July 15, igpp.j 
FOniEST AND STR£^AM. 
4g 
the one member of the family who was still sleeping 
peacefully m order to secure more. I regretted that I 
]iad not used the shotgun and killed both skunks at one 
shot, for as things had turned out the family could not 
have been more thoroughly awakened. 
The ammunition provided was of a kind I never shoot 
i can get any other, as it leaves a residue that soon 
clogs a small caliber rifle. The first cartridge was a 
missfire. Withdrawing it from the gun left the bullet in 
the barrel. I bit the bullet out of another cartridge and 
pushed the shell in the barrel. The action would not 
'^uM^ '^'ose and the cartridge refused to explode. Mean- 
while, the skunk was making tlie most of its time, turning 
Its battery loose with the reckless prodigality of the 
Spanish sharpshooter, who is satisfied as long as he can 
•"ake a noise, whether he hits or not. 
I aimed at the skunk's head whenever it revolved into 
xir circle of light and pulled the trigger, but the gun 
vould not shoot. Tiring of this I lowered the rifle and 
napped the trigger. The very first time the hammer fell 
he cartridge went off, and by the irony of fate the 
|UlIet hit the skunk somewhere amidships and killed it. 
■The young lady at the window remarked in her usual 
tlthoritative way that it was a very good shot indeed, and 
received the compliment gracefully. In her next breath 
he stated that the skunk smell was "pretty strong," and 
s she is a connoisseur in perfumery I had to admit that 
er judgment was good. Bulletins from the scene of war 
^ere now called for from various quarters, and we re- 
.fed to announce the result. 
Foxes are not so -dangerous to the poultry yard as 
kunks and weasels, though they catch stray chickens 
•om time to time. They, too, seem to be unusually 
umerous this year. In the past months I have seen 
ight foxes, of which five were half grown. One, which 
shot with a rifle, had the partially digested remains of 
I adult partridge in its stomach. Night before last I 
eard an old vixen fox calling for a long time in the 
rchard near by. This is the third occasion recently in 
hich I have heard foxes call. The sound has a sug- 
iStive, wild quality that is quite fascinating. I can think 
; no fitting way to characterize it. The cry is some- 
hat suggestive of a deer's whistle, and there is also 
)mething of the gray squirrel's bark and the martin's 
tarl. 
There is a full crop of nuts this year,, and it ought to 
: a good squirrel year. ' J. B. B. 
§dni^ §Hg md §m. 
Tlie July number of the Game Laws in Brief and Woodcraft 
Magazine :s now ready. See advertisement of it. 
On the Platte River. 
Hogs as Fishermen and Hens as Moosers. 
Ramona, Kan., July /^.—Editor Forest and Stream: I 
(1 again up here near the old Santa Fe trail. The day 
IS been almost as quiet as a Sabbath in New England, 
It this evening, as I write, there is just enough of cele- 
■•ation to show that the spirit of Young America is the 
toe here that it is elsewhere. 
But it is not of such things that I started to write, but 
a new trait I have discovered in the Kansas hog. I 
lew he was, in his way, a keen hunter, for I have 
atched him in the shallow water turning over the stones 
f dobsons and such like, and digging for clams like a 
^m digger; and sometimes I have found it necessary to 
ep close watch of my string of fish when fishing where 
•gs are running loose. And now I have learned that they 
11 fish for themselves. 
u'^f^-T °^ ^^^^ ^^P' ^" the creeks and rivers, 
hile I was at Emporia one of my acquaintances set a 
"■ot line on a riffle in the Cottonwood River opposite 
e of these hog lots. Some big catfish weighing as high 
SOlbs. and over are caught in the river. One morning 
was unable at first to draw in his line, and he thought 
had hooked the biggest fish in the river; but after 
)rking until almost used up, he brought ashore a 1501b. 
g that had swallowed the fish and with it the hook 
ley were obliged to give up fishing there, as the hogs 
.rned to follow up the lines and take up the fish as far 
they would go. This is a true incident, and I have 
itten of It partly for the laugh there may be in it, and 
rtly to show what a ravenous brute the hog is. I am 
t mterested in any game preserve, but if I were I would 
)ner turn a drove of wolves loose in it than a bunch of 
rs, whether of German or American descent, 
vansas has continual surprises for me. One of them is 
"tt hens can catch mice. The mice are very plentiful 
'C, and I have known of several hens that have grown 
be as successful mousers as any old tabbv, taking up 
I using much the same tactics as the cats themselves. 
Pine Tree. 
Weight of Xhc Raccoon. 
;heldon, Vt., July 6.— If the other coon weights are all 
I will give mine. Mr. W. W. Macie, postmaster, store- 
per, trapper and fur dealer, of Sheldon Springs Vt 
ght.a coon that, after being knocked on the head and 
1, vveighed— not guessed at, but weighed— 49lbs. and 
writer bought a coon skin taken from a coon whose 
was guessed at as being even heavier than that 
ed by Mr. Macie. Our largest coons are found in 
dities where there are "coon dens" and but few acorns 
hickory nuts. Stanstead. 
The Rattlesnake's Venom* 
pSTON, Mass.— £ii7or Forest and Stream- The fol- 
ing positive assertion has been made, and I would be 
I to hear through your columns if it is true : That the 
of the rattlesnake is simply fatal, in the extreme 
.ning of the word, from late October till February 
s means that any person bitten in that time must die 
lout exception. Fked Skinner. 
One of the Charms. 
goes from me to my brother, who is an incomparable angler 
we both enjoy it very much. The chief charm of the paper 
r is that which belongs to a good history— it narrates in pleas- 
ashion actual facts, with but enough theory and imagination 
ve them from being dull, and with wit enough to "keep them 
^" „ A. S. W.. 
w Haven. 
e Forest akd Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday 
espondence intended for publication should reach ui at the 
t by Monday aod m much earlier aa practicable. 
Readers who have been there need not be told of 
tlie past glories of duck and goose shooting on the wide- 
llowmg Platte in Nebraska, but to those who have not 
hunted on the once famous river, a description of the 
stream, the country and the methods employed to bag 
the wary honkers may be interesting. 
The Platte is a shallow, wide stream from one-half mile 
to one mile wide in some places, and the bottom is entirely 
of sand. In late April and in May and June it rises or 
gets on a "boom," as it is generally called. Then the 
water is from 3 to 6ft. deep in all the main part of the 
river, and in the main channel from 10 to even 15ft in 
some particular places. A beautiful valley smooth and 
level as a floor stretches away for miles from both sides in 
some places, and m others only on one side, when the high 
bluffs come up to the bank. Beyond this level valley are 
the high sands, irregular lines of sand bluffs, and on the 
high table land beyond is the feeding grounds of the great 
army of geese and ducks that frequent the Platte every 
spring and sometimes in the fall. Geese and ducks are not 
as plentiful here now as years ago; while there are a 
good many birds here every favorable spring, there is not 
one to the fifty there used to be in years gone by Ten 
and fifteen years ago fifteen to twenty geese were a com- 
mon thing for one man to kill in one day, or even in a 
half-day s hunt. A friend claimed to have killed fifty-two 
geese one afternoon from 2 o'clock to sundown, and no 
one who knows the man or the numbers of birds doubts 
the claim. But these are past supplies, never to be seen on 
the 1 latte again. At the present time on stormy days if a 
hunter is m a good place, he may be able to bag in the 
course of a day ten, or maybe fifteen or twenty, geese and 
as many ducks. But these days and chances are indeed 
very rare. Very much oftener the hunter comes in with 
one goose and a few ducks, or if it be a bad day he 
comes m empty-handed. 
I live within one day's drive of the river, and in the 
spring a party of four or five go to the old Platte for a 
two or three weeks' hunt and a general good time. Land- 
ing at the river about 4 o'clock in the evening, after a good 
drive of thirty-five miles, we are made welcome by an old 
friend who lives about forty rods from the river; we put 
up our team and then commence to pitch tent, for we come 
prepared to camp out. While working around camp we 
see long strings of ducks and geese come sailing leisurely 
m from their feeding grounds out on the bluffs and in 
the valley, old-time memories are revived and we all 
work with a vim to get the tent up and banked and 
ditched around ; we carry hay to make our bed, and then 
get supper. When this is all done it is too late to do any 
shooting. Shells are gotten out, guns are examined, hunt- 
ing suits are laid out handy, and everything is put in 
readiness for an early start in the morning. While all 
this was going on, ducks and geese have been lighting in 
the river and several hundred geese are out on the sand- 
bars, making merry music for our ears. The musical 
honk-a-honk is heard after it gets dark, as some tardy 
members come m to their roost on the sandbars. 
