The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-01-26
Jack-Rabbit Hunt at Lamar. Col.

! The annual jack rabbit hunt near Lamar.
/ in southeastern Colorado, ended December
/ 23d when five thousand one hundred and
/ iorty-two dead rabbits were brought to
Lamar \ rack two hundred feet long
had been erected and ON this the game
was stretched. The rack was six feet
high with an arch of fifteen feet in the
centre Ten hundred were carried away
BY hunters and the rest were sent to Den
yer and Pueblo for distribution among poor
people Christmas day Besides hundred
hunters from Lamar more than hundred
men from La .Junta. Denver. and other
cities Joined in the chase The best score
was made by A. II Cawthorn. of La
.Junta who killed two hundred and thirty
nine rabbits The record of the day is
held by four Pueblo sportsmen. who killed
two hundred and twenty FIVE rabbits in two
hours
This was not a rabbit drive. The rab-
bits are hunted in that way in California
and Kansas. and il amounts To little less
than slaughter for the rabbits on a large
area Of prairie are simply surrounded and
gradually driven TO the centre, where they
are killed by the wholesale But at Lamar
every hunter shifted for himself. and their
was no organized effort 10 drive the rabbits
together They were shot down with
WinchesterS as soon as they dared to jump
from their cover. This method of hunting
them gives rare test Of skill in sharp
shooting. for by reason of their irregular
up-and- d-down motion in running they are
decidedly hard to hit with rifa-ball
Jack rabbit day win soon have a place
in the calendar of feast days in Colorado
if the interest IN the chase continues
There has been a grand hunt every winter
for several years. each one being larger
and more successful than It's predecessor
When the special train bringing the Wis
iiine hunters reached Lamar there was
brass band at the station aud the brass
band was there when they left The mer-
chants closed their stores and the people
threw open their houses for the entertain
ment Of their guests After the hunt be-
gan. the irregular discharge Of the rifles in
the sand hills around lamar reminded one
OF picket firing, When large party of
gunners found a stretch of prairie where
the rabbits were thick the report of the
guns sounded Ikea general engagement.
Though the rabbit hunt is liked annual
event in Lamar. and rabbits are killed by
thousands there seems 10 be no decrease
in the number They multiply 50 rapidly
during the summer months that it becomes
necessary Ia make some such organized at
tack on them for they are becoming as
+ great a nuisance as they are in Australia
The rabbits breed on the grassy plains
above the canals where they stay until
their forage fails them. They then gather
IN the alfalfa fields. which accounts for
their being 50 numerous at this season Of
the year
At the beginning Of the hunt the was
ON, began coming in At four q clock and
continued until nine a, night with heap
ing load@ Of the slain furry enemies of the
farmer The cleaners began their work
with the 6rst wagon load and worked
brayely, hut the odds were against them
aud they were soou half buried IN the mass
of rabbit, awaiting preparation for ship
ment. "a the first DAY hunt fully two
thousand We're killed No wagon brought
in fewer than one hundred rabbits, aud
one went as high as four hundred and fifty,
about three thousand pounds 4 great
number Of rabbits were slain which were
not brought in Al records were broken
at this hunt, and not single accident oe-
CURED to mar the pleasure Of the partici-
pants.
When spring comes, and the fresh green
grass comes mp the jack rabbits appear in
large numbers, and begin TO nibhle On the
bark of the Young fruit trees and the vines
Whole orchards are destroyed BY them
II you were t. walk through large vine
ward you might not see one rabbit although
hundreds might be around yeu They
secrete themselves very eleyerly in the
gras,. and beng so nearly the color Of the
ground are hard To detect, They lie
close. With their large ears fiat upon their
backs. until disturbed, and one can almost
walk over them before they viii move