The morning times., 1896-07-05
HUNTING ON A BICYCLE
Buffalo and Bear Killed with
Rifles Strapped to Wheels.
NEW SPORT FOR BIKERS
Small Game Easily Bagged with
the Weapon that Swings from
the Handle bars.
iCopyright, 1867

Only n few days and the poor horse will
be still further displaced from his normal
element of carrying man TO work and TO
play. A new accomplishment has been
discovered, that of cunning on wheels, and
where once the hunts and meets were the
delight of horse-owners the same are being
held with wheels as means or hunting.
Hunting on bicycles began about Il month
ago. Wellknown sportsInen say that they
have been using bicycle for long time
when wishing to reach Il certain portion
OF woods, or make certain mountain clim bs
and descents quickly. But the actual
cunning on wheels, as it is now known
to bicycle riders in general, is less than
four weeks old.
AFTER SMALL GAME.
II began witn tnosc fiuers VINO are marks
men and whose weekly tours take tnem
through the country. Seeing Il quail
scurry III the brush they would wish Tor
gun 10 eaten Its fnght. Or noting flight
of wild ducks over stream they would
sigh for Il rite 10 fire IN the flock. Con-
suitation with the leading sportsmen and
little practice developed the idea, until
now the bicycle gun Is part OF the eX-
pert cyclists outfit.
The way to hunt on wheels is to carry
rifle strapped to the top bar Tie
rifle as you purchase 1T is as long as
your forearm; maybe shorter. 1t is the
shape OF Il policenIan' club, and does
not look like piece of firearms. But it
has an inside compartment. By screw
Ing a small projection one end comes out
like a telescope, and there comes down
into perfect rifle shape rifle stock, at
sight of which you feel at home with your
firearms. When throug h shooting the
stock is pushed back into the barrel. When
screwed out again there is a snap and the
rifle is in shape.
Ttis is carried strapped clos"!j to the top
bar. and run between the legs without being
noticed by any one passing. At the same
time it is n means of protection to the cy-
cliSt as well as ready sport.
The rifle has Il small bore and is ham,
merless. 1t is very light III action as well
as in weight. and brings down its game
quickly and surely. Having no hammer,
it cannot catch in cyclists clothing, and
its bore is so small that it makes no bulk
between the legs.
A cretain well-known amateur cycliSt
experimental with this rifle at glass balls.
He hit 81 outof 80 the first time shooting.
He was good marksman. but nota "crack"
by any means Asa cyclst he is an expert.
1t is necessary to be very clever upon
the wheel before undertaking to shoot
while riding For second the hands must
be off the handles while the shot is being
fired. Then the rifle must be replaced
or laid do wn, or disposed OF in some way be-
fore the handles are taken in hand again.
THIS is nothing for an expert rvclist, who
finds no difficulty riding without the
handles for considerable distance. He
guides the wheel with the knees. Once
expert enough to do this, and it is nothing
I" 500. npon a wheel. One ran practice
and become marksman. A nd many will
90 this who have never before cared for
shooting.
THE APPROACH.
The advantages of shooting upon Il wheel
are great. You can glide up noiseessly
with your pneumatic tire and crack away
at the game without taking any chances
from a distance. Footsteps are necessarily
noisy, AMI of course the clatter of a horses
feet alarm game, while prowling through
tile brush and lying in wait for game is
tiresome To any but the most devoted
sport lovers.
Bat the wheel takes away all these dife
ficulties. And there is another important
point in favor OF cunning on a bicycle, and
that is the small space through which one
can 90. Given woody path and the choice
OF wheels or on foot, an expert cyclist
will take the chances OF the wheel every
time. The overhanging brush he pushes
back with his hands, and the heavy path
he can tread better upon his steady swift
wheel than by foot.
But it is for coast shooting that the
wheel is best. Along ponds, in The open,
in billy countries and where game abounds
In fields and meadsws, there the bicycle
leap fences, to he sure, but On the other