80 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. 17, 1903. 
Charley had rustled for bread up at Star Lake, but suc- 
ceeded only in getting four loaves. They explained that 
there were so many hunters calling for bread that they 
were cleaned out. What Charley succeeded in finding 
was at a private house, and was all they had, the lady 
remarking tliat she could bake warm bread for supper. 
(Respectfully submitted to the consideration of Mr. Carle- 
ton, Game Commissioner, Maine, U. S. A.) 
Charley was pretty tired and had contracted a 'head- 
ache which staid with him, and kept him in camp the 
following forenoon. He had left a letter for one of two 
men from Minocqua, who were occupying a shack on 
the road near where he killed his buck the day before, 
and brought a letter to George that belonged to the other 
party, so George started on this Wednesday morning to 
exchange the letter, intending to then swing to the west 
and south, then east to camp. I agreed to go out west to 
where he had lost the buck and stand guard until he 
came. He directed me to a blind or lookout that he had 
arranged the afternoon before and we set out. I found 
his crow's nest without any difficulty, but was afraid of 
the twigs that intervened between me and the runways, 
so left it and took a position further out on the north- 
west corner of the tiat elevation I was on, which here 
dropped off both to the west and north, with an exten- 
sive swamp on the west and the one out of which I had 
driven the three deer, lying northeast, and leaving a neck 
of dry land between. This neck formed the southern 
terminus of a patch of pine that had been cut last year, 
the brown tops of which lay where they fell. 
Deer that were driven from southwest or north were 
nearly certain to pass between these two swamps, as 
trails indicated which I had investigated the day pre- 
vious. So I took a stand on an old root and faced to 
the north in the hope that George or some other hunter 
would drive a deer my way. But mark you, I left my 
glasses in my pocket. There was a raw, brisk wind 
from the southwest and in ten minutes I was chilly. That 
would not do. A shivering man cannot shoot, so I set 
my gun down, took my tomahawk from my belt, hurried 
and cut two evergreens and stood them among the roots 
south of me. I knew a deer might show up at any mo- 
ment, and kept my gun in front of me as I reached up 
to twine a couple of limbs together to keep the trees 
from falling down. I was facing to the south with my 
hands among the branches when like a streak a doe 
dashed across in front followed by a buck. As my hands 
dropped to my gun standing in front of me and brought 
it to my face the buck came opposite, saw the movement 
and stopped. The doe had passed on. When my gun 
spoke that time it told a different story, for the buck, 
a handsome S-point, turned, ran a few jumps, stopped a 
couple of seconds and fell over. I dressed him, went to 
the foot of the hill, washed my hands and returned to 
my stand. These two deer had come from the south- 
west, so I faced to the north, knowing that George would 
show up from that direction, and might bring something 
before him. I don't think I had waited more than 15 
minutes when off to the northwest along a runway that 
skirted the big swamp on the west, came two larger 
deer, a doe and a buck, at break-neck speed. It was a 
game of hide and seek, and instead of coming on around 
the swamp and near me, the doe led off eastward through 
the tree tops. I shouted to them without attracting their 
attention, so opened fire on the buck, he being in more 
open ground. Just after my second shot the doe dis- 
appeared behind a large root that was the beginning of 
sufficient cover to hide her from further view. At least 
I was so busy with the buck that I didn't see her again. 
But the buck's curiosity got the better of him, and he 
stopped short within a few steps of the old root. Again 
my old .38-40 spoke and the buck walked about 10 feet 
and fell. He was a lo-point. I dressed him, then went 
back to my stand and waited for George. He came 
presently, walked right on to the last buck, looked at the 
number on the license coupon, then looked up on the 
hill for me, for he knew my number. But when I walked 
him up to the other one he was no less surprised than 
pleased, and he volunteered to remain on guard while I 
went for Charley. It took us till late noon to get them 
to the creek across from camp. 
This was the first time I ever helped to drag deer on 
the bare ground and I think it will be the last time. In 
my haste I forgot to take either nails or enough rope 
from camp. A supply of either would have enabled us 
to make a litter. One man at each end of a litter properly 
constructed, will carry a deer carcass faster and easier 
than it can be handled in any other manner I know of. 
After dinner George and T set to work and constructed 
a raft from some partially rain-soaked poles that lay 
back of our tent with an upper deck of dry pine. We 
had some doubt about this raft floating, but when com- 
pleted George got a push pole, and together we worked 
the raft iiWo the water by rising round sticks of fire- 
wood as rollers. Then I got a couple of trunk ropes, 
crossed the creek on the foot log and watched George 
battling with the current. Those soggy poles sank below 
the surface and grounded some 10 feet from shore, so I 
pitched George one end of the rope and he tied it to the 
stern of the raft, and with my pulling from shore and 
his pushing with his pole we got the raft near enough 
to dry land to load a deer on to it. Then George coiled 
the rope on the raft with a green cudgel tied fast to one 
end, so that if the current was too strong for him, he 
could throw one end of the rope to me on shore; and 
poled his raft quartering up stream. I was at the landing 
place by the time he was in mid-stream, and as the strug- 
gle with the current looked like an uneven one in favor 
of the stream, persuaded George to shy the club' at me. 
He acknowledged after landing that it was doubtful if 
he could have made it without my help. Then we made 
another trip for the larger buck, and this time the raft 
came very near spilling both the deer and George in 
mid-stream. We got them over, however, without wet- 
ting the meat and hung them up. We were just about 
tixkered out, and my right knee made a nervous kick, 
that called for a rest. Charley was out looking for his 
other deer, but didn't find it. 
Thursday, the twentieth, broke foggy. George and 
Charley went west but returned at noon empty handed. 
1 did the kitchen work, get wood in, took some notes and 
rested. Misery had as usual found a fold in the bed 
cover and crawled in. During all my bad luck I had 
kept a weather eye on that piece of a cat, and George's 
old umbrella. It was my first experience in a hunting 
camp with either an umbrella or a cat, much less a cat 
like that, and while I did not want to think that mis- 
fortune could be brought or sent into camp through any 
such mediums, I had occasionally made some sugges- 
tions to George for the purpose of finding out what he 
thought about it. But George didn't seem to have an 
opinion about it, and I let it go at that. 
Now, it was different. I called to Misery, and heard 
a plaintive "me-ow," then as the fog lifted I was tempted 
to go out though I had my legal number of deer. But 
T had traded one of them to George for one he was to 
kill, and then I was entitled to a lot of birds, so got my 
gun and went east as far as Brown's Cabin, then came 
back west along the shore of the lake to the mouth of 
the creek, cut a pole and tried to catch some of the "20 
pounds of fish, or two such fish," as the Wisconsin law 
puts it, that I was entitled to bring home. But I got no 
strike and was not disappointed either. There were fresh 
deer tracks in the sand, and it struck me like a brick to 
think that no matter what opportunity might come to me 
I could not legally kill another deer in Wisconsin for a 
whole year, though only one-half the open season had 
pa.ssed, and we had only one-half our legal quota of deer. 
While coming back to camp through the thicket I heard 
something whistle in a patch of green timber half waj' 
between the mouth of the creek and camp. Charley was 
west of the timber and heard the whistling too. We 
both thought it a hunter whistling to a companion. What- 
ever made the noise moved about and finally quit sound- 
ing its peculiar note. The sound was clear, distinct, and 
in every particular like that of a human being whistling, 
hut it must have been an animal. It was neither human 
nor bird or we would have seen it. The note would start 
about G on the treble clef, fall a couple of degrees then 
slur upward. Then again it would end with the falling 
inflection, but within about the same compass, and with 
the same clear, flute-like tone. I would like to know 
what it was that did the whistling. Just before reaching 
camp a flock of mallards went overhead, but I did not 
get one. This was a very foggy day. 
By Friday, the twenty-first, the wind was so chilly that 
I froze in with three pair socks, two pairs Irawers, four 
shirt.s, one vest, one coat, hat and gloves on. I put on 
another vest and coat and tried it again, but got chilled 
and came to camp. Then along about 10 o'clock the 
clouds broke up, and the sun peeped through. Charley 
and George were out, and I had to look after the deer 
hearts that were boilitig. I had relieved myself of the 
extra clothing except the third shirt and other things to 
correspond and was ready to tackle something. We just 
couldn't be still up here. George even kicked in his 
sleep, though he declared he never dreamed. George 
had brought up one large pole, and four small white 
birch poles, then gone hunting, so I went out, picked up 
his double bitted ax and fell on to. those pretty- white 
poles. Now, I don't like an ax that cuts both a comin' 
and a-goin', but the poles tempted me and it wasn't long 
until they were piled up inside the tent. 
I was a little afraid George would be disappointed, but 
when he came in he simply laid off his hunting traps 
and coat, got his cross-cut saw and cut up the large pole, 
carried it in, then set to frying mush for dinner. After 
dinner I walked out to Sayner post-office. The afternoon 
was pleasant but with evening came wind, and it howled 
and shook our tent all night. From this on to our 
breaking camp on the 29th the programme, though varied, 
was in no sense sensational. The deer had all left except 
a doe and two fawns and they covered so large a terri- 
tory that we failed to connect with them. I got a couple 
of running shots in an effort to help George out, but 
failed to score. 
Thanksgiving was a blue, cold, windy day. Charley 
said we would start for home the next day. That settled 
it, and Friday morning I went out to Sayner for a team, 
walked back to camp by 11 A. M., packed up and was 
ready for the wagon at 1.30 P. M. We took train at 
4.16 P. M., got to Chicago 7.20 A. M. Saturday instead 
of 7; missed connection with train for Ft. Wayne and 
arrived home Sunday morning instead of 2.17 P. M. 
Saturday. We brought our deer home, and for that 
privilege alone, we vote this the most pleasant, albeit the 
most expensive one of our hunting trips. 
We had no snow, all our trailing being done on barren 
ground or on leaves, consequently we may have killed 
(by mortally wounding) more than our legal number of 
deer. A department warden c id call on us but found 
everything straight. The same day he found two hounds 
at another camp, and as the hunters denied ownership he 
shot a black one and took a white one prisoner. 
G. W. Cunningham. 
Portland, Ind. 
Taking Aim, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In investigating some matters wherein sight plays an 
important part, I am led to think that possibly informa- 
tion as to how marksmen succeed in hitting the mark, 
may help me to some light. We know that the boy 
throwing a stone, or "slinging" one, can attain a very 
f?ir degree of accuracy without taking aim. Also that an 
archer does not, and cannot, take aim. The same in the 
case of revolver shooting from the pocket, or gun shoot- 
ing from the hip, or in hitting balls thrown in the air, 
the marksman being blindfolded (in this case, the ball 
i? first thrown up scA'eral times with the shooter's eyes 
open, and the word "up" being given at time of throw- 
ing). Now in most of these performances, the object is 
still and a sense of direction plays the principal part (at 
least, as I understand the performances). But how is it 
in quick shooting at moving game, where anything like 
deliberate sighting would seem impossible? Does the 
marksman actually bring the sights of his gun to bear on 
the object, as in shooting with time? Or does he just 
shoot by a sort of unconsciousness? The point interest- 
ing me is: Is there the same unconscious "feeling it" 
in the case of shooting at a moving object that there is at 
a fixed one? The application is whether there is an 
ability to detect motion, distinct from actually _ seeing 
objects. Any information on the above matters will be a 
great favor to W. Wade. 
O»KM0l<fr, Pa., Jan. 7, 
Stray Items from Maine. 
The regular hunting season being over, our sportsmen 
are turning their attention to the unprotected rabbit or 
fishing through the ice. There is also a little fox hunt- 
ing going on, but owing to the sc?.rcity of reynard's num- 
bers, as a consequence of the deadly work of the trappers, 
there are now but few followers of this sport, which a 
decade ago was in great favor here. Some very good 
catches of pickerel have been made, a fellow-townsman 
who has been teaching school in the town of Naples, 
nearby, informing me that an old hunter and trapper of 
that town recently showed him a big catch of these fish, 
including two specimens that weighed just 5 pounds 
e?ch. Many are looking ahead to the open time on trout, 
for there are several ponds which can be depended upon 
to yield quite a number of the speckled beauties annually 
to those persistent anglers who are willing to do a great 
deal of fishing in proportion to the number of their catch. 
Squirrels were plentify in season, and many good bags 
were made. Woodcock were in fair numbers; grouse 
very scarce. Why not stop the shooting of grouse en- 
tirely in New England for at least five years? 
Deer gave us better sport than ever before. True, not 
many w^ere killed, but there were enough lurking about 
at all times, so that by simply stepping across the river 
(Ossipee) into Oxford county one was pretty sure of 
finding sufficient "sign"_ to keep him in a delightful state 
of expectan.cy, if nothing more. Six deer were killed 
near here by residents of this town; two by G. W. 
Adams, one each by Erskine Watson and Arthur Colcord, 
two by Winfred Aver. The last-named had phenomenal 
luck with them. He began rising at light, and hunting 
in the early morning before going to his work. About 
the third morning, just after crossing the bridge into 
Oxford county, he saw a fine doe coming towards him, 
but the sound of an approaching team frightened it away. 
I'ollowing after it, upon coming to an old orchard he 
jumped a big buck. -This he brought down the first shot, 
but as he rushed up to it to cut its throat, carelessly drop- 
ping his rifle, the big fellow sprang to his feet and made 
into the woods. Greatly crestfallen. Win was followins; 
the trail by the occasional blood spots when he started 
a doe, which he promptly downed to stay. All this hap- 
pening in less than an hour after leaving his home. A 
few days later Win came upon a big buck in a dense 
growth of small stuff. He began pumping away at him 
as he ran, until, with the sixth shot, he was chagrined to 
find that his magazine was empty. He had seen the buck 
waver at the last shot, but he was without cartridges and 
he struck out for the village to procure some. There he 
induced another sportsman, E. L. Watson, to return with 
him. They had separated but a few minutes when Mr. 
Watson shot a doe, and the sound of the shot alarming 
the wounded buck it ran right on to Win, who finished it. 
Two more of our hunters, Daniel Chaplin and Jesse 
Irish, visited the country above Moosehead, each getting 
his two deer. W. H. Hatch, a former resident of this 
place, but now living in Fryeburg, who also visited the 
North woods, sent two deer and a bear here to a licensed 
dealer, the deer being killed by his wife, who accom- 
panied him into the wilderness. Next fall the law comes 
off in our own county (York), and we are all making 
great reckoning on the increased opportunities this should 
open up to us. How we fare I may tell you in some 
future number. Templar. 
Co^N'SH, Me. 
The Bears of Old Baldy. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Captain Flynn's account of "The Bears on Old Baldy" 
in the current number recalls to me the time that I 
climbed Baldy in August, 1875. 
Our troop of cavalry was in camp then at the foot of 
Old Baldy for several days, and I concluded to see what 
w-as on top of the mountain, and starting one day at nooii 
1 followed that old trail over which Captain Flynn after- 
wards took his wagon, and when up near the head of the 
trail I was met by one of those bears; they Were then 
there and may be still there yet. 
This one had been up the mountain, and he saw me 
before I saw him, and as he did not need all this country 
it seemed he started off to leave me what part of it I 
needed. 
I cut loose on him at about 300 yards with a Springfield 
carbine. I might as well have had a Flobert rifle, though, 
for all the harm I could do him with this gun. I had 
a good Marlin rifle at the fort, but the Captain I was 
serving under now would not let me use it. "That would 
not be according to the regulations, sir." These regula- 
tions can cover a great many subjects if you only know 
enough, or sometimes not enough, about thern. I man- 
aged to get a number of shots at the bear while he k-'pt 
up his retreat, some of them at least hit him, and at last 
he stopped, some 600 yards away. I was in hope that he 
had made up his mind now to come and tell me that he 
did not intend to give me all of western Texas and part 
of New Mexico as my share of the country; then if that 
was what he meant to do, I could do my explaining with 
a Colts pistol when he had got far enough back here. I 
had two Colts here, one of them was outside of the i-egu- 
lations, also; it was my own; but this captain let me carry 
it with the understanding that I must mj'self pay for the 
cartridges 1 shot out of it, if I did not use it injudiciously. 
Those I paid for, though, never bankrupted me, not as 
long as I could go to the First Regiment's room and help 
myself to thejn ; the Captain did not know that, though. 
The bear had only stopped to examine where I had hit 
him last; at least that is what he seemed to be doing, and 
while he was doing it I hit him again ; that was the last 
time I hit him, too; he slid down behind a small ridge he 
had been on top of and when I had got to it he was no 
longer in sight, and I let him go now. 
He and 1 had wasted so much time that it was too late 
to climb to the top of that mountain to-day, so I gave it 
up. I had started too late at it, anyhow, I saw now. I 
would know better next time. 
The second day after this I tried it again, taking only 
my pistols and a canteen of water. I had seen no water 
when up here the first day, but to-day I found a spring 
close to where I had met the bear. ■ I saw no bears and 
did not hunt for any and after a hard climb got to the 
