Marble Hill press., 1891-02-19
4 MISSOURI COON HUNT,
FOREST SPORT AFTER NIGHT
SETS IN,


a wrlVer IN tnaI peSt OF all sports
mans papers. Forest and Stream, says:
Let me here relate some points about
western coon hunting. l notice one
article In Forest and Stream that
speaks OF the hunter ascending the
tree and then shooting the coon. This
may be all right in the east. but in
Southern Missouri. where hunted
last spring. it is considered as un-
sportsmanlike TO shoot coon as it
would be to shoot u pheasant on the
ground.
After the coon is treed the first thing
10 DO is Gf the tree permits) to climb
the tree and get as near to the beast
as possible, but II one had to shake
him out he would find his hands pretty
full. In fact. unless the tree was quite
small it would be almost impossible to
do so. The thing to do then. after
reaching the proper place in the tree.
is to break off limb as long and as
straight as possible; on the end OF this
put your hunting cap and thrust it out
toward the coon. He is Immediately
paralyzed with fear, he does not wait
to jump out, but literally falls back
ward off the limb to the ground.
Often large "boar" coon no sooner
sees one coming up into his
section OF the tree than with
an angry growl he starts down to meet
the intruder; but once get your cap on
stick, poke it at him. and all Of his
boldness is gone and he usually goes
with 1t to the ground. Most hunters
carry stick up the tree with them,
by putting it down the leg OF their
boot. An old rifle ramrod makes q
good stick and is just about the right
length. 1t is really better to carry
the stick up with you, for If the coon
is an old one he is liable to show fight,
and it is good thing to have your
stick ready. remember we'll the las,
hunt 1 took before leaving Missouri.
1t was during the latter part of April
and the sap was pretty we'll up in the
trees. The night was very dark and
cloudy, ono OF those nights when il
seems as though 1t would rain but could
not The hounds started u trail ant
had not run it ten minutes when We
heard the leader bark 'treed." Or
going to the spot We found the whole
pack OF nine beagles and foxhound'
whining and baying up a large wate
oak. The night was so dark and thu
limbs of the tree so thick that tht
coon could not be seen. started t,
climb the tree and had almost reached
the top when ! heard an angry grow
and saw pair of shining green eye
coming down toward me. graspe,
the first limb that l could find and trie
to wrench it off, but being green.
was not at all inclined to come. Th
coon was almost at my elbow. sa,
could not break the limb, so turne
and struck him full in the face wit
my fist. Down he went right in tn
middle of the bowling pack. Well. h
kept the dogs busy for almost an hour
and l assure you they were prett
looking sight when the coon was don
for. Old Ben, our jack rabbit dog, ha
piece OF his ear torn off as big as
quarter. and our leader. "The OF
Man." had been bitten through the hi
and was almost covered with blood
The other dogs had their share {
wounds, too. fancy l can sec then
now by the dim light Of the lantern i
the depths of tho gloomy bottom fol
est, standing around the dead coon
painting and wagging their tails a
much as to say. I'VE are the stuff.
Well, alter the excitement was all owe
l found that too had been injured i
the scuffle. The knuckles OF my rigt
hand carry scar to-day where my fi'
came in contact with the coon's teet
when / struck him in the face.