Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-15
HOW TO HUNT THE COON.
He Has Fancy for Taking Refuge In
the Tallest Tree in the Woods.

There is but one way of hunting the
coon. Hunted only at night, to fol-
low him the boldeSt rider must dis
mount, yet he who risks neck and
limb, or melts or freezes for sports
sake, and deems no sport manly that
has not spice of danger or discom-
fort IN it, must not despise this humble
pastime for such reason.
On leaving the highway that leads
nearest to the hunting ground. the
way of the coon hunters takes them, in
darkness or feeble lantern light, over
rough and uncertain footing, till the
cornlields edge is reached and the
dogs cast off. Away 90 the hounds,
their course only indicated by the
ruStling of the corn leaves, as they
range through the field, until one old
tratn-teller gives tongue on the trail
of Brer Coon. vino perhaps has brought
his whole family out for nocturnal
picnic. The hounds sweep straight
away, in full cry, on the hot scent to
hill or swamp where their steadfast
baying proclaims that the game is
freed.
Then follows a pell-mell scramble
toward the musical uproar. Stones.
brambles and ali the inanimate enc
mics that lie in wait for man when he
haStens in the dark, combine to trap,
bump, bruise, sprain, scratch, and be-
mire the hurrying hunters.
Then when all have gathered at the
center Of attraction, where the excited
hounds are raving about the boil of
some great tree, the best and boldest
climber volunteers to go aloft into the
upper darkness and shake the quarry
down or shoot him if may be. If he
succeeds in accomplishing the difficult
task what a melee ensues.
Fewer voices never broke the still
ness of night with sounds more I'M
earthil than the medley of raging.
yelplhg, and growing, cheering and
vociferous orders given forth by dogs.
coon and hunters, while hillside and
woodland toss to and fro mere dis
cordant bandage Of echo.
The coon is not Il great beast, but
tough and sharp-toothed one. who car
ries beneath his gray coat and fat ribs
a stout heart and wonderful vitality,
and a tussle with veteran of the tribe
of cornlield robbers tests the pluck of
dogs and the GOODNESS of men.
If the coon takes refuge in tree
too tall and limbless for his pursuers
to climb. there is nothing for them but
to keep watch and wait till DAYLIGHT
discovers him crouched in his lofty
perch.
A huge fire enlivens the long hours
of guard-keeping. A foraging party
repairs to the nearest cornfieId for
roasting ears aud the hunters shorten
the slow night tide with munching
scorched corn, sauced by Joke and
song and tales of coon hunts Of by
gone years.
The waning moon thrObs into view
above a serrated hill-crest, then climbs
the SKY. while the shadows draw east
ward. then pales in the dawn and
when it is Il b!otch of white cloud in
the zenith a sunrise gun welcomes
day aad brings the coon tumbling to
earth Or, perhaps, not coon, but
some y&grant house cat is the poor re-
ward Of the long watch. Then the
weary hunters plod homeward to
breakfast and the mailing of their
trophies to the barn door.
When the sweet acOrns, dropping in
the frosty night, tempt the coon to Il
later feast, there is as good sport and
primer peltry. In any of the nights
wherein this sport may be pursued,
the man of lazy mold and contempla-
tive mind loves best the hunt deemed
unsuccessful ly the more ardent hunt
ers, when the hounds strike the trail
of a wandering fox and carry a tide of
wild music. HCodinU and ebbinv over
valley and hilltop, while the indolent
hunter reclines ut ease. smoking his
pipe and listening, content to let more
ambitious hunters stumble over lodges
and walow through swamps in pur-
suit of the elusive coon.-FOreSt and
Stream.