The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-03-22
heath TO SQUIRRELS.
. Modern Hunter and His De-
structive Me thods.
d of Firearms, lie Uses AK. Saw
uuIIdog aud But Few of the
Little Tree Climbers Es-
cape Him.

The old-time squirrel hunter is
a.rred as tall and stalwart, decked
he garments of the wildwood, whose
rerv feature displays honor and cour-
H. He has come out to get dinner,
/ a hicks a target on far-away tree.
4 matches his skill against the dis
snce and wins. With the flash of the
h. ride the nearer squirrels hide
I,sv and a moment afterward bark
.stilc at the retreat of the intruder.
poniel Boone or Davy Crockett might
1 the model for such a picture. The
.ew squirrel hunter is very different
T. His methods are like those of
t. drar-net fisherman that sweeps
rorn shore to shore, leaving no way of
~,,ne His work, if unchecked, means
ktermination.
TTbs new hunter, says the New York
3ar has nothing to recommend him to
h. prblic except possibly his courage.
roar seems to be unknown to him. His
/ uipmcnt might not suggest peril. 1t
bnsists of a gun, an AK, saw, climb
H. sDur-. rope, a stringing belt, and a
n,ldoo. With the first snow of winter
l. H.. inns his Woodwork, because it
4 vocation, and not a recreation or
Measure. After the first night the
bow through the forest is lined with a
,etwoys of tracks that lead from many
biarters TO some mammoth tree. There
bav be a dozen trails all centering at
ks point. some from the distant corn
bids, and others from nearby logs,
vhere a supply of nuts was garnered
b. winter. Probably with the pot
lunters coming red fox squirrel,
lder than the rest, banks from the
,pper boughs at the intruder, and
bshes its long fiery tail through the
nnliqht. It's position would delight a
nortsman. for it would afford superb
Ihot. but the pot-hunter has no senti-
hen. There is no quickening of his
,ulse as he unslings his gun, for it is
lot to be used, but is piled with the
,ther accoutrements at the foot of the
liant tree while he prepares for the
oming slaughter.
The climbing spurs are already
>uckled to his boots. The ak and saw
|re slung to his belt, and with extend
d arms he measures the tree; then, set
ing his iron heels INTO the bark, the
scent begins. With each reach of his
ong arms he leaves the younger forest
,elow. The line of the pawpaw tops is
'assed, the silver birch Is distanced in
he upward reach, and at last the
timber comes out into the open sky.
Long before the hunter has reached
lalt the height the fox squirrel,
Harmed, has hurried to his nest. The
timber reaches the point where the
quirrel disappears and finds the en-
rance to the nest hollow knot which
ad been enlarged by the sharp teeth of
he little fellows. The hunter now
nots the rope about the tree and I'M
err his arm. Then, Embedding his iron
cells deep in the bark, he hangs out
rom the tree at an angle of forty-five
egrees 1t is dangerous position;
is safety lies in his ability to keep his
muscles rigid and the iron spurs buried
eep in the tree. Should the spurs slip
r the muscles relax the death of the
would be assured. After
ttaining this position he removes his
NV from his belt and makes deep cut
lst below the entrance to the squirrel
en- the black dust telling him when
e has cut deep enough. Then the saw
dropped to the ground, and it's crash
wakens the bulldog to the fact that
is part of the programme is about to
'egin. Before this he has sat motion
ess. Now his dull eyes flash. He
takes up a position at the foot of the
rec, his short neck bent backward as
10 looks steadily upward awaiting de-
elopments.
The climber begins splitting out the
lock with the ak. There is a rain of
hips, and at last the ak penetrates the
terror and the slab is pried open.
READY the squirrels have been plan
ing to escape, and as the light enters
leir home one of them springs out of
le knot hole. The others would have
but the climber sets the steel
lade Of his AK across the opening, and
le slab springs back to it's place, barr
lg further escape. The squirrel that
lmped from the tree strikes the snowy
round and endeavors to escape the
ash OF the bulldog. A quick spring to
neighboring tree would save it, but it
oes not recover from the shock of the
Ill quickly enough.
The sharp fangs Of the dog are set In
IS back. There is cry of pain, min
led with the crack of bones, and
igorous and prolonged shake of the
'ogs head ends the squirrels life.
hen the climber releases another vic
I'm, and in this way the slaughter con-
Inues until half dozen dead squirrels
re scattered in the snow.
The profits of his calling net the hun
er only a scanty living, because the
NV prohibits the general sale of squir-
els. The pot-hunter has been defended
y many who believe that no other call
lg Is open to him, but this excuse has
Ute merit. A climber of such daring
ould easily earn from two dollars to
hree dollars day as a telegraph line
ian, and not work half so hard or 80
ong.