262 
FOREST AND STREAM 
on • 
The Sportsman's Show 
-AND- 
Outdoor Trap Shooting Tournament 
UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF 
Forest and Stream 
AT THE 
New Grand Central Palace, New York City 
March 5th to 14th, 1914 
This Show will be held in conjunction with 
THE THIRD ANNUAL 
Travel, Vacation and Sportsman’s Exhibition 
Organized and directed by 
The International Exposition Company of New York 
Transportation Lines, Chambers of Commerce, Hotel Associations, Resorts, 
Information Bureaus and Sportsmen’s Organizations, Manufacturers and 
Dealers Lave united in a co-operative effort to make this the greatest Sports¬ 
man’s and Travel show ever held in New York City. 
For detailed information, address 
W. J. GALLAGHER, Manager Sports nan’s Show 
New Grand Central Palace New York City 
PROPOSED FOX LAW- 
By Paul Brandreth. 
Regarding the proposed closed season on 
foxes, it seems hard to think that any woodsman 
of knowledge or repute should uphold such a 
measure. One could easily understand the pass¬ 
ing of a law to protect the species for a certain 
period of time in a fox-hunting territory that 
had been depleted of its supply by the hunt 
clubs; but to suggest the protection of vermin 
in a game country—taking, for instance the Adi¬ 
rondack wilderness—seems little less than ob- 
surd. 
To begin with, the fox is a predatory animal. 
Whenever he is abroad game suffers t in conse¬ 
quence. He is a prowler, thief and marauder; 
a menace to birds and beasts alike. Several 
foxes will, without any trouble in a deep snow, 
pull down and destroy a large deer. I recently 
heard of one which was found with both hams 
eaten out, and the flesh still warm. The follow¬ 
ing are notes taken from a journal kept on a 
hunting trip last fall: 
“October 21st. This morning in a snowstorm 
we stumbled on a fawn that was being tormented 
by a big red fox. The poor little creature was 
so taken up with its enemy that it paid no atten¬ 
tion to us at all. It stood near a log with its 
back arched like a cat, while the fox dodged 
about and snapped at its ears. I had two shots at 
the wretch, but owing to the driving snow and 
over-anxiety to spot him, I missed both times. 
They went off together through the woods. Ten 
or fifteen minutes later we came on them again, 
the fox still in deadly attendance on the deer. 
They were off some distance this time, but it 
was easy to see that the latter was distinctly 
rattled and bewildered. On seeing us they 
bounded off, the fox loping close alongside of 
its prospective prey. No doubt he will very 
soon succeed in getting the meal he is after.” 
“October 25. While hunting this afternoon 
D.— and Wallace came across a fawn that had 
evidently been injured by some animal, doubt¬ 
lessly a fox. It appeared to have a strip of skin' 
hanging from its head, and stumbled about 
blindly, once falling down. Wishing to put it 
out of its misery, they decided to shoot it, but 
just about this time it disappeared behind a 
screen of undergrowth and they did not see it 
again.” 
“October 29. A few days ago we came on a 
fawn which apparently had injured a hind leg. 
We attempted to follow it up and found drops 
of blood. There are no hunters in this locality 
except ourselves, so we right away gave up the 
idea that it had been shot. It was barely able to 
get over a log and acted as if the leg had been 
ham-strung. When we attempted to catch up 
with it, however, it made off at a fair speed. We 
have strong suspicions that a fox, or band of 
foxes, had been after it.” 
The three instances related above all occurred 
within a period of three weeks. If we chanced 
upon a trio of these forest tragedies, think how 
many must constantly have been taking place 
around us. Have you ever heard a fox get into 
a flock of partridges? Have you ever come upon 
a pile of tell-tale feathers in the woods? The fox 
has always been, and always will be, a bane and 
curse to game propagation. Let us therefore 
seek to destroy instead of endeavoring to pro¬ 
tect this slippery red rascal who creates yearly 
such havoc among game birds and animals. 
What we want are deer, partridges and the small 
fur-bearing mammals of the wilderness. We can 
well dispense with Reynard. 
CLUB ENCOURAGES REFORESTATION. 
Two thousand trees will be set out on a private 
estate near Gloversville, N. Y„ next spring,, ac¬ 
cording to a decision to that effect reached in a 
recent meeting of the Fulton county Fish and 
Game Club. The club will buy the trees from the 
state commission, and the owner of the land has 
agreed to allow it to be used as a game cover for 
many years. The club is active in encouraging 
reforestation and winter feeding. 
FEBRUARY. 
By Paul Brandreth. 
The vintage of the green-gold west 
Shines twixt the swart-limbed warrior trees; 
The river on its frozen breast 
Reflects the sunset’s crimson lees. 
Eastward the winter moon rides high 
A world of cool and silver foam 
That calls the stars into the sky 
And bids the twilight wanderer home. 
The winds are hushed, the night is cold, 
The earth lies white, and mute, and chill, 
And yet within her icy fold 
The sap-flood stirs, the dim woods thrill. 
O month besieged with snow and gales 
That o’er the ice fields wildly ring, 
Beyond thy storms the winter pales, 
Thy sunset flush foretells the Spring! 
