Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-01-12
Hunting the Wild Boar in Connecticut.

wild boar hunting in Connecticut
said an old Windham County farmer
recently 10 your correspondent, I'll
something never expected TO see i'm my
day. Nevertheless. it is solid fact thai
cant be denied The farmers as,er
ton is true. The finest and most excit
ing sports in Windam County this fall
and winter has been hunting wild hogs
In the town of Ashford there is an exten
sive tract Of sterile land that is nearly al
q wilderness. Large forests cover the
lofty hills, and in the hollows are impass
able swamps, quagmires and dense
thickets. and along the hillsides rocky
caves. In this district live and breed
and are hunted the wild hogs.
How the hogs came there is question
but it is the general belief that they are
the offspring of a litter of pigs thai
-strayed away from the farm Of Mr.. Bos-
worth several Years ago. and became
wild. Their number now is variously
estimated at from fifty TO seventy-five
head; and at certain seasons they dc
much mischief, providing around the
farms and out-houses nj night and root.
ing up fields of crops. They have re-
turned to saragery.
They are described as long-bodied and
lean, covered with coarse, black bristles,
and are ferocious and formidable antag-
onists. Their tusks are long, sharp and
curved. They Turk in the coyerts OF
the woods, feeding on nuts and forest
twigs. and when disturbed rush out
with loud snort. and run with the
swiftness of the wind. They have long
since been voted common enemy. and
every hunter earns the gratitude of the
farmers by shooting them. The hunters
don't like 10 20 alone 10 meet the hogs.
but, weii-armcd with breech-loading
rifles, or guns loaded with buckshot. 20
IN strong parties.
About the middle of October was the
first hunt of this year. and several hogs
were killed after a fierce conflict. and
brought into the village of Ashford amid
great rejoicing. The carcasses were
completely perforated with buckshot.
Since then several other parties have
tried the sport, but in each case the
game was too wary 10 hazard battle or
too swift for the hunters. In one in
stance a big hog, with flaming eyes and
erect brisilcs, started up out of thicket
just ahead of the hunters and dashed of
IN full view Of the sportsmep, who were
TOO astonished TO shoot.
Last "Wednesday the most formidable
and elaborate hunting expedition of the
year set out from BROOKLYN, Windham
County. There were nine men, all
armed with breech-loading rifles. A
double wagon loaded with munitions of
war, and drawn by a pair of heavy
horses, conveyed them TO the field. A
small and lively domestic pig was car
ried along for decoy A drizzling rain
was falling, and the ground was Slip
perry. The party tramped all day
through the wet underbrush, going over
thirty miles. and got not glimpse of
wild hog. The domestic pig was a COM
piete failure as a decoy. 1t was intend
cd 10 take the youthful animal into
part Of the forest froguented by the hogs,
and 10 have one of the party secreted in
The bush press it to his breast. 1t was
that the pig would squeal ago
nizingly in return, and attract the wild
swine to the spot. The man with the
pig secreted himself. according to the
requirements of the programme, and
squeezed the animal viciously. hut il
would not squeal. He then tried to
coax il TO sound note of appeal; he
pinciei its ear and trod on its tail. but
not sound would the pig utter. The
psrty accordingly put the animal in a
bag. and late in the afternoon. footSore
and disguised. rolled home in their two
korse vehicle. Their entry into the viii
lage was greeted with shouts of ieris-
ION. and the price OF tame pork rose a
cent and quarter per pound.-Cor.
Boston Hlorld.