Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-11-30
In the Woods with the Hunters...No. 2.

EDITOR CHRONICLE;-Having been
in the woods two weeks and more we
are now preparing for our homeward
journey. It has been a fortnight Of
glorious sport, and an experience Of
forest life that will be long remem-
bered by the members Of our party
Breathing this pure mountain air,
and walking, as we have done, an av-
erage Of ten miles day, up and down
these rugged hills, has given us an
appetite that would make dyspeptic
happy. We are in fine spirits and
well pleased with the result Of our
hunt-eight deer brought to bag, to
say nothing of the pheasants and
trout which have graeed our board
By the way, speaking Of trout, we
wish you could have stepped into our
cabin last Saturday, as you could
have helped dispose Of as fine a mess
Of trout as you ever set eyes on, which
were served up by our cook, who, suf-
fee it 70 say, is perfect SOyer by the
camp fire.
A few days after the hunt described
in the last letter, we were out again
for a drive. This time over on the
Toby, a branch Of the Clarion, s rapid
stream winding in and out among the
dark hemlOck hills, and affording
beautiful views in every direction,
such as would make an artist wish
for his canvass and eOlors. The re-
suit Of the days work was two deer
killed, while another driven in es-
capped by crossing the stream above
US. Old Sailor Boy one of our
hounds, who is as stRnnch on a deer
track as after a fox, brought 8 fine
buck over the hill near Mr.. Freemanis
station, and the breeehloader did ex-
cellent service dropping it in its tracks
before reaching the-river.
Another day at the same place a
hne buck escaped by going under a
bridge near where one of our party |
had his stand, and while the expect !
ant hunter was watching for his ap-
pearance below, doubled on its track |
aud slipped away through the tall /
weeds, thereby causing many a laugh /
Al the spOrtsman's expense, as we 4
wended our hOmeward way that eve
ming.
Perhaps it would be well here to
give the HlOdus operdRdi of "drivingD /
for the benefit Of the uRinitiated. 1t is I
based on the we'll known fact that 1
when a deer is followed by hounds he
invariably takes to the water to de- /
Etroy the treacherous scent left by his 1
footsteps Sometimes Immediately /
crossing the stream, and at Others, il
he has been running long, going
leaving it Five or six persons-the
more the better-fOrm a party for
drive, one being detailed to start the
game, takes the hounds, and making
q detOur of several miles among the
hills, lOosening dog on every recent
deer track which he crosses. When
the hounds are all out he makes his
way to the nearest point on the river.
The balance of the party scatter up
and down the stream At such places as
appear favorable, their line extending
several miles, and then await the
coming Of the game. Sometimes the
startled deer viii make direct for the
water, at others run for several hours
until finding il impossible to shake off
the well trained hound, he seeks the
river. Thus those at the stations
must be ever on the watch, for they
know not at what moment the quarry
will be in sight.
Thus the time passed pleasantly by
with US. One day standing by some
runway on the beautiful river, the
next threading the silent hemlock
Iorests watching for the wary game
shooting pheasants near
he cabin, or perhaps following
rapid trout brook through the un-
broken forest, climbing over fallen =
ogs, through tangled thiekets, or
1mping from rock TO rock along the
course Of the stream, tempting the
ipeckled beauties from their retreats.
Then when night
her sable mantle DER The sarth,''
We drew around the camp fire to list !
N to some exciting adventure of the !
I'D hunter, Otis Fitch, who is q per- !
iect NimrOd, and might have been the !
model for COoper's Leather Stocking. / !
Among things worthy Of note, dur !
ng our trip, / must not forget to men ,
ion the good fortune of the banker, :
who, after an arduous pursuit, shot a !
snipe, a rare bird in this re- I
zion. Then perhaps / had better not !
Iay anything about the buck which
nearly run over US in the road one I
when guns did not seem to :
De of much account. 7
On bidding adieu to this our wood
and home, which We hope to visit I
lgain, We must say, that we know Of I
40 place easier Of access TO our War 4
en- friends, who love a few weeks Of 8
crest life than this. and we hone to
nave the pleasure Of meeting some of
hem there another year. Yours. 4
BUCKEYE Boy. :