The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-11-08

In embryo has thus been spoiled
fast year one advertisement Sc
cured me ten replies. and had good
sport at each Of the three selected
The beginning of October is good
time to advertise. Get your replies
and make yonr dates as early as you
an. and you win not regret it II
there are plenty of rabbits, and the
country is not too thick in brush. you
NAV have good fun at any time from
now on. but you must have a good
hound dog; one with good nose, that
IS obedient. and keen TO hunt and find
the game. but which viii give tongue
instead OF running It and track the
rabbit to it, earth, where the ferret
can BE- called on 20 do his iine work.
and give You good running shot
The question OF nUzziing ferret Is
always lively matter for argument
among rabbit hunters, but If the ami
rlal il well trained ON the lines laid
down above, there viii be little need
for it except at odd times, for there
never was a ferret born yet that did
not at some time or other develop more
or less cussedness, for day or two at
time. These fits generally oecur while
the weather is hot, or at the mating
period when the ferret family,
and not hunting. should absorb
the hunters mind. Most of the
muzzlcs used arc totally unfit Tor
use, and one might as reasonably
expect race horse to run with plow-
ing collar around his neck as to expect
a ferret TO DO good work, with one of
the made-to-sell monstrosities on his
nose. \ mnzzle should consist OF Eve
light, soft leather straps, which are put
together so that one forms the ring for
the snout, the others lying one along
the nose, one under the chin, one
around the nose near the eyes, and the
last eneircliBg the neck close behind
the ears If you cannot make one
yourself. take the little fellow 10 har-
ness maker, and get him interested in
the matter, and ne win turn out muz-
zle that will fit like lady's glove, and
the ferret win work comfortably and
veil. Remember always that the ami
NAL IS obeying a natural instinct when
he hunts. and that your aim is to as
sist him as much as you can.
q As to working them with bells: II
the grass or underground is thick one
must either have bells or very great
watchfulness, as il ruins 4 ferret TO let
him run around loose, even II only for
a few minutes, and that is what he
will do, if he gets ont of an earth with
out being seen. The objection to bells
is that the sound travels long way
through the ground, and if there are
any other PASSAGES with rabbits in
them they will Ell 5it up and git
while the hunter is occupied with one.
II they are used, they should be of the
tiniest model of sleighbell proeurable,
and should be slung oEtO a very light
strap, care being taken in putting the
collar on that the bells are so ar
ranged that the buckle comes under
the ehin and the bells one each side
and one in the middle of the back of
the neck. If the bells hang under the
chin they are in the way and half the
time they cannot sound, while, if prop
erlv disposed on the collar, the weight
of the buckle viii keep them on the
back Of the neck, where they viii do
most good.
II you have the luck 20 strike good
rabbit ground, and there are plenty,
never, under any circumstances be
persuaded to use any of the sO-called
sport producers" for boiling the game.
These are generally cartridges TO burn,
and 50 smoke the rabbit out, and
wherever used they drive the game
away, never 10 return As most rab-
bits bolted from earth5 are shot with
in a twenty yard range, the gun must
either be e cylinder bore CT must be 50
loaded as 70 produce what is called
scatter" shooting, and, what is more,
it must be hard hitting gun, for the
furry fellows take lot of killing. and
frequently get away with quite lc2d
of shot on board. The orthodox load
is one ounce and a quarter of No. 6
shot, and three drains and n half Of
powder, using thick wads over the
powder: but many good men prefer
No. shot, and unhesitatingly use
wood or smolSeless powder in the
second barrel, if not in both
4. T. VANCE