The record-union., 1893-01-28
REACHING TOO FAR.
One Of the Proposed Amendments to
the Game Laws.
a Correspondent Intelligently Shows
Up the Objectionable Features
to the ssNo Dog'' Bill.

A correspondent of the RECORD UNION,
who evidently understands the subject
on which he writes, contributes the fol-
lowing well-timed criticism on one of the
game law amendments now before the
Legislature. The author of the law ap
parently aimed at the hunting of deer
with packs of hounds. but really pro-
hibits or attempts to- the use of one dog
by the hunter. Says our correspondents:
If the amendment to the game law pro-
hibiting the use of dogs for trailing deer
becomes a law, it will certainly be in
favor of the game hog" \ still hunter,
ii is well known, can slaughter more deer
and find less than the man who uses
dog. When man goes in for what
money there is in game he seldom uses a
dog, as the dog is III the way. 1t is fact
that nearly one-half the deer shot by men
who do not employ dogs to trail the ami
mails are lost. The writer has had fifteen
years experience in hunting deer with
and without the aid OF a dog, and has
found the hound to be valuable animal.
Such thing as losing a wounded deer to
die a lingering death in the jungle has
never happened when the dog was en-
ployed
L DO not believe in hunting deer with
large packs, but it would be great mis-
tdh u ~ pIOnlDlL Iu0 use Oh any GDBS. Ii
IS the only sure means man has to
locate lost animals, saying nothing about
the great good hound does in the way Of
routing VarmintS, such as panthers. coy
ties, etc., the natural destructive enemy of
the deer.
In tnis dry climate there is no need for
such law; the ground during the open
season IS dry and hard in the hills, max
Ing 1t almost impossibl to track
wounded deer no matter how SEilltul q
hunter becomes. II. L.. in Forest and
Stream, says: "When hunting where
there are several camps of hunters, with
i'll q few miles of each other, it is not an
uncommon occurrence to find dead deer,
evidently killed by some Of the hunters.
could multiply instances to illustrate
the points under consideration"
lie also says: Il believe not one-half
the deer shot by good hunters, men
skilled In the use of the rifle, are
secured" This the writer has found to
be true from careful study. Such loss
never happens where dogs are used.
hen true sportsman kills one or two
deer, and finds them. he is usually salts
fed, but ii he wounds dozen and does
not find one, he is not satisfied, and will
keep on killing until he finds one. How
much better it would be if he found the
| lrst one wounded, which can only be
done by the aid Of a trained hound
The hound is also the best detective the
farmer can have. Besides routing and
killing 'varmints," he will protect the
| hocks by running Off or killing sheep
killing dogs. Hunting dogs seldom
mOlest domestic stock.
The writer has used hounds for MANY
years, and has not lost one single
wounded deer, although [ could have
killed many more "sneak hunting.n but
this meant more loss and less sport. T
also killed hundreds of "varmints.'' - the
natural enemies of the deer, which could
not have been done without the aid Of the
dog, thus saving hundreds OF fawns from
destruction. / have found from careful
study that it is impossible for a hound to
track a fawn, they being SO protected bv
nature by leaving no scent.
There Is no class of sportsmen that
favor protection more than do the men
who use dogs, and they are most all of the
Intelligent and better class.
The clause mentioned will not meet
with the approval of the intelligent
sportsmen, for thousands OF deer will be
lost that will become food for varmints
instead of man. There can be no mis-
take about this.
New York State has over five million
of people. Virginia is one of the oldest
States, and yet they have no need for
such law in those States, although pack
hunting is prohibited.
If the deer need protection, shorten the
season. Six months is altogether too
long, and three months should be sutfi-
cient.
Prohibit the use of the shotgun loaded
with buckshot, protect the female and the
young, and there will be deer in our
forests for generations to come.
TRUE SPORTSMAN