River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-11-30
HONOR OF THE HUNT.
Difference Between the True Sportsman
and the Pot Hunter.

Difference Between the True Sportsman
and the Pot Hunter.
The man who hunts for the love of
hunting, the true sportsman, halls with
delight any measure that will head off
the fellow who hunts simply for the
meat there is in it.
The true sportsman is manly man
and gentleman nine times out of ten,
and when he goes hunting he believes
in giving everything a chance for life.
II he wanted the birds alone he'd go
to the dealers and buy them for much
less than it would cost him to go out
and kill them, but that's not what he's
after. He wants recreation a tonic for
heart, body and soul rest for his
weary mind, and there's no better place
to find it than in the field with dog and
gun.
It's beautiful sight to him just to
see the intelligent dogs moving like
steam motors across the field, watching
each other with jealous eye and each
seeking to Guido the other. Then it
does him good to walk over the fields
and beneath the trees, breathing into
his soul fresh inspiration for his work.
All this is good to him, but when the
birds are found and the dogs get down
to their work in earnest, business cares
fold their sable wings and fly away,
and his body thrills with pleasureable
excitement that does as much good as a
iudicious charge of electricity through
the system.
When a true sportsman gets in the
field he makes it rule never TO shoot
anything he cannot use, unless it is
some bird of prey that plays havoc
with the farmers chickens.
He never des troys life just because
he has the power to do so, for he has
too high a regard for life that he can
take, but cannot give.
If he should come upon rabbit
sEoozing in his bed he will never shoot
him down there. for that would be like
slipping up behind a man in the dark
and shooting him in the back. He gives
the rabbit a chance for his life, put
ting on notice, as il were by kicking
him out of the bed, and then as he
scurries off, he'll take a crack at him
on the run.
If he sees covey of birds huddled
up together for his dog, he does not
shoot into them and kill the whole
bunch, but he frightens them up, and
as they whirr away he takes his
chances ON the fly and watches where
they light so that. his dogs can find
them and he can get numerous shots.
If You want to disgust sportsman
go along with him and kill few birds
on the ground.
There is another class of men, how
ever, who do not snare the feelings of
the sportsman--the pot hunter
You have all seen him and will read
lily recognize his picture.
Lank and dirty and lazy, he loafs
about home all the summer. letting his
wife support him and his sorry-looking
dogs until fall.
He wanders about the country get
ting birds spotted, and as soon as they
are big enough to shoot he is there
with his dog and gun, it matters not
whether it is in or out of season-he's
after meat.
lie never stops until he kills the
whole covey on the ground, on the
wing, or in the trees; and with his
game he goes to the restaurant and
sells them for good price, as the pro-
prietor is GLAD enough to get them and
ask no questions.
This pot hunter finds covey out of
season, and if there IS any danger from
shooting them, he sets him a trap and
gets them without making any fuss
It's free-and easy sort of life to
him. and he'd kill birds all the year
round if you'd let him.-Atlanta Jour
nal