The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-24
A Fight with a Buck.

! they would rather meet and battle,
with any other wild animal in the
woods than wounded buck; and
Andrew Couch, famous hunter and
| guide of this county, is oday more
than ever convinced that the old hum
ters are right. Sportsmen ofthisplace
who have just returned from weeks
hunt in the Black Lake region, relate
an exciting adventure Of the hugt.
Couch is one of the most noted hun-
ters and guides in the county. He was
engaged by the Monticello party 70
"drive" deer for them. they started
/ two on the first day. but did not SUD
1sseed in getting shot. Onthe second
\ day Couch drove Big Hill for. the
1 hunters. The dogs started q hock IN
tIse fserRasn and dFoye u toward
| Couch. AS it came over the ridge
through the scrub oak the guide saw
that it was ain enormous buck, and,
desiring that the visiting sportsmen
should have shot at it, he discharg
ed one barrel 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 station
ed in different "run ways" on the
ridge. The deer did not change its
course, as Couch supposed it would,
turned and made directly for him.
He discharged his remaining barrel
at the deer as it came bounding to-
ward him, and it fell almost in its
tracks. Couch ran to the spot and
drew his knife to cut the deer's throat,
Supposing it was dead. AS the hunter
was bending over the deer it sudden.
lysprang 70 its feet, knocking COuclfs
knife from his hand, and attacked
him with fury. leaping in the air and
shrinking Yiciously at the hunter with
hissharp hO0fs. Couch jumped quick
ly aside and escaped the full force Of
the deadly stroke of wounded huck's
fore feet. 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-shirt
| from shoulder to wrist. Couch had
his gun in his hand but it WIS empty.
Before the deer could gather itself for
another attack, the. hunter dealt it a
| II 10
the stock of the gun. The blow stag
gered the.buck and shattered the gun
to pieces. Recovering quickly, the
buck sprang at Couch again, and
planted both fore feet on his should
ers, telling him to the ground. KnOwl-
edge 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 doubtless have been fatal,
Couch regained his feet and instantly
closed with the buck, shouting Inean-
while to his companions for help.
Couch believed that the deer had been
mortally wounded by the rife balls,
for the blood was flowing in a 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 short time see it
succumb. The bucks vitality, how
ever, was wonderful, and It seemed
as strong and fresh after quarter of
an hoar's wrestling among the scrub
oak as it was at the beginning of the
struggle. Couch had twice been be.
meath the deer'S fore feet and haze re-
ceived bad cuts and bruises. His
clothing was nearly all torn from him
and he was covered with blood and
nearly exhausted. He felt that his
only hope was either in the appear
ance 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
course of the struggle, the spot where
it lay Was'0hce more reached. BY a
quick movement he disengaged him
self 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 ali his remaining strength in the
blow he dealt the deer. 1t struck the
animal back of the antlers 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 any.
8 thing from Couch after his two shots
, came upon the scene in about halfar
hour to see what the result had been
They found Couch and the deer lyins
side by side. The hunter was no
seriously hurt, but was badly cut ant
: bruSed. The deer was the largest tina
l.. 4