We go to bed with the intention of having goose for din- 
ner next day if Dame Fortune shall see fit to send a flock 
our way. We all arise next morning before daylight, eat a 
hasty breakfast, don dead grass color suits and witli a 
dozen decoys each and a gun sallv forth, going out where 
we know w-liere they feed in a corn or wheat field. Arriv- 
ing at the field we dig a pit, place the loose dirt where it 
won t be conspicuous, then put out the decoys, and settle 
ourselves comfortably and await the coming of a flock 
ot honkers, or perhaps ducks. We are in sight of the 
rim, and pretty soon we see some rise up and start for the 
feeding grounds. We watch every movement made by 
the flock. They rise high up as they clear the river 
bank and head directly for us. We crouch low in the 
blind with guns m readiness, and goose call to our lips, 
ihey don t see the decoys, for it is not very light yet As 
hey come nearer they come down a trifle; yes, they see 
the decoys. The leader sets his wings and drops below 
the others, and they sail gracefully for the decoys. But 
alas they turn, about the time we are sure we have a 
shot, and by a graceful sweep go by to one side out of 
range, and light just back of us about 150yds 
However, we settle down as we see another flock get 
up out of the river. They go up and start out on the same 
line with the other flock. They head directly for the 
other flock on the ground behind me. and reassured by 
seeing the others there, they drop down within 40yds. of 
the ground, and come almost directly over me I rise 
with gun in hand four reports in quick succession, and 
three noble conadas fall to the ground; and one other 
starts, then rises and starts on. but one more shot and 
It'i^IT^ tumbling down to earth. The fun has started in 
earnest. 1 he geese come out m. small flocks and the euns 
are booming in every direction. In two hours the flight 
has ceased, and we gather up our geese and decoys and 
start for camp. We sum up at camp, four guns have 
sS ^^^^^ ^''^ "^"""^^ 
The next day the wind blows hard from the north, and 
snow IS falling m large flakes. It is cold ; but we start out 
to try our luck about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. We seoa- 
rate and take up position in the willow thickets that 
abound along the river bank. With the river on the north 
^Ifif' H^^'""^ grounds are a great deal closer on the 
south side, so contrary to their regular habits the birds 
come out with the wind, and come back flying low but 
not m any certain Ime of flight. We changed ^lacfs bu 
with no good results;, so I concluded to get in a good 
sheltered place and wait for some to come over, if fhad 
to wait all day. They flew on all sides, ducks and geese 
both, some barely clearing the ground. Just to the south 
of me was open ground for about 200yds., then a hi Jh 
bluff with some trees growing on the sides and riSfng abive 
the table land above. My patience was nearly exhausted 
when just behind these trees came a flock of mallardf I 
did not see thern till they rose to clear these trees. As 
I stood in a thick stand of willows they never saw 
me, but came on j.ust a little to my left about 40yds. high 
Ihey looked big and grand. I could distinguish all their 
fine colorings as they came closer. I rose up and made a 
double on two fine drakes that were nearest to me Hav- 
ing retrieved these, I had not long to wait before a lone 
pintail came along, and I had a fine shot at him Shoot- 
ing was good until dark. I bagged sevtnteen ducks a ad 
one brant. One of the other boys got sixteen ducks and 
the others all had a respectable bag of ducks 
We had another stormy day while on this trip, and 
these two days were my best, in fact the only days that we 
bagged very many ducks. We got geese almost every 
morning and evening, until our return home. 
Ducks don't seem to decoy on feeding grounds here but 
on some ponds of still water they decoy splendidly and 
good bags may be made on any decent day. 
Invisible. 
The Christian County Hunting Club 
In the Sunk Lands of Arkansas. 
