The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-30
DEATH TO SQUIRRELS.
Tho Modern Hunter and Ills Do
structivo Methods.
Tnstond OF Firearms. lie Uses AK, Saw
AMI Iiuildog und hut Few or tho
Littlo Troo Climbers Is
cEpc Him.

pictured us tall and stalwart, dcclled
in the garments of the wildwood, whose
every feature displays honor and cour-
age. He has come out to get dinner,
and picks Il target on n far-away tree.
He matches his skill against the dis
lance and wins. With the flash of the
long rifle the nearer squirrels hide
away, and moment afterward bark
Justify at the retreat of tho intruder.
Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett might
be the model for such picture. The
new squirrel hunter is very different
person. His methods are like those of
tho drag-nct fisherman that sweeps
from shore to shore, leaving no way Of
escape. His work, if unchecked, :. means
determination.
The new hunter, says the New York
Star, has nothing to recommend him to
the public except possibly his courage.
Fear seems to be unknown to him. His
equipment might not suggest peril. 1t
consists of u gun, an AK, a saw, climb
ing spurs, rope, stringing belt, and u
bulldog. With the first snow of winter
he begins his woodwork, because it
is 4 vocation, and not a recreation or
pleasure. After the first night the
snow through the forest is lined with
network of tracks that lead from many
quarters to some mammoth tree. There
may be n dozen trails all centering at
this point, some from the distant corn
fields, and others from nearby logs,
where Il supply of nuts was garncrcd
for winter. Probably with the pot
hunters coming red fox squirrel,
holder than the rest, barlSs from the
upper boughs at the intruder, and
lashes its long fiery tail through the
sunlight Its position would delight
sportsman, for it would afford superb
shot, but the pot-huntcr has no scnti-
mcnt. There is no quickening of his
pulse as he unslings his gun, for it is
not to be used, but is piled with the
other accoutrcmcnts ut the foot of the
giant tree while he prepares for the
coming slaughter.
The climbing spurs arc already
bucllled to his boots. The AK and saw
are slung TO his belt, and with extend
cd arms he measures the tree; then, set
ting his iron heels INTO the bark. the
ascent begins. With each reach of his
long arms he leaves the younger forest
below. The line of the pawpaw tops is
passed, the silver birch is distanccd in
the upward reach, and at last the
climber comes out into the open Sky.
Long before the hunter has reached
half the height the fox squirrel,
alarmed, has hurried to his nest. The
climber reaches the point where the
squirrel disappears and finds the en-
trance to the nest hollow knot which
had been enlarged by the sharp teeth of
the little fellows. The hunter now
knots the rope about the tree and I'M
der his arm. Then, Unfolding his iron
heels deep in the bark, lie hangs out
from the tree at an angle of forty-five
degrees. 1t is n dangerous position;
his safety lies in his ability to keep his
muscles rigid and the iron spurs buried
deep in the tree. Should the spurs slip
or the muscles relax the death of the
p0t-hunter would be assured After
attaining this position he removes his
saw from his belt and makes n deep cut
just below the entrance to the squirrel
den; the black dust telling him when
he has cut deep enough. Then the saw
Is dropped to the ground, and its crash
awal1ens the bulldog to the fact that
his part of the programme is about to
begin. Before this he has sat motion
less. Now his dull eyes flash. He.
takes up position at the foot of the
tree, his short neck bent backward as
he looks steadily upward awaiting de-
velopmcnts.
The climber begins splitting out the
block with the AK. There is rain of
chips, and mt last the AK penctrates the
interior and the slab is pried open.
Already the squirrels have been plan
ming to escape, and as the light enters
their home one of them springs out of
the knot hole. The others would have
followed, but the climber sets the steel
blade of his AK across the opening, and
the slab springs back to it's place, barr
ing further escape. The squirrel that
jumped from the tree strikes the snowy
ground and endeavors to escape the
rush of the bulldog. A quick spring to
q ncighboring tree would save it, but it
does not recover from the shock of the
fall quickly enough
The sharp fangs of the dog are set in
its back. There is a cry of pain, min
glcd with the crack of bones, and a
vigorous and prolonged shake of the
dogs head ends the squirrels life.
Then the climber releases another vic
tim, and in this way the slaughter con-
tinucs until half dozen dead squirrels
arc scattered in the snow.
The profits of his calling net the hun
ter only scanty living, because tho
law prohibits the general sale of SPUR
rels. The pot-huntcr has been defended
by many who believe that no other call
ing is open to him, but this excuse has
little merit. A climber of such daring
could easily earn from two dollars to
three dollars day as a telegraph line