April £>, aii^S.j 
FOREST AND STREAlVi. 
283 
the duck shooting fraternity, still when they decoy as 
•well as they did for us that day they afford exceptionally 
fine sport for those who like to rough it, and who are 
not afraid of cold weather. Especially is this so in 
Connecticut, where in these days the choice varieties of 
ducks seldom come, and in fact where one seldom meets 
Witli success even when after old-squaws and coots. 
We tried tbem on a three daj's' trip afterward, but 
never got a feather. 
Our bag counted 14. and we used 125 shells. Eight 
of the ducks were old-squaws, 5 were coots, and i was 
a broadbill. Through our misjudgment of distance, 1 
am not proud to say, we wounded many more than we 
killed. Most of these escaped entirely. 
tn n1y estimation, making cripples is the great draw- 
back to duck shooting. When the coldest weather 
cptnes, and the ducks ffock to a warmer climate, it is 
pitiful indeed to see a poor, wounded cripple, deserted 
atid forlorn, floating on the icy waves. It is sad to 
know that days, perhaps weeks, of suflfering from in- 
flamed, feverish wounds will be its hard lot, until death 
finally comes to its relief and cuds its miserable exist- 
ence. William H. Avis. 
Hunting Whitetails in Wisconsin. 
«Y CAREY. 
"Hello, Percy! Bloody hands and tell-tale crimson 
spots on your clothing! On the first morning's hunt 
you hang your first deer, and it's the fir.st score of the 
party," were the words that greeted the youngest mem- 
ber of our club. "Tell us all about it." 
"There's not much to tell. The truth is, I ought to 
have two. I was sneaking about the hemlock knolls 
northeast of camp, when I spied an object, white-like, 
and I thought it a rabbit or squirrel. Another glimpse 
proved it a doe. I drew and shot too quickly, cutting 
only the hair from her back. Then a shell stuck and 
saved that deer for some other fellow. Just then a 
spike buck passed, but stopped to look back, and I gave 
it to him in the neck." 
This was the beginning of a two weeks' hunt had in 
southwest Taylor county. Wis., opening Nov. r, 1897. 
the delights of which were enjoyed by the Badger Nim- 
rods, the major portion of whom hail from the vicinity 
of La Crosse Wis. 
The illustration gives the readers of the Forest and 
Stream a view of our camp, an ideal one for any lover 
of nature in its loveliest garb. 
The reader observes that our home is a primitive log 
cabin, scoop roof, with but a garden patch about it: 
but it is a veritable palace for a hunter. A vast sea of 
forest that tosses, rolls and lifts up its majestic voice 
as does any other ocean to the wind's touch immerses 
this little homestead. Giant hemlocks and maples sen- 
tinel it, and modest cedars that clasp the entire \^ear in 
a wreath of green smile upon it; and the men are but a 
tyj^ical lot of stalwart Westerners. Percy is that demure 
ydiung Hercules to the left of the door- — supple, stalwart, 
and a born woodsman. William Mc. is at the extreme 
left, and he is the senior of us all, not only in years, 
he has few superiors as a deer hunter. There were nine 
hunters, and ten deer were hung during our stay, all 
l)ucks, attesting' the wisdom of the \aw of this State mak- 
ing the open season the first twenty ddys m November. 
At this date in most se^isons the bucks arr- a>^tfr and the 
docs are hiding. 
Herewith is a list of tln_' |)crsiMis and dales of each 
cajjture : 
Nov. I, Percy Mc, a spike buck in the morning. 
Nov. 3, William MC. a fawn buck in the evening. 
Nov. 4. George B., a spike buck in *. vening 
Nov, 5, Billy H., aged buck in morning. 
Nov. 5. W. C. G., aged buck in evening. 
Nov. 8, Percy Mc, a fawn buck, afternoon. 
Nqv, 8, W. C. G., aged buck in morning. 
Nov. II, Billy H., spike buck in morning. 
Nov, T3, Alex J., aged buck, afternoon. 
Nov. 13, Alex J., aged buck, afternoon. 
Of these ten. our party of seven killed 7, three killing 
2 each, one killing i and three scoring a miss. No, not 
a miss, for both J. K, J. and E. S. fatally wounded one, 
but the extreme dryness of the Season made tracing a 
wounded deer next to impossible; but this is often tlie 
saddest experience of still-hunting deer. 
If the readers please, and the editor permits, we will 
have these hunters tell the story of each capture, follow- 
ing the order of dates above given. These talcs of the 
wood are given just as they were told as we grouped 
around the stove after the day's hunt was over. A ko- 
dak's snap shot at this moment would reveal nine men 
in all the perfect unreserve of a hunters' camp. Some 
arc prone upon the two double story bunks that nestle 
in two corners of the room. Others are in a semi- 
circle around the fire. Blue swirls of smoke rise from 
pipes and cigars, and gocxl cheer and sweet content 
brood over all. Percy has told of the fir.st killing. 
Jhe veteran, William Mc, said: "S. was with me 
this evening, and we took a stand not far apart, some 
two miles northwest. At almost dusk a deer came in 
view. I waited until I had a bead on its middle, and 
fired; and as it ran I again shot. Soon S.'s gun spoke, 
and he called saying he had knocked it down. We went 
to the spot, but the deer was up and gone. It was too 
dark to trace it, but after much vain searching we found 
it the next morning, with but one ball hole, and that 
through its entrails." 
George B. said: "T killed a spike buck last evening 
when it was so dark I couldn't see a sight. Guess he'd 
run over me if I hadn't stopped him. I was watching 
from a high log west of the 'old chopping,' when 1 
saw. him skipping and pumping as if in a frolic. In his 
funny business he canie my way, and as I halted him 
and fired he ran back like a streak. This morning I 
found him ten rods off, shot square in the breast." 
Billy was next. "1 was standing on a knoll to the 
north this morning," said he, "when I saw an old buck 
strutting along as proud as a turkey cock, and coming 
almost on a line to me. At the proper time I called 
a halt, drawing on his shoulder. As tlie gun spoke he 
dashed away, but I knew he had hjs medicine, and found 
him only a few rods awaj'." 
W. C. G. said: "As you know, I've been a setter dur- 
ing this hunt. Elevated logs and stumps have been my 
of my dead deer and sat under the shadows of dense 
hemlocks, watching _ a runway, when I saw the gleam 
of horns, Then glimpses of a form were seen as it 
passed thickly set trees. It would step a few strides, 
then take a dozen steps to stop again, meanwhile crouch- 
ing low and stretching its neck to the front. Impatiently 
I waited for it to reach an opening. As it did so, I said 
'stop!' in a quick, sharp vOite, my gun already on his 
breast. In the instant that long, lank thing was trans- 
fonned. Head aloft, nostrils diliited, every inusfcle at a 
tension, he sceined to swell to twice his former size. BUt 
the Winchester's voice rang out, and the f-oyal game 
sank down, struck fairly in the front breast.*' 
On the Tith the entire party joined in a "drive," and 
although five had shots, and two were badly wounded, 
one by E. S-. and another by Percy, Billy was the lucky 
one. "I was driving, as you know, and didn't expect 
to score a hit, but as I came over the last hill I caught 
sight of a fawn. 1 could see only his head and neck, but 
that was a plenty, and when my gun spoke I saw him 
double up and I knew it was my meat." 
On the 13th Alex J. covered himself with that halo of 
glory that envelops the hunter who wins. He came 
into camp as we were at dinner, his face aglow, "I've 
got them this time. One's down and a big buck 
wounded. I've come for help to track him," he said, 
as he washed his bloody hands. "This has been a great 
day with me. Why, I've shot away every shell, and 
when they were all gone a big doe at which I had sent 
several of my last shells turned into an open logway 
and ran straight from me for ten rods or more. If S. 
and George B. will go with me, that buck is mine. I 
was in that park west of the old camp when I downed 
a nice spike buck, my shot striking him through the 
back. As I came up to him I heard another running 
just over the slope. By a quick run I came in sight of 
a big buck and shot twice. On his trail I found blood, 
and it was while I was tracing him that the doe tempted 
me to empty my Marlin. Oh, this has been my day," 
The boys accompanied him, struck the trail, George B. 
swinging around in advance to stop him if he broke 
cover. As they expected, he was yet able to run, but 
George shot twice, the first cutting hair across his throat 
and the second breaking his back, and the largest buck 
killed by our party was laid low. 
Wisconsin's fish and game preserves have a national, 
if not an international, reputation. Many hunters assert 
that deer are as abundant in northern Wisconsin at this 
time as they have been for twenty years. Certainly 
they are yet sufticiently plentiful to satisfy any reason- 
able demand. This noble game is found north of a line 
bounded on the south by the main St. Paul line of the 
C, M. & St. P. Railway, and extending north to Lake 
Superior, excepting towns and settlements immediately 
along the lines of railways. All over this large area im- 
mense tracts of pine trees have been cut and removed, 
and in their stead a thick growth of vines, briers and 
every variety of small trees have sprung up. This gives 
a covert and fortress unexcelled for protection to this 
beautiful and wary creature. Added to this, our present 
excellent law, limiting the killing to two for a person; 
requiring each deer or part of deer to bear a coupon; 
requiring all hunters to obtain a license, non-residents 
haying to pay a fee of $25; with many excellent prohi- 
bitions, such as hounding, night shooting, shooting in 
water, etc., we believe that this State will continue to be 
for many years one of the first States in the nation as 
a deer preserve and hunting ground. W. C. Gerard. 
THE CAM.P AND THE CAMPERS. 
but in successful deer hunting. See his sturdy frame 
and eagle eye! E. S., an ex-Union soldier, is one of 
the most enthusiastic and successful hunters in the 
State. He was too ill to leave the campt except for a 
few days. Billy Horton stands in the doorway. Every 
one in all this region knows Billy. He is not only such 
a cook as can give a razor-edge to any appetite, but 
he is a hunter and guide of the highest type. To his 
left is George L. He is a superior shot, but lacks ex- 
perience- as a woodsman, and was not in good health. 
J. K. J. — does he not look his love of the wo&ds? He 
and his brother, Alex J., are adepts with both rod and 
gun, and are in touch with every interest of the craft. 
The latter does not appear in the picture, being the 
artist. But for him an expectant world would not have 
been blest by a sight of these Nimrods. Next in order 
is W. C. G., also an ex-Union soldier, and a long-time 
hunter, whose love of nature is innate and inordinate. 
.The last in the circle is Billy's partner, George B. A 
deer has little chance, running, standing or asleep, if he 
sights it. With the stealth and endurance of an Indian, 
boon companions. On the afternoon of the 5th I was 
tenderly caressing a lofty log from 3 P. M. until almost 
5 P. M,, when a deer's body — its middle part — was seen. 
To shoot it through the center meant a fatal wound, 
but I might never trace it. I must try breaking its back. 
At the gun's report the deer dropped, and my aim was 
true. As I approached I saw it was a buck, and the 
heroic fellow, though paralyzed from the center of his 
body backward, tried again and again to charge upon 
me, A second shot cut short his courage and his life." 
Percy's second kill was thus: "I was hunting with 
Uncle W^ill along the bottoms of Otter Creek, when I 
shot at a fawn and knocked it down. It jumped to its 
feet as I went up to it, and I fired again, l3Ut it got out 
of sight. While I was on its track Uncle, from a high 
bank, spied it lying in the creek bottom at the edge 
of the water, and gave it another shot. I found it struck 
by three balls, any one of which would have killed it in 
a short time," 
On that same morning, the 8th, W. C. G. killed his 
buck. He said: "I was prowling about in the vicinity 
The Cuvier Club. 
CiNciNN.\Ti, O., March 15. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
The Cuvier Club has a royal ambition to extend its field 
of usefulness; in fact it desires to push ahead and make 
new conquests. It wants to materially improve every 
department it has, so as to make the organization of 
still greater credit to the city. 
It especially aims to make it educational to an eminent 
degree, for the benefit of the public and the public 
schools. It therefore, among other things, wants many 
rare additions to its museum, the same to its library, 
and a more thorough protection to fish and game, both 
legal and otherwise. 
The Cuvier Club was organized some twenty-five years 
ago, and since then it has so rapidly advanced in the 
promulgation of its principles that it is now looked upon 
as a public institution as "well as a public necessit;j\ and ■ 
is really one of the attractions of the city to visitors 
from abroad. 
To show how the principle of protection to fish and 
game— its leading feature— attracted the attention and' 
support of the publics we have only to look at its mem-' 
bership then and now. Then it had but ten members, 
all ardent disciples of rod and gun; now it has over 300, 
and is composed not only of those who love the sports 
of field and stream, but of those in all walks of life — in 
fact, the very best representative men of our city. 
The causes which led to the success of the club are: 
The preservation of fish and game from certain anni- 
hilation by the thoughtless and mercenary, in the in- 
terest of the food supply of future generations, and to 
afford healthy, pleasure-giving recreation; the collection 
of a museum of natural history, that shall be the means 
of education to many and an additional attraction to the 
city. Although our platform embraces only the above, 
we find that forest preservation and the propagation of 
fish and game are so interwoven with it that we are ever 
ready to give a helping hand to their advancement. 
The social organization is of such high character and 
excellence as to commend itself to every respectable 
member of the community. While it opens up a pleasant 
place of resort for the members, it has studiously been 
kept free from all that can be objectionable to any, 
Avith no bar or restaurant attached, no card-playing for 
any kind of stakes, nothing that demands any expenditure 
of money beyond the nominal annual dues of $10; so 
that a person in most moderate circumstances can en- 
joy its privileges and feel himself on a level with the 
wealthiest. 
The most prominent feature in its social life is its 
annual banquet, which in its gastronomic specialty is 
acknowledged by the daintiest epicures and most notable 
chefs to be the most recherche game dinner that could 