sIn\hTluT^ "-^^ Christian County Hunting Club had 
seen that game was growing scarce and that the deer 
was fleeing before civilization and the woodcutter's axe 
om old ^'"'fiK ^^'■•^P^^^ look furXr frJm 
our old Kentucky hunting grounds. The hunting there 
was fast growing to be a thing of the past. The srfoke of 
he busy threshers and the locomotiVe as it shrTeks on 
canrL"*?Thf '^"'•'^d '^'^ ^™°ke of the 
camp-hre, the deer trails are now turnpikes; the virain 
^0!:ests are now fields of waving grain ^ 
We heard of the Sunk Lands, so we sent an advance 
courier to view the situation. In due time he returned and 
been'fold^'"?h?' ^'f^ '?Tl'' half had no1 
tin. • . P5 excitment of the club was great, and at 
the appointed time we met at J. S. Parrish's eleeant 
country home to spend the night before starting He is 
a prince of entertainers and makes you feel at once at 
aCV 'F'r^ ?Id Kentucky gentleman and that is 
about the best description I could give of him We 
were very busy that night overhauling the camp kggage 
getting ,t loaded into wagons, that we might make a 
ten-mile drive into Clarksville and there tak^ train 
for Memphis and then cross the FathS of Waters 
SouS Th? f d^'-ki^s^ we pulled 
n/.^^^ . ^.•^'^^"'P' canebrakes and wild woods in a 
northwest direction for about sixty miles, when we 
reached our destination. We pitched camp on a beau- 
iful point . on Little River, about two mS fmm where 
it empties into the St. Francis wnere 
Our party consisted of J. S. Parrish, J. R. White P 
Glass, T. B. Burk, J D. Ware, Ed. Drane, L McComb; 
Woil- w^lf' J- Candee, Chas. Tarrett 
Walker Williams and Geo. Mills J-^rrcn, 
We soon had the tents pitched, horses tethered out 
camp-fires lighted, and after a hearty supper enToyed as 
nran. ^""'"^ ^^^^ pipes' we laS 
plans for the morrow. A native who straggled into camp 
faS'our ^^r/r TT""'' that we felt it would 
equal our old Kentucky grounds in their palmy days 
The boys soon sought their couches, so as to rise early 
The camp-fires burned low, stillness came upon S 
the moon rose on a peaceful scene. ^ ' 
By the time^ I had killed several big bucks in mv 
fasf"¥hrdnT' for an early break- 
fed an/t^Hif S"''t ^ h"^^^°S fi^^ the horses, 
led and saddled, stood ready. The leaves glittered un- 
c£r' an'dTt.T' "t"'- ^h"rP and 
r ffl ' ^""^ crispness made the blood tingle 
saddle '"'^ '^^^ reddening the east we were in the 
We stood the boys along Little River and Cap White 
IS ^^'■"'h' veterans of the chase made 
the first drive to see what promise Arkansas could gfve 
They turned loose the dogs, which were as fine as evS 
gave tongue, and they were "bred in old Kentucky." The 
shivering standers were soon made happy by hearing the 
pack coming m fu 1 cry The pack had divided and had 
five deer flying before them. Very soon the guns began 
to play, and four deer were the result. That ended the 
first day's sport. The next, a few days later on the same 
ground, proved to be successful. J. S. Parrish was hfi? 
m great shape that day. He drew stand No. i which 
fZ7J T't''^^ Soon after the Igs were 
loosed they brought three deer in full flight to Parrish 
result On^ d^^*^ d^^'- were the 
resu t. One fell on the other. He slipped a shell in as 
Tut "I rT^l^ '"f ^ ^hot at the third Sue 
A blood trail showed the result of that shot. While fol- 
lowing the trail. the dogs brought the king buck of 
hir^ w'^ K° PT^'^i^r^"*^ to the occfsion, ga^e 
him both barrels. He ran till he dropped dead wi hin a 
fe^^ feet of the other two. When the assembly si Jnal was 
blown and the boys rode up and saw that pile of mea? 
veMZT tI h"^^ to blush^he famous 
rebel yell Three dead deer and the fourth badly hit in 
five minutes is an event that rarely comes to a hunter. 
}h^^^7^ declared that was enough for one day, and that 
the old man needed a toddy, anyhow, so we pulled into 
Wain Pa 
credit^^fin^i drive Ware and Burk each had to their 
credit a fine deer, and so it went on till almost everyone 
had venison. On another drive we heard Parrish shoot 
tour times in quick succession, and we all thought that 
another bunch of deer had tried to run over the old man 
We soon rode up and found that he had a fine buck 
times'"' "Wen "f ^^Pt\ h^^^d 
times Well, says he, "1 have not seen any deer like 
this buck in old Kentucky; I had to shoot hi rS fou^ 
times before he was willing to stop." The boys voted S 
keep the old man out of the woods, as he was too de^ 
structive to deer; but he got one mo're, anyhow 
The next day Henry Drane. who had never killed a 
vlZ'J!LT °" w^^t considered a dead sure stand! 
Pretty soon we heard Drane's gun go off-both barrels- 
and such a yelling was never heard. Parrish who was 
next to him, and thinking that Drane was n trouble 
E?r'.-/^'°^^? brush and bramble in hot haste t^ "end 
him aid, and found him executing a Siou.^ war dance 
