Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-08-15
SPORT IN MISSOURI.
Great Tracts OF Gamo Country stln Ur
spoiled by Hunters.

Great Tracts of Game Country stm I'M
spoiled by Hunters.
Northern sportsmena certainly can't
know any thing of Southern Missouri
rs a gamo country, or moro OF them
would visit that garden spot OF tho
Southwest said George p. Stanley, OF
automatic motor fame. II spent four
weeks in that region last fall, and Igivo
you my word that never saw, heard or
read OF such quantity and variety OF
wild game as makes its home In that
country, and the contiguous one of
Northern Arkansas. Tho Southern Mis-.
souri, country is more especially favored
by small game-wild turkeys, grouse,
quail and rabbits, although there are
great many deer thoro-so many, in fact,
that ono day saw native hauling into
one of the towns wagon load OF deor.i
just rs tho countrymen here In tho
North haul in loads OF wood. The deer
were stacked on tho wagon till tho load
was all the team Of mules that pulled
the wagon wanted TO draw. was told
that such sight was common in that
country, and that the venison was pur-
chased for almost nothing by local deal
ers and shipped to st. Louis and other
markets. Just out of curiosity | asked
the owner of this load OF venison what
he would talo for the immense Ave
prong buck that was one of dozen 9TH
ers just like it in the load. Its antlers
were simply magnificent. And what do
you think the man said could have the
dnnr fnrp IIp oil tpn1r I,rn y,
away whom he told me. Two dollars
and a quarter! There were 200 pounds
OF venison IN that carcass il there was
pound, and the head and horns alone
would have been worth $50 hore in New
York.
"1'll bet saw fifty nocks of wild tur-
keys within a circuit Of ten miles, You
see wild turkeys as you pass through
that country on the cars, and not being
birds that can mako long flights they
frequently drop down by the score on
tho track in front OF the trains, and the
railroad mon told me that hundreds
were killed by tho cars in that way
every year. The little lakes that dot
tho prairies are literally covered du-ing
the fall months with wild ducks and
geese, and these naturally timid and
cautious fowl have grown so familiar
with tho cars that 1t is seldom that any.
OF them takes wing as trains pass whero
they are feeding. Quail and rabbits are
so numerous and 30 tame that they seem
like domestic birds and animals. Such
is the case within few miles Of SPRING
field. Deef-and-beans is moro OF lux
ury down there than quail on toast.
i. ''The wilds of Northern Arkansas are
so well adapted to the necessities of
large game that the bear, the badger
and wild cat are abundant, and even
that savage American beast, the pam
ther, still hunts his prey in that wilder,
ness. They hunt bear there on horse
back, and don't use guns. With trained |
dogs they trail bruin to his lair or com
pei him to sock safety in some big gum |
or sycamore tree. II he is tracked to his |
lair he is routed out by the dogs, and
the hunters kill him with keen, long |
bladed knives. which they handle with |
wonderful skill. When bruin is trced |
the tree is felled, and when the troo and
bear come crashing down the dogs are
ready, and the fight is between the boar
and dogs If dog is In danger tho
hunter stands ready to knife tho bear
and save the dog, for those trained bear
dogs arc valuable animals II pan
thor is hoard of anywhere in tho region
he is also hunted. on horseback and with
dogs, but no hunters have yet appeared
who vcnture TO dispatch this fierce ami