The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-04-23
HUNTING THE PUMA.
Sport Which Tries tho Patience az Well
as the Courage of Hunters.

HUNTING THE PUMA.
Sport Which Tries tho Patience az Well
as the Courage of Hunters.
About eight o'clock a. m. we started
out with five dogs in search of tracks,
not expecting to find more than cat.
The road was very rough and tho snow
deep, but we stayed with it. At first we
passed nothing but old signs of deer,
turkey, etc. After travelling about two
miles my friend E., who was in front,
called me to examine a print in the
snow. 1t appeared to be that of steer,
and, indeed, so it was, but on the inside
of it was a mountain lion track. This
phenomenon was by no means new
experience for me, and | was not tho
least surprised, we'll knowing their
popularity of following the footsteps
of other and larger animals, and even of
human beings. l think it is done to
conceal their own retreat, for they
seldom attack full-grown stock, unless
forced to it by starvation. The track
seemed fresh, and accordingly Spot was
turned loose to see what he could make
of it. l concluded he was somewhat
puzzled by the combination of scent, as
he shifted about for some minutes be-
fore going off. When he took in the
situation there was a deep bay, and the
dog was gone. The remainder of the
pack were now unoccupied, and we were
left alone, but not for long; the snow
being deep, we overlook them. l had
an idea that it would be d short run and
speedy kill, but this was mistake,
although the scent was good. He did
not intend to be caught in hurry.
The puma does not travel fast, but
keeps steadily on the move, thereby
covering a considerable space during
the night and early morning. At this
juncture the depth of snow was no
slight impedimert, every now and again
one or the other of us would wholly or
partially disappear in drift, and then
scrambling out cause much laughter
and some delay. 1t is not remarkable,
therefore, that we were soon reduced to
a walk, and slow one at that; never
theless, we were consoled by the thought
that our game was as good as killed.
The dogs could be heard in the dis
lance, so we toiled away until we came
to canyon with very deep sides. Our
descent was slow and tedious, for fall
here would have been attended with
considerable risk to life and limb
On reaching the foot of the hill anoth-
er check awaited us. The dogs were out
of hearing, and the tracks had to be
found; this done we gained the mesa,
and made up for lost time by trotting
about half a mile, which brought us to
another canyon, somewhat similar to
the one we had so recently left. The
baying of the dogs became palmer as we
descended, and there was now no room
for doubt that the lion had taken to a
tree somewhere near the bottom. I put
ny best leg forward and succeeded in
arriving somewhat ahead of the others,
When about sixty or seventy yards from
the dogs pulled up to look about me.
The hounds were all running round in
great excitement, but no lion could I
see, Tor he was carefully hid behind
limb. However, he saw me and jumped
out, causing brief stampede among the
younger dogs. He was soon gone out Of
sight, but SO closely attended by the
pack that after jogging along for a quar-
ter of mile he was again persuaded to
take refuge from his tormenters. This
time he was in full view, lying full
length along the limb of acedar and
smiling sweetly at the Infatuated
hounds. When about thirty yards off |
took advantage of the broadside offered
and fired; Z. and c., who were on either
side, fred about the same time, and he
rolled off his perch. A few convulsive
struggles and all was over, the three
bullets having taken effect.
He was large male, measuring nine
feet from the tip of the nose to the tip
Of the tail. On the following day sent
a burro to pack him back to camp, duty
which our faithful servant was extreme
ly loath to perform; in fact, it became
necessary to blind and tie Master Ned
before he would consent to the burden.
Forest and Stream.