The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-30
How the Long-Eared, Fleet Footed
Animal Is Pursued IA the
West.
There Are Three Different Killing
Methods Employed by Diff
ferent Huntamen.
Advancement and Preservation Of Rabbit
Rsssrvo-A Dish Tit for
th0 Gods.


The jack-rabbit il factor in the sporting
economy of this country has been somewhat
neglected. This neglect has come about
through misrepresentation on the part Of hia
human neighbors. The westerner around
whose memory there clings the flavor Of
buffalo hump naturally despises the humble
creature with the ears OF q jackass and the
hind legs Of kangaroo.
Now the truth is that from the sportsman'a
or the gourmand's point Of view the jack
rabbit il worthy Of consideration.
There are three recognized methods OF en-
comprising the destruction Of the jack, viz;
coursing, shooting from hunting buggy
and s'snow tracking" " these the first fur
nishss the most excitement, the second the
greatest fun and rabbits, and the third the
maximum of exercihe.
9 The ooursinR club is nowadays an inatitu-
ton Of pretty nearly oil we'll regulated
towns in the neighborhood of which the
jack hourishes. Where such clubs exist
their membership rolls will be found to
contain the names of the majority of the
leading citizens. They contain in good
many cases the social elements which are
the raison d'etre of the club proper of the
east. The more ambitious Of these organ
izations have their own parks" Others
content themselves with the chances afford
ed BY the plains. A park 10 one or two
sections Of prairie within easy distance Of
the city il which are the headquarters Of
the club. Its GAO or 1880 acres, as the case
may be, are enclosed by stout wire fencing
and netting eight to ten feet hiRh-a neces-
sary precaution, for the jack can jump az
we'll % sprint. In the centre Of the park is
an oval patch Of half dozen acres
or 80, also enclosed. This last is sown
with alfalfa or timothy, and in it are
kept the rabbits. of which the club can al
WAYS obtain q plentiful supply from farm
ers' boys at 10 cents head. A keeper ia on
guard day and night at the preserve, for
hawks and buzzards and coyotes would
make short work of the Imprisoned jacks
unless the latter had human protection.
The greyhounds used in the sport are
either imported or the descendants of ia
NOUS English stock. At Hutchinson, Kan.
for example, two-thirds of the dogs used by
the club Of that town have the celebrated
Master McGrath blood IN their veins. The
Victor, Belladonna and Cybele strains are
equally numerous.
The clubs have their informal and regular
meetings. At the former no prizes but a
certain amount of mild betting observes.
At the meetings proper the proceedings are
conducted in accordance with rules almost
identical with those of the English organ
izations. i
The sport is undeniahly fascintipg. Let
us imagine field day of one of these better
appointed clubs. It is 10 q. NJ, the sky is
of that vivid blue peculiar to the western
regions, the air is like mellow champagne,
and the atmosphere is 10 translucent, TINT
from slight elevation one can see across
the plains thirty, forty, aye fifty miles
away. At the lower edge of the park is the
long line Of spectators that have ridden,
driven or walked in to Gee the fun. In adj
vance of them il the kennelmaster with
his assistants, each Of whom hold brace
Of greyhounds in leash. Further up the
field are two judges, mounted on sturdy
bronchos. Ry the side of them is the ''slip-
per" holding two of the dogs by their leash
THONGS. advances SLOWLY along and up the
the park. A certain number Of rabbits
have been driven out Of the preserve earlier
in the day, and at the moment are hiding
somewhere among the cactus and
buffalo grass ahead. Behind the
slipper come the judges, and In the rear Of