Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-11-08
AHuNTER's FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Andrew Couch's Desperate Struggle
with a wounded Buck.

AAAtAACt NOuCAASo DCBpGEAtc nc
with a Wounded Buck.
A Monticello On. " letter to the New
York Tribune gives the. following vivid
account Of desperate battle between An
drew Couch, famous hunter and guide,
and wounded buck:
Couch is one Of the most noted hunters
and guides in the county. He was en-
gagged by the Monticello party to driven
deer for them. They started two on the
first day, but did not succeed i'll getting
shot. On the seca7d day Couch drove
Big Hill for the hunters. The dogs
started buck in the afternoon and drove
it toward Couch. As it came over the
ridge through the scrub oak, the guide
saw that it was an enormous buck and de-
string that the visiting sportsmen should
have shot at it, he discharged one bar
rel of his gun few feet in front of the
deer, with the intention Of turning it off
in the direction Of the other hunters, who
were stationed in different {" run-ways y
on the ridge.
The deer did not change its course, as
Couch supposed it would, but turned and
made directly toward him He discharged
his remaining barrel at the deer as it
came bounding toward him, and it fell
almost in its tracks. Couch ran to the
spot and drew his knife to cut the deer's
throat, supposing that it was dead. AS
the hunter was bending over the deer it
suddenly sprang to its feet, knocking
COUGHS knife from his hand, and at
tackled him with fury, leaping in the
air, and striking viciously at the hunter
with its sharp hoofs. Couch jumped
quickly aside and escaped the full force
of the deadly stroke of wounded bucks
forefeet. One of the feet, however,
struck him on his left shoulder, spun
him round like top, and cut through
the sleeve of his heavy hunting-shirl
from shoulder to wrist. Couch had his
gun in his hand, but it was empty. Be
fore the deer could gather itself for an
other attack the hunter dealt it power
full blow across the neck with the stock
of the gun. The blow staggered the
buck and shivered the gun to pieces.
Recovering quickly, the buck sprang at
Couch again, and planted both fore-feet
on his shoulders, telling him to the
ground. knowledge of the great peril
he was in lent agility to the hunters
movements, and before the buck could
deal blow upon his chest with its hoofs
that would have doubtless been fatal,
Couch regained his feet and instantly
closed with the buck, shouting to his com
panions for help. Couch believed that
the deer had been mortally wounded by
the rifle ball, for the blood was flowing
in great stream from its breast, and he
hoped that if he could himself hold out
long enough and prevent the infuriated
animal from striking him with its hoofs
he would in a short time see it succumb.
The bucks vitality, however, was won
derful, and it seemed as strong and
fresh after a quarter of an hours
wrestling among the scrub-oak as it was
at the beginning Of the struggle.
Couch had twice been beneath the
deer's forefeet and had received bad cuts
and bruises. His clothing was nearly all
torn from him aud he was covered with
blood and nearly exhausted. He felt
that his only hope was either in the ap-
pearance of the other hunters on the
scene or in some decisive movement Of
his own to get the better of the deer He
had dropped his gun barrel when he
closed with the deer, but at last, in the
course of the struggle, the spot where it
lay was once more reached. By quick
movement he disengaged himself from the
deer, and sprang for the weapon. He
had scarcely secured it and risen to his
feet before the buck was once more upon
him. Couch raised the gun-barrel in the
air and put all his remaining strength in
the blow he dealt the deer.
1t struck the animal back Of the ant
lers and felled it to the ground. The
skull was crushed and another blow
ended the contest. Couch then dropped
to the ground from sheer exhaustion.
The other hunters, not having heard
anything from Couch after his two shots,
came upon the scene in about half an
hour to see what the result had been.
They found Couch and the deer lying
side by side. The hunter was not Sc
riously hurt, but was badly cut and
bruised. The deer was the largest that
has been killed in Sullivan county in
many years It weighed 210 pounds.