The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-06-11
DEER HUNTING IN FOREST COUNTY,
by ARNOLD BuReEs.


In these wilds the rife is the only
weapon used, and for game We have
deer, squirrels and pheasants. These
last ue do not kill on the wing, but
cut their heads off with ball as they
cit perched upon the trees, 10 which
they Immediately resort when flushed,
The principal sport is, as you may
imagine, deer hunting, and this is
practiced both by "still hunting" and
with dsgs. The latter, though un.
popular with the markethunters, is BY
far the most exciting, and for the ben.
eht Of your many readers, l will give
you hasty sketch Of one days work
early in December last. Our party,
consisting of Eve men had feur dogs,
crossed the river and started for the
mountains, early on the morning Of as
fine and clear winters day as could
be desired, our plan of operations be.
ing to place three men in stands at
points along the Allegheny river
where the deer would take to the wa.
ter, while the other two put the dogs
on. The deer had been very plenty
all the season, as tie fires in the woods
Of neighboring counties had driven
them to the river for shelter, and we
had every reason to anticipate good
sport. Mr.. A., Ned Il. and myself
were coon in position, and Charley,
With Dick and the dogs started up q
steep and narrow ravine which, with
many q sharp turn wound its way
Down the mountain side.
Fully half the morning had passed
without eur ears being greeted with
any sound that tsld Of our absent
eomrads, when suddenly faint and dim
in the distance, ths deep bay of
hound broke the stiffness. Three
times it came to us singly, then, as
with enc accord the others opened in
q way that assured u the game was
really on foot, and We caught up our
rifles and listened with fast throbbing
pulses to make out in which direction
the dogs we're running. Soon, howev.
er, we heard the sharp crack of rife,
and in few msnents all was silent,
showing that the ball had gone home,
and our 6rat deer was "wiped out."
Resuming our places we waited pa
tiently for nearly an hour, when the
dogs again challenged sharply, and
new came bearing steadily in our di-
rection. Nearer and nearer they
came, till we Id hear the crash Of
the brushwood as pursuers and pursued
tore their way through the laurel
thickets. Presently / caught a
glimpse Of q large doe as she jumped
= fallen tree, and raising my rife,
drew q quick bead and fred. A head.
long stumble Of the quarry assured me
that my shot had told, but gather.
ing herself she dashed ON for some
three hundred yards, when the dogs
pulled her down, and Fastening up /
drove them off and cut her throat.
With Nsd's help I sson brought her
down, to my stand, where we broke
her up and hung her to an sverhang
ing branch to drain. While we were
at work the dogs struck another trail
and followed it along the side of the
mountain, gradually bending upwards
till they crossed the ridge and passed
almost out of hearing.
1t was now fast approaching sunset,
and we had but little hope of getting
another shot, still We waited patiently,
knowing that if the dogs could turn
the deer he would make for the river.
For some time we listened in vain,
but at last we heard them coming
along the ridge, and in q few moments
rifie rang out, proving that Charley
or Dick was on the look out. Not
for that, however, did the deer stop.
but turning, came bounding down the
ravine, up which the boys had gone in
the morning. directly towards where
Ned stood with his Double rife cooked
and ready. From my stand Icould see
further up the ravine. though l was
not in . position to shoot till after the
deer had passed Ned. As l waited
saw the bushes shake, and from the
thick cover sprang q fine buck,
followed instantly by another equally
as large. Not daring to warn Ned,
and satisfied that he would do his
part l made ready to second him
should his shot fail, and waited, with
every nerve braced for the trying
moment. On came the bucks and
when scarcely forty yards away saw
Ned bring his rifle TO shoulder and q
puff of white smoke jet from its muz-
ale. Struck fairly in the chest the
leading buck fell, and as the other
with E terrified bound cleared his fal.
len comrade and turned towards the
msuntain, Ned gave him the second
barrel, and laid him kicking among
the bushes.
We we're soon jsined by Charley