Wichita eagle., 1888-01-11
GOT TIE "BUcK FEVER"
An Amateur Hunters First Shot at
Decr-ToO Slow on Trigger

/
Decr-Too slow on Trigger.
! Did You ever hear Frank Levan tell his ex-
perience with that deer up the country when
he was determined not TO get the "buck
feyer!n Wen. Frank went UP in the noun
tains with a crowd of old and new hunters.
All preparations having been made, the deer
slayers went out to look for fresh venison.
They succeeded in wounding a deer that af-
ternoon and killing two more, the old hunters
doing the work Darkness coming on, the
hunters concluded to wait until next morning
! to search for the wounded deer. Accordingly
next morning they started on the track of
the deer and followed it a long way until
they struck small stream between two high
hills. Here the captain divided the party
into squads of two and three and gave them
directions as TO how they should proceed in
order to come up with the deer
As it happened Levan was one of tho men
placed on the left OF the stream and was or.
dered to be extremely careful to avoid all
noise and excitement and above all not TO get
the buck fever" Frank proceeded TO carry
ont his instructions and walked along the
stream with the pace of a snail and the tread
of fox Having gone as far as he consid-
cred it his duty to go and seeing no signs of a
deer or other animal he stopped beside a large
fallen tree to survey the landscape Ger.
Stepping on TO the log he was engaged in a
careful scrutiny Of the surrounding hills
when he was impelled by some inward feeling
to turn his eyes Behind him From that mo-
ment he was transformed from an ordinary,
discouraged hunter into a hero, for he beheld,
not thirty feet from him, a live deer that stood
looking at him and tapping IFS large ears as
if 1t wished 10 discover by sight and sound
the nature of the object before il.
Never having had such an experience be-
fore Levan began to think that be was going
to have some fun and the honor Of killing his
first deer. He was armed with a rifle OF
about five pounds pull bat be had never shot
one of those guns off. Deliberately and QrIi
city he drew the rifle to his shoulder and took
aim al the deer'S head, saying frequently TO
himself, "You're my meat Having aimed
several times At the deer'S head he concluded
that he would not run the risk of missing it
and have the boys laugh at him, so he low
cred the gun until the sights were aimed for
the heart of the deer. and lie continued to
point the gun at the deer and remark:
You're my meat" for a minute or more,
being under tle impression that the animal
was good 10 stand in that position FOR day
or two. At last having made up his mind to
pull the trigger. Frank steadiel his nerves
and mentally congratulated himself upon not
getting the buck fever.
Then, he says, he pulled that trigger back |
at least three inches, and just as be began 70 !
fear that the trigger was made of elastic and I
would never stop going backward the deer |
gave a bound like a football struck by 10 |
pound man and landed half way up the side |
OF the mountain. At The same time LevaE's /
arms went M ard the rifle was discharged III /
the air. the bullet passing over the mountain /
into the uext township When tie other |
hunters came to help cut the deer up Frank /
told them that he hadn't hit It. as ne only had /
a snap snot and had no chance Of killing it, I
" Hin rra>r.,-f Srr., ODD Rsrrnr