Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-06


ting Scarce-Points for Hunters
Tricks Of the Little Animal-A Good
Days Work.
From the New York Times
'Rabbit shootin' amt what it used to be-"
said one of those ancient Long Islanders who
are indigenous to the soil, and whose counter
part is not to be found anywhere else in the
wide world, as he watched the agent of small
station on the South Side railroad piling I'D gun
cases and game bags on a truck The morning
train had just got in and was unloading a party
of hunters, who were making things lively
around the usually dull aud silent little station
mo, replied the station agent i'm a tone of
inquiry. as he wheeled off the truck aud began
to admire some curiously wrought embroidered
work OF youth In low shoes and Prince Albert
coat, shooting at deer with a musket, which
some pretty girl had worked on n game bag
belonging to the youngest member of the party.
swell, If 1t amt, there's more hunters than
there used to be. Election day we had twenty
two get off here and there is a dozen if there's
one In that party"
The old man picked up one of the guns and
examined it carefully. Hum, thenl's pretty
weapons. but low Seth Barnes. with his old
fashioned. single-barreled, muzzle-loader, which
was once flint lock in the Revolution. can lay
out any ak of them fellows in shootin' rabbits
Seth's only got one arm. but that's worth most
mems two"
The gun he continued to handle was of fine
Damascus steel with richly chased work about
! the locks. Pressing the lever on the side the
barrels flew open, and the old islander could
look through the interior with its glistenin9 sides
| Of pure steel. The pack Of hounds grew FESTIVE
under the leashes tightly held by the hunters
and their eyes opened wide and seemed to glow
with delight as they saw guns taken from their
cases, and the game bags swung over the hun
ters' shoulders. 1t was clear frosty morning
and the twigs had cracked under the old mans
feet as he crossed the strip Of woods to reach
the station. better day for rabbits could not
have been had. and the air was cool and crisp
enough TO brace up the hunters for lively work.
''WEere had ye best go9 Oh. anywhere around
here. lt don't make much difference Rabbits
live pretty much al over. Ye are Just as likely
as not to start one over in the buryin'- ground
there behind the church. There's one over
under Jones' barn now, for saw him over there
little while ago. One of Jones children found
him squattin' among the chrysanthemums in the
gardin'."
The hounds were let loose and the hunters
! followed. scattering through the low shrubs
| and thickets. 1t was not long before the deep
and musical voice of a hound was heard as he
| followed up the scent of the first rabbit that
had been routed from his warm resting place
In tuft of grass More of the dogs got on
their music as they chased on after the
little animal that with ears dropped back
and eyes filled with alarm was making
his way around the hillside. The hunters started
! in pursuit. Now you 60 up by that clump of
| cedar trees, and you may get sight of him first
as he comes along" said the old man to the
youth with the illustrated game bag who had
followed him down the road. The young hun
ter did SO. and as the rabbit rounded about got
fair shot. little fur flew. but the rabbit
went on. "You shot too high" said the old
man, land only tickled his back little; but
you'll do better next time. 1 low you have got
the right stuff in you. and. with little conf
dence. will kill 'em. Young fellers have the
buck fever shOotin' rabbits Just as much as they
do shootin' bucks. That rabbit will come
around here again. most likely, and while we're
waitin' for him I'll give you few points in rab-
bit shootin'."
''Now. in the first place there's such thing
as luck in huntin', and there is such a thing as
experience, and both amount to about the same
thing in the end. That Is, if you're lucky you
will get just as many rabbits as if you was ex-
! perenced. I've known men to tramp all over
Suffolk county and not get rabbit. and then
agin. young fellow as you, who don't know
much about huntin, will in couple Of hours
| git half dozen. If you amt lucky, don't give
1t up. but keep huntn' till you git experienced,
| and then you will be sure to get one once in a
while. A lucky hunter will aus bring luck to
those that's with him; so If you don't get a rab-
bit before noon just go up to Seth's and get him
| to go out with you this afternoon.
There comes that rabbit now! Hear the
dogs! The other men have missed him. Now
| let him have it," The rabbit gave big bound
and fell all in heap. dead. ''That's it,, said the
| old man encouragingy, You did will. Rabbit
| shoOtin' amt what it used to be around here,
but there's off an on one."
The old man was right. The rabbits are grow
ing fewer and fewer each year, and yet there
| are enough to furnish little fun for the hunt
| ers at the beginning Of the season. They are
rapid breeders and the great fall slaughter is
made before q
around. Protective game laws in some Of the
counties are also doing good work in preserving
the game. There is no sport for the hunters of
small game more pleasant and more easily to be
enjoyed than rabbit shooting. An hours ride
from the city In almost any direction will take
one into the midst of hunting ground. The
time for shooting them is when the country Is de-
lightful to wander over. The ground is hard and
fine bed OF leaves is spread beneath the forest
trees, while the November and December days
are bracfng and healthy.
A good dog. however. Is essential. but good
dogs can be obtained at almost every little place
in New Jersey or on Long Island They can be
hired for small amount, aud the owner or lone
of the boys will most likely be ready to go out
for an afternoons hunt. Hounds are the best
though there are mongres and half-breeds that
make good rabbit hunters and can follow a
scent without losing 1t. The dog is just as in
terested in getting the rabbit as the hunter u.s.
and an old runner will, at the sight of gun,
break away and want to follow it.
Where to find rabbits? 1t all depends upon
the day and the weather. If it has been bright
and fair for week they are probably out in the
low dead grass in the meadow or in the little
tufts Of grass in the pasture land. Sometimes
they will be squatted down in such short grass
that you would not think it could cover them
When they are in these places the hunters with
out dogs have the best chance. for the rabbit
will furnish a fair mark as he goes bounding
over the meadow plot. making for the nearest
hayrick or the thickets beyond. When q big
storm comes 1t drives them In among the shrubs
aud thickets. Then 1t is harder to get at them,
and dog Is necessary. To make a thorough
hunt for rabbits requires some hard work when
they are In the underbrush. The bushes must
be beaten with pole or with a gun barrel.
If the hunter Is not afraid of scratching
1t. The dogs often start the game themselves,
but more often the hunter stumbles ON the little
flyer and OF he bounds like lightning. Unless
the sportsman is an adept, the rabbit will be out
of range before he can recover himself suffi-
clently to put his gun to his shoulder. The dog
must be called, then, as quickly as possible. and
when he has caught the scent the sportsmen's
work is over. If he stays right where he is the
dog will bring the rabbit back A rabbit inva-
riably runs in a sort of circle, SO as to come
back right near the spot from whence he was
disturbed. He may be back in four or five min
utes or he may take long turn over the hill
and down through the swamp, but he is sure to
come back. He may be a long away ahead Of
the dogs and he will come on the dead run,
making very little noise. If hunter misses a
rabbit he should not be discouraged. The rab-
bit will probably come around again; that is, If
the dogs do not get thrown off the scent.