Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-11
oDcHuc
How the Pests Are Discouraged in the
Eastern States.

How the Pests Are Discouraged in the
Eastern States.
The ravages of woodchucks in clover
fields and garden patches are so dreaded
by farmers that a country boy seldom
appeals in vain for a half holiday to go
woodchuck hunting. Hunting wood
chucks is a sport peculiarly adapted to
the tastes of a chemically tired man.
All the hunter has to do is to take his
station, rifle in hand, at a distance of
from twelve to twenty-five rods from
the woodchucks' den. lie down in the
clover, with the summer wind to fan
him, and read a novel, until the game
comes coughing and sneezing out of
his hole. Just the moment the wood
chuck sits up on the heaped-up gravel
before the entrance of the pit Is time
for the sportsman to send a bullet
through him. If the first shot is a
miss, the hunter doesn't bother his
head about getting a second one, know
ing that uncomfortable curiosity will
speedily tempt the animal out again.
His own curiosity is the only thing that
will bring a w~oodchuck out of his hole.
Old hunters say that pouring water in
is as Intellectual as turning it into q
sieve, as the woodchuck is wise enough
to build a second story TO his house at
the bottom of the hole. perched in
which he chuckles sa~tirically, while
h%ogsheads of water sink into the sand
beneath his feet.
Hundreds of woodchucks arc killed
by boys and men every year in every
@,,o% ,1v kDzvy~ 80, Noxv IT, 1o~1 l,k Sc
farmers depended on their effort alone
it would be almost impossible to cult
vate successfully small vegetables on
any farm remote from cities. To the
lazy, awkward farm dog, who is not
smart enough to discriminate between
the track of an otter and that OF a
squirrel. is due the credit of keeping in
check the worst pest of Connecticut
and Rhode Island farmers. Tits a dis
tinct breed of cur. self-developed, and
js peculiarly interesting in that it hunts
no other game but w~oodchucks.
and hunts, as the farmers say,
entirely on its own hook. The
first-class Connecticut and Rhode
Island w%oodchuck dog is as worthy of
description as the tlattered setter or
pointer. He IS usually a short-legged,
shaggy-haired, medium-sized dog. and
invariably good-natured. even when
Staying his game. After driving
the COWS to water early in the
morning and paying attention to q
tramp or two. he sets outfor the distant
pasture or meadow and attends strictly
to business all dav. Taking his place
behind a big boulder or in q clump of
bushes within easy range Of a prom;s-
ing woodchuck hole, he waits patiently
until the game energies. Very saga
ciously he watches the woodchuck
strolling among the nodding clover
blossoms and daises until it has reached
> distance that assures him that in q
rush Tor the hole he will carrom on his
prey. 1t is rarely that he makes q
miscalculation. Having killed the
woodchuck. he filings it over his Shout
der. trots home. deposits it on tho
front porch. and sets out for another
hunt. He resents all partnership by
men, boys or other dogs in his sport.
He is the only dog that hunts exclusive
" alone. It is astonishing the number
al w%oodchucks destroyed in a season
by a. well-eaucated dog,--Forcst, Farm
Gud Forge.