

 leading to the punishment of violators of the game laws. 

 Any man who has felt the blood tingle in him as he 

 landed a two-pound trout, or grassed his October wood- 

 cock, or made a double on quail, or, equally as hard, his 

 single on ruffed grouse in the brush, or downed his buck, 

 two-pronged or six, must feel a thrill of gladness on 

 learning that the cause is to have such a champion. 



We hope to get news enough each week so that the 

 editor will feel disposed to grant us part of a column 

 headed "Rochester and Vicinity," or something better at 

 his discretion. OSCEOLA. 



Jam. 12. 



THE NEW YORK GAME LAW. 



ALBANY, Jan. 12.— About the 15th of the present 

 month the special Commission appointed by Gov. 

 Hill to thoroughly examine the fish and game laws and 

 codify the same will make its report to the Legislature. 

 The report is not yet ready to be made public; but some 

 general points have been learned by your correspondent 

 which will be of interest. 



The Commission consists of Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, 

 of New York; Hon. Richard U. Sherman, of Utica; and 

 E. G. Whittaker, Deputy Attorney-General. The Com- 

 mission has examined several hundred game laws; but 

 more particularly the amendments to the general game 

 law of 1879. The result of their work is a comparatively 

 short bill which is very systematically arranged under 

 such headings as to make it of convenient reference. 

 For instance, under the head "animals," deer, rabbits 

 and other foui'-footed animals are so placed that any one 

 can turn to them in a moment. 



The report of the Commission will be accompanied by 

 the new bill, noted above. Under its provisions as much 

 uniformity is enacted all through the State as is consistent 

 with the many and divers interests and climates that are 

 represented. In Suffolk county, for instance, the salt- 

 water fishing, and no other, has been placed in the hands 

 of the supervisors. The supervisors themselves wished to 

 control all kinds of fishing, but this was not allowed. In 

 regard to game birds, the season for woodcock, partridge 

 and quail is to commence Nov. 1. No changes are made 

 in the season for geese; but the season for ducks is to com- 

 mence one month later in the spring, because so many of 

 the ducks have been shot when breeding. The shooting 

 of does and jack-hunting are both prohibited. The season 

 for hounding will commence about Sept. 1; but it has been 

 shortened 10 days from what it is now. 



Dayton, O., Jan. 12. — Flocks of wild geese fly back and 

 forth over the reservoirs of western Ohio in greater num- 

 bers than is usual so late in the winter. When Lake Erie 

 gets too rough or cold, the geese come down to the reser- 

 voirs to rest and feed. A flock of ninety geese came from 

 the north to Lewiston reservoir one evening last week. 

 During the day flocks of thirty to fifty geese are seen fly- 

 ing. The ducks have mostly gone south long ago, but 

 fair weather and no wind for a day or two brings them 

 back. A dozen pair of quail are being kept through the 

 winter here to be sent in April to Dr. Wm. F. Egry, in 

 Obernkirchen, Germany, to stock his estates. The doctor, 

 who is now 76 years of age, served in the American army 

 during the Mexican war, and lived in Dayton for many 

 years. Ten years ago he and Mrs. Egry returned to Ger- 

 many to live, and after visiting here last year he took a 

 brace of red Irish setters home with him. Now his 

 friends desire to stock his farm with Ohio quail so that 

 the doctor can enjoy his old-time fall shooting. — Brown. 



A North Carolina Game Resort.— Stoneville, N. C— 

 I am not a regular reader of your most interesting jour- 

 nal, but occasionally see it while Mr. D. B. Hempstead, 

 of Loudon county, is here at this place on his regular 

 hunting tour. Mr. Hempstead is an old fisher and shooter, 

 and now in his sixty -ninth year can do more tramping 

 after quail (partridges we call them) than many not half 

 his age. He has been coming to our place for twelve 

 years, and each visit is pleasanter than the preceding. 

 He and Dr. Stoddard of Rochester, New York, spent sev- 

 eral days at this place in November and bagged quite a 

 nice lot of birds. We have very few native hunters, and 

 Mr. Hempstead knows where the best sport is and gives 

 this portion of his hunting rambles as long a time as he 

 can spare. Dr. Baily of New York, Mr. Sharpless of 

 Delaware, and Mr. Boss of Connecticut, have been to our 

 town and vicinity, and all claim that there are more birds 

 here to the square inch than any place they ever struck. 

 The game laws of our State are not "out" until the 15th 

 of March.— J. R. S. 



