Evening star., 1896-01-11
HIGH WATER HUNTING.

the Flooded Missouri Bottoms.
From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat
The high waters have made a happy
hunting ground Of large portions of south
east Missouri and Arkansas. All the bot
tom lands, where the turkeys and deer seek
food and shelter, are now flooded like rice
fields. This does rot refer to large cane
brakes, but to the bottoms where the dwarf
cane grows in profusion. All through the
nat country to the southeast there are
numerous ridges or mounds, covered with
beech. oak, pecan, and hickory trees. These
mounds seem to have been designed by
nature as place of refuge from the ris-
ing waters of the bottoms for the animal
kingdom.
In town on Friday, gives most enthusiast
tic account Of several hunts In which ne
lndulged in the past week with some
friends: Il never saw so many turkeys and
deer down the Iron mountain in the same
length of time as did this week." he said
But have hunted the ridges during many
rise before. Myself and man named
John Beckel started out in 'dug-out
Tuesday morning from a point short dis
tance above Oran, and struck across
through the timber for Beech Ridge, which
lies close to Hubble Creek bottoms, and
not far from Little river. We struck the
ridge about 10 o'clock and prepared for
sport Our intention was simply to get a
couple of turkeys and some squirrels for
Christmas, but as We entered a cornfield,
the only clearing on the ridge, nearly every
step we took quail buzzed from under our
feet and rabbits darted away in droves.
I had some shells of fine shot, but am
not much on wing shooting. Before We
got to the timber I knocked over fifteen
quail however, killing seven at one shot.
The birds lit in the trees and bushwacked
In large f1ocks. Just as we got over the
fence fifteen turkeys arose from fallen
tree top and alighted in the big timber
right n q nUorflnw a
three of these, and before We had gone
hundred yards from the place, three deer
were started on point of land that ran
out into the water, but. as they dashed
off into the overflow, we didn't get a shot
1T wasn't more than twenty minutes
later when Beckel sighted an old buck and
a doe right among drove Of young steers.
Beckel was using a long, Misunderstanding
had to wait for some time for fear of hit
ting one of the young cattle. Presently the
buck raised his head. evidently getting
scent of us; but 1t was bad move for
him, BeckePs rifle cracked, and the old
buck fell to his knees, arose again, houn
dered about. and then fell to rise no more.
I tell you it was a fine big buck, and we
got SO excited that we did not know what
to DO for few moments, for when Beckel
was cutting the bucks throat, two more
deer went by US at moderate rate of
speed, and stopped only couple of hun
dred yards away The rifle had not been
reloaded, and my old shotgun was not
equal to the emergency at the distance the
game was resting, but before Beckel got
the buck taken care Of l had brought down
another turkey from drove that walked
right into my range of fire.
BY gosh, Parker said Beckel, this
Is gettin' mighty lively. But 1 don't see
how We will pack much more big game in
that old dugout and dodge all them cypress
knees as We paddle back We don't want
any more deer er turkey on this trip. We
can't ship 'em, an it tain't fair to kill 'em
when they're roostin-like or this ridge
Il was about of Beckel's mind, but to
add variety to our bunch of game I began
knocking off a few squirrels. as there was
lots of them in the trees. l wandered away
from Beckel. and saw several turkeys, and
one of the handSomest bucks l ever saw in
the timber. The big brute started toward
the point where had left my friend, and
presently 1 heard the crack of Johns long
ranger: started back, but hurried myself
when 1 heard Beckel yelling like a Co
maDche Indian. Breaking into run, 1
soon got in sight of man and buck just
tearin' the ground up. 1t was nip and tuck,
but 1 think the buck would have got the
best of it If 1 hadn't rushed into the bat
tie. Soon as l arrived the infuriated and
wounded brute made dash for me, but
l met his assault square in the forehead
with charge of shot at about four feet.
That was settler for the buck, thought,
and / made a dash to get the knife into
his neck, bus he met me half way, and
then he ard L had it. I called to Beckel to
do something, but he said in his slow and
deliberate way:
It's your turn now Parker; I'm tired
"Do you know, that fellow just sat there
on a log looking as cool as Coopers Deer
slayer while I wrestled with the buck
The combat was short, as the animal was
in dying frenzy at the time he raised Up,
and he soon collapsed
After we had ,led the buck I asked
Beckel why he had shot it, as he knew we
could not carry both the deer in our light
craft.
''Oh. you didn't think I wuz goin' to
stand here and let the burned thing bite
me, do ye? was the reply [ got.
after considerable effort we got the big
buck hung up out of the reach of wild
hogs, then we packed our turkeys and the
first deer killed in The dugout, and struck
through the spreads of Hubble creek for
Parker's station, left them there, and then