410 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. 22, 1902. 
The Adirondack Deer. 
The deer hunting season in New York State, which 
opened on Sept. i and closed Saturdaj"-, Nov. 15, was, on 
the whole, a good one. The deer have been numerous 
and in fine condition, and hunters have been successful 
in obtaining a great many of them. There were probably 
more hunters who enjo3^ed the sport this year than ever 
before, and it was a fairly good season as to the condi- 
tions for hunting, although not an ideal one. During 
the early part of the hunting season and up to about 
Sept. ID, there were very many more deer kil]e;d in 
the Adirondacks than there ordinarily have been in the 
same period in preceding years. One reason for this was 
that the weather was favorable for the deer continuing 
to come down to the lakes, ponds and streams, as they are 
in the habit of doing in the summer months and the con- 
sequence was that many were killed by hunters Avho laid 
in ambush along the shores awaiting their appearance, or 
by others who in violation of the law hunted them after 
dark with the aid of artificial lights. The hunting acci- 
dents which occurred early in the season undoubtedly 
- saved the lives of many deer, for the reason that hun- 
- - dreds and probably thousands of hunters who, but for the 
fatalities and casualties, would have visited the wilderness 
in September and October, were prevented from doing so 
by the thought that they might share the same fate that 
others had at the hands of careless marksmen. 
So far as the conditions for hunting were concerned 
from Sept. 10 to Nov. i, they were better on the whole 
- than they were in the same period last year, for in spite 
of the fact that the woods were dry and noisy at times, 
there were more frequent rams this year and the condi- 
tions for still-hunting were more often favorable. Never- 
theless, there was comparatively little hunting done dur- 
ing this time, for even the guides and woodsmen became 
very cautious about prowling through the undergrowth 
while the leaves wei'e on and taking the chances of being 
mistaken for a deer. The result was that for several 
weeks after Sept. 10, there was a very marked decrease in 
the namber of deer killed. About Nov. i, however, 
hunters began to flock to the wilderness in great num- 
bers, and within a week there were more men in the 
Adirondacks in pursuit of deer than had ever been there 
before at one time. The leaves had all fallen from the 
deciduous trees and shrubbery by now, and hunters were 
not only able to see a deer further in the woods, but they 
believed that there was less risk of being shot at through 
mistake. During the first days of November, however, it 
was very dry in the woods, and it was almost impossible 
for a hunter to get around without making a great noise 
in the leaves, and thus giving the deer an early warning 
of his approach. Still-hunting was out of the question, 
and whenever a deer was killed it was ordinarily the 
result of go®d luck rather than skill, but in spite of this 
state of affairs, there were a good many deer shot. But 
rain finally came and the last ten days of the season were 
. as favorable for still-hunting as they possibly could be 
..without snow on the ground. The wilderness was over- 
run with hunters and the crack of the rifle and boom of 
tiie shotgun resounded among the mountains and through 
tiie valleys from morning till night. 
It is safe to assume that not more than one shot out of 
ten brought down a deer, and not more than one hunter 
in ten who visited the big woods killed his own venison, 
but notwithstanding these facts, there was a great 
slaughter. Although definite statistics are not yet obtain- 
able, it is believed that the aggregate number of deer 
killed in the Adirondack region this fall was fully as 
large as last year. 
It is an interesting fact that deer hunters are coming 
to exercise greater caution than ever before in regard 
to their shooting, most of them having established the 
rule never to fire at an object without knowing ab- 
solutely what they are shooting at. Quite a number of 
hunters and guides in different portions of the Adiron- 
dacks have set the fashion of wearing bright red hats, 
sweaters, shirts and occasionally full suits of red, in 
order to minimize the danger of their being mistaken for 
■ deer or bears. People who have made a study of the 
subject say that the wearing of red does not in the least 
diminish the probabilities of a hunter seeing game m 
the woods, but on the contrarv it may assist him for 
nearly all animals, deer especially, are greatly interested 
in the color and pause to gaze at it with the same curiosity 
that they watch a light at night. Certainly it seems a 
very wise precaution, and it is believed that if all hunters 
would adopt it the result would be to materially lessen 
the number of shooting casualties. 
According to reports which came in late in the season, 
there have been a good many violations of the game laws 
in the Adirondacks this fall, including sever&l instances 
where dogs have been used in hunting deer. In a number 
of cases the hunters who have thus broken the law have 
muzzled their dogs so that they were prevented from 
giving voice while following a deer, the idea being to 
reduce the chances of detection. It is a shrewd dodge, 
but one which the game officials will probably not be 
slow in getting on to. The dogging of deer was carried 
on very openly last fall but somewhat more caution 
seems to have been used this year. It is a practice which 
should certainly be stopped if the law is to be allowed 
to remain in force, for it is unjust to law-abiding hunters 
to permit such violations. It is extremely aggravatmg 
to a party of hunters who obey the law and fail to get a 
deer, to know that another party, whom there is good 
reason to suspect violated the law, although there may 
be no positive evidence of it, have killed their full quota 
of deer. Reports have also been received regarding the 
use of artificial lights in deer hunting, and of sa t licks 
placed in the woods to entice the deer to some locality 
where it would fall ah easy prey to the ambushed hunter. 
If the present force of State game protectors is not suffi- 
cient to insure the proper enforcement of the laws, then it 
should be augmented until it is equal to the ernergency. 
Although deer hunting has been permitted in Sullivan 
county during the past fifteen days for the first time m 
five years, and deer have been very abundant there, sorne 
of the hunters who reside in that county have beeen_ in 
the Adirondacks of late, giving as their reason for going 
such a distance from home that there were so many 
shooters from New York and elsewhere flocking into 
thair towns that they did not care to risk going into the 
woods there. If the hunters have been any busier in 
Sullivan cotinty during the past fortnight than they have 
in the Adirondacks, they must have stirred . things up 
pretty thoroughly. W. E. Wolcott. 
UticA, N. Y., Nov. 19. 
The Huntsman, 
The Maryland Season, 
Stockton, Worcester County, Md., Nov. 8.— The sum- 
mer has passed, and the long, lovely days of fall are with 
us — days when it is perfect happiness just to be alive. 
At one time it looked as if the summer would go by 
with no beach birds to our score ; all July we waited with 
iiot a bird ; the summer was cool and dry, with no water 
in the ponds, and no place for the birds to feed. Then 
August nearly passed, when at last there came a run of 
overflow tide, 'followed by heavy rains, and the yellow- 
Ifgs and dowitchers swarmed in like the famous locusts 
of Egjfpt. It made grand sport; day after day we piled 
them up, two and three hundred of a morning, until the 
flight was gone. These flights lasted far into October, 
sometimes resting only for a day, then again two or three 
days would be their stay; but after the first flight, which 
lasted two weeks, none were with us in numbers more 
than three days at a time. 
So far the fall has been very warm and pleasant, Avith 
few ducks on the shoals, except coots and shell ducks, 
which no one bothers. A heavy northeast dry storm has 
been blowing for several days, with a shifting to the 
north, and bluebills and redheads are coming in fast, the 
dark line of feeding beds are showing up nicely on the 
open shoals. This time last year the shooting was fine, 
but through the whole season everything, even our quail, 
appear to be from two to three weeks late. I am using 
both a double and a single battery this year; all my old 
patrons are much pleased with this, as two shooting to- 
gether make it far more companionable, with no long 
waits for turns. Where but two are in the partv they 
shoot from morning until night, every day they are here. 
In the single box one man can shoot all day. or two can 
take turns. We have plenty of grass feed on the shoals, 
and there is no reason why the fowl should not be with us 
in numbers exceeding last year's flight, which was the 
finest I ever saw here. 
Like all other localities I can hear from, we have more 
quail here than ever before, but with many coveys of 
very small birds. O. D. Foulks. 
Test of Maine Game Laws, 
A PECTT1.1AR phase of the Maine game law is emphasized 
by the case of Lloyd Foss. of Bingham, who is wanted by 
the Maine game Avardens on the charge of kilfing a bull 
nioo_=e out of season. Foss is to be brought into court 
and is due to receive a fine of from $500 to $1,000 or spend 
four months in jail. Foss makes no secret of killing the 
moose, but the case shows that the law affords protection 
to a fierce and rabid animal, but no protection to the tax- 
payer and resident of the State Avho. in self-defense, may 
kill a human being, but not an animal. ■ The Maine moose 
have been uglier than ever this year, and several in- 
cft'ensive loggers who were unarmed haA^e been treed by 
moose. Hunters have also met the same fate and haA^'e 
not dared to shoot, for the law has forbidden the shooting 
of moose out of season and the authorities haA'e refused to 
accept a plea of self-defense. A big ugly bull moose has 
been ranging OA'^er Somerset county and considerable 
trouble has been stirred up, which, through Mr. Foss. has 
at last reached the courts and promises to be one of the 
most interesting test cases that has CA^er been tried in the 
LTnited States. 
Lloyd Foss, AA'ho has a gang of men cutting his birch 
Avood for the spool mills at Somerset, A^^hile at Avork Avith 
his men putting out a forest fire. Avas attacked by this 
moose scA-eral Aveeks ago, and as a result the Avhole crowd 
had to seek the tree tops for coA'-er and protection. After 
.staying in their uncomfortable positions for seA^eral hours 
after dusk, Foss, who had a gun, shot the moose, and now 
a Avarrant has been issued for his arrest. Foss does not 
propose to pay either the Sr.ooo or the four months' jail 
penalty, and has engaged Waltnn 8z Walton, attorneys of 
SkoAA'hegan, to defend him at the next session. He con- 
tends that if it is laAvfuI to kill a human being in defense 
of one's life, it is also laAvful to kill a moose under like 
circumstances, and that if the State protects the game 
from the inhabitants it must also protect the inhabitants 
from the game. — Springfield Republican. 
West Vifgfinia Game. 
MoRGANTOWN, W. Va., Nov. 14. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: Game conditions are more unsatisfactory 
through this locality than perhaps they have ever been 
before. 
We have nO State laAV protecting rabbits and .squirrels 
at any time, and heretofore they haA^e been abundant, 
especially rabbits. Reports come in from every quarter 
that they never have been so scarce. As they are not 
migratory, there can only be one of two reasons for their 
scarcity — they have either died or been killed. The pre- 
vailing theory is that tliey haA^e been exterminated by the 
use of ferrets, as these are knoAAm to be kept in some 
numbers, but persons A\'ho would prosecute their oAvners 
cannot locate them. The chestnut crop here is fairly 
good, which should assure the usual crop of gray squir- 
rels, but they are missing. As they are migratory, and 
their location very uncertain, this Avould not seem strange. 
Birds are reported by local gunners to be very scarce, 
and they have hardly been rcAvarded for the fiA^e years' 
close time which recently went off quail. I recently saw 
a fine Avild turkey in the market here, Avhich had been 
killed by a local hunter. There are quite a number of 
these gsmy birds scattered through the mountains in 
this section, but their habitation is fast being destroyed. 
The cutting of timber is not now as it used to be. There 
was a time when only good saAv timber was cut, such as 
Avould make lumber, Avhich left a growth sufficient for the 
protection of all kinds of game, cA'en deer and bear; but 
not so now. Everything is cut, even down to three or 
four inches in diameter, and when the choppers are 
through it is indeed a barren waste, without any attrac- 
tions left for man or beast. 
Glenn Hunter, a young ni an from here, went to the 
southern part of the State in October for his first outing 
in big-game woods, and siicceeded in killing a deer. 
Emerson Cawtey, 
-Must have 
Fresh tracks By jove ! so glad I came- 
beea something large Hope I OA-^ertake it before the 
other fellows come up What's that? Certainly 
something moAnng there ! 
Thought I saAv something- 
A deer— — Steady, noAv— 
aim Pshaw! Avhere should I aim at? 
last year Oh, yes ! back of the fore quarter 
course How stupid of me 1 
—A crackling of brush- 
Yes,! did There it is 
Don't hurry— — Take good 
Guide told me 
Of 
If it would only take one 
step forAvard- Could get a better shot then Steady, 
noAA' Don't get excited There ! noAv is the time ! 
(Bang!) By joA-e! ran aAvay I'm sure I hit it 
Won't get far ^Yes, I hit it Here's blood It's 
Avounded Wonder Avho that man is What am I do- 
ing deer? Hunting deer, of course ! ^What's that? 
No deer AA'ithin a thousand miles of here? ^Well, by 
Jove! that's a good one ^Just shot a beauty Avithin 
a thousand feet ^It's left its trail behind it, too 
Come help track it doAvn It Avent this Avay Here's 
more blood Must^find it soon Couldn't get far • 
Badly Avounded — 
loAv Yes, I do- 
-Think I see it down in that little hol- 
-There it lies Bravo ! Hurrah ! 
1 got the first one Won't the other felloAvs be sore 
By Jove! it's a big one Looks a little funny 
Horns; but no branches on them What? ^What's 
that? An old brindle coav !- 
-Well, bv Jove! 
H. Malcolm. 
Woodcock and! Bass. 
West Haverstraw, Nov. 13. — In my note on flight of 
Avoodcock, etc., in your issue dated Nov. 15, "Labor- Day" 
should read "Election Day." 
There are also a number of errors in "Stray Notes on 
Fishing." Bass feed more freely, not fast more freely, 
as the temperature of the Avater rises. As the date Avas 
crnitted. the notes on condition of streams and trout taken 
last Aveek, are rather shocking. Please correct. 
Theodore Gordon. 
Hints and Wrinkles. 
Readers are Invited to send for pablication ttoder \his 
head hints and wfinfeles drawn from practical experience, 
and oertaJnlng to shootinf , fishing, camping and outdoor Ule. 
No, 5. — ^Waterprooffng Cotton Goods. 
Not a fcAv novices at camping, as Avell as old hands, 
fancy that only the heaviest canvas or duck is suitable for 
tents, Avhen as a matter of fact bleached muslin, treated 
in a simple manner, will turn water as Avell as a rubber 
blanket; A\^hile it is far lighter in Aveight and smaller in 
bulk than is duck. But as a general thing the lightest 
material Avhich is suitable for tents is drilling or some- 
thing like it, for heavy Avinds and constant wetting and 
drying are too much for the weaker goods. 
The paraffin AA^aferproofing process is simple. All one 
requires are, a varnish brush, some turpentine and a bit 
of paraffin. Dissolve the paraffin in the turpentine until 
the latter Avill carry no more, it being best to cut the Avax 
into small bits or shavings, so that it Avill dissolve rapidly. 
Stir often. A tent or an aAvning for a tent can be water- 
proofed Avhile it is in camp, but it should be set taut, to 
enable one to apply the brush properly. OtherAvise the 
goods may be spread on a clean board floor and treated. 
The solution is applied evenly OA'er the goods Avith the 
brush, then they are hung up in the sun to dry, Avhen they 
are ready for use. On khaki, canvas, or other broAvn 
goods, no change Avill be evident, only the goods will feel 
less pliable than before treatment. 
An old white duck tent, dj^ed Avith tAvo packages of 
diamond dye, color seal broAvn, then treated Avith paraffin, 
Avill fade but slightly on exposure to the sun, and should 
leak not at all. Canvas hunting coats can be rendered far 
more serviceable by treatment after this manner, and I 
think it Avas Frank T. Bullen, the talented author of that 
weird old sea yarn, "The Cruise of the Cachalot," Avho 
recently told, in one of the British sportsmen's papers, of 
treating an ordinary woolen top coat in this manner for 
Avear on damp days in his rambles afield. 
There are few articles in a permanent camp so useful as 
a fly, or aAvning. of whatever shape or size. One of these, 
if made of common muslin and treated Avith paraffin and 
turpentine, Avill turn water Avell, and be far less cumber- 
some to stow or transport than the canvas article. An 
aAvning of triangular shape can be set with less trouble 
than any other — as a shade or shelter for the tent or as an 
independent shelter for the camp table. It may be set in 
a dozen different Avays, with or Avithout poles, "if it has a 
grommet in each corner. The process of dyeing Avill co.st 
the princely sum of ten to thirty cents, according to 
size of goods. Perry D. Frazer. 
'^Do^own." 
A MOST interesting story of home life, with the dogs 
and their doings, in their humble capacity as companions, 
pets, guardians and friends, is "Dogtown," by Mabel Os- 
good Wright. The title page gives the key to the theme 
of the story, "DogtOAvn" being some chapters from the 
annals of the Waddles family, set doAvn in the language of 
home people. The author adheres to a normal and pleas- 
ing portraiture of happy home life, with its common- 
places and events set forth much as they actually happen 
in life with the dog associated as humble companion, pet, 
guardian and friend. It is pleasingly written, with good 
common sense treatment, conspicuous throughout. Most 
authors, in attempting a story in Avhich the dog takes a 
conspicuous part, deem it the proper course to utter some 
good round denunciation of mankind with a smart anti- 
thetical praise of the dog in the AA'ay of establishing the 
superiority of the latter, a favorite piece of mawkish senti- 
mentality being "The more I see of men, the better I like 
dogs." "DogtOAvn" treats of people and dogs in a whole- 
some way, with a pleasing story of the life of the dog as it 
relates to himself and as associated Avith family life, of in- 
terest from.'' cover to cover.. Published by the Ma;Cmill^u 
Cotnpany, " " " 
