The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-01-09
HUNTING I'm KANSxS.

AN AAkvoA0s |
Abilene kansas, correspondence a sAs -.
Louis Globe-Dsmocrat.
Crisp, brscins air, the rsturn Of
winter, and the opening Of The game
season bring q revival Of one or the
VESTS unique and interesting amuss-
ments-that OF hunting contests, IN
which whole prairie neighborhoods
ioin, and which make . day md
night of iollity for the communities
isolated from the enjoyments OF
more fortunately situated localities.
Nowhere but on the pralries are
these possible, and their inaugura-
ton a few yesrs ago In . southