New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-01
SULLIVAN COUNTY BEARS.
GAME HARD TO CAPTURE-THEIR CUNNING
IN ESCAPING THE HUNTERS


to-day than there were n generation ago. number
OF facts make this statement easy TO be believed
Long the forests thronged with race OF brawny
hunters who shoudered deadly rifles and were Keen
eyed for the chase. The hills dotted with the
little homes and clearings of woodsmen who made their
living with axes iron-nerved and ccareyed, ana
could shoot true Tanneries and sawmiis giving
employ ment TO many men sat by the sides of all
the streams The woods full OF The sounds OF
axe-blows and the creakkgs OF oxchains Youths
grew up with desire for fame and they took rifles
and went to seek it In the woods. hardy race oi
huntsmen made terrible war on the game WIN INC
vanishing OF the great forests these men dsappearea
from the face of the earth. Not all men HOW "ic
hunters. There are those surrounded by 'he oeSt
cover for game who never taste partridge or venson
the year round.
When sullivan County covered with growth
Of heavy forest trees hunters walking through the
woods had good travelling and could see FAR Tor the
brush, under the shade of the great trees WIS Ho'
thick Now the huge forest mOnarchs have gone
their wovs TO the rver-raNs and the sawmills, and
infer them have come second growth and brush, thick
rs the hair on a dogs back. 'rIe game hnfs excel
lent crOuc hing places In the dense tckes ana escap
the hunters eye with ease.
Contrary to general belief the shyest of all the
animals which naturally live in these woods Is the
bear, and not the deer. The OLDEST huI'crs vi
this region assert this fact positively. Ihey say
that 1t is a comparatively easy thing to get $40.
at a deer but a difficult one TO get the chahce VI
holding a rife on bear as target Inc pc''i 10
mucb kecper II he hears hunter or hunters
coming a quarter OF mile away he VIII imraeo
ately get up and DUST and the hunter may ho'
find out that lie has been in his vicinity Mt all
The old hears however. are not inclined to be
vry shy They grow confident In their own
strength and proves. and do rot always hincn VINE"
tlcy accidentally meet a human being FOR III
stance II one OF these old warriors shohiu "aPPo"
to be confronted by man when crossing the foau
he would stop and look. with curiosity expressed In
his eves and maybe snarl and show his teeth
~ TN, man made sudden motion. Having satisfied
his curiosity he would quietly move of into the brush
generally leaving the man in a limp state.
The bear makes his bed for the winter In num-
No. ~ d,forcnt WAYS sometimes he craws down
in n hole crcvIce or cave and snuggles under dead
leaves and sticks. At other times. when trees iai
down and make tangled masses, he crawls H. the
thckest part He has also been known to gather
great punches of laurel boughs and pile them in n
heap: then climb top and sleep, letting the snow
fall right him. When the bear is engaged IN
making his couch he makes pile OF brush SIX or esut
feet In diameter and three or four feet high lie VIII
often strip young tree bare of leaf and branch
that II looks ike fagpole. with only small taSSc1
on Ton In the summer he has private bath lie
GOES to some swamp and with his strong Claws d'es
down into the black mud until lle has hoii'"ca ont
little place which filters full Of ea'k oozc.
of summers day in the forest, when no; leaf in the
woods stirs and the earth and the animals 1t bake
and .velter Beaten paths are generally found to
lead to each Of these showing that the bear loves
bis Shiny baths above all things.
lie takes care of his claws in the same manner IN
which a cat does. SCARED trees can be found In ne
wilds. showing that the bears stand up on their nu
legs and claw down the bark.
In the spring and early summer the pears I'VE U"
roots and sprouts and tender leaves together with the
Crubs and worms which they get by turning over
the stones In the valleys. Boulders too heavy lot
man to lift found rolled recklessy about by bears
in pursuit of 1ubs. OF course when bear hnds
bee tree he is happy animal h the late summer
aud fall he resorts to the berry patches ana Scruo
oak ridges and feasts the berries and acorns.
But when he first comes out in the spring he is
very hungry and will eat anything he can get. lie
will dine on dead horse. or will steal pig from
Den or a calf from stable. Bnt when other food Is
plentiful the black bear will never touch flesh Hunger
Will drive him to it. but of his own free will he pre-
fers diet OF vegetables
bear-llunt in this region is in reality chase
from swamp to swamp. The bear. when limited
always to swamp and hides in it's thickest ana
most Inaccessible part Here he will stay until driven
out by the approach of man or a dog on the trai
The hunters always do what they call surrounding
the swamp, although Of cOarse, they DO NOT really
do So owing to the size OF the swamp and the limit to
the number OF Then the guide and the dogs
generally follow In on the uTl, arter iedNlne INC
rest cf the party stationed at convenient points on the
outskirts. The best spot TO get shot at bear Is at
the place entered the swamp for lie is pretty
sure to come out there. But he is wary strategst
lie crouches in the depths Of log maybe and listens
He heals voices off to the north, as the hunters take
I'D their positions on the "runways" in that direc-
lion From the east faint sounds OF the swapping
Of a twic as hunter makes for the better sweep
Of his rifle barrel To the south he may hear a man
cautiously scramble up log Of an old stump, and
IN the rear he family the whnes OF the hound
on warm trail and the low, directing voice OF
the guide. The hunters may be long distance
away, but the old bear hears them and in
terprets the sounds and lays his plans accordingly.
He shows ability and skill IN his effort to come I'M
scathed from the tight place he ds IN He rms some
distance and then stops perhaps, and listens inteny.
Maybe his ears tell him to lake new direction. and
he starts rapidly Oft. Whether he gets out Of the
swamp now not depends entirely upon what back
woods general has stationed the men. and who The
men are Even II they expert shots. 1t VIII avail
them nought unless they are placed by leader VINO
knows the important posts. who can calculate on the
bears conclusions, and guard against errors OF ludg
nen To be a strategist equal TO emergencies which
arise when hunting in Sullivan County takes lifetime
I'm the woods O thirty yars' study Of the habits OF
animals.
After that difficulty IS there EXISTS the one
OF shooting the bear Some men can hit things with
gun and some can't. SO, even If hunter on a
runway gets a shot, the bear has dozen chances
TO escape. lie Immediately starts for another swamp
three or four miles away. 1t must not be supposed
that he travels slowly. bear can keep well ahead
OF a good dog all day, through bushes. swale or any
kind CT country except In the open fields. These ami
mas, which people call awkward and ungnlnly, run
easily as rabbits. Nor do they " shamble" "wob
blen. or founder. They have easy, rapid
gait which carries them swiftly and easily from
the pursuing dogs.
Not many dogs will follow bear. some quake and
SILVER when they scent the trail. Some will run
old trail but will tum back when IL freshens. Others
will run an old trail with npidity. but wifi slow up
and run poorly the fresh scent giving mourntul
"sOrry like" tone TO their yeps they the bears
possible crouching place. But there stout heartcd
hounds OF good breed who will take bears track
eagerly and with a determination TO Overtake the
animal. If such a dog comes up with wounded
bear, he will tackle him without moments hesitation
a coed bearhound seems TO take the trail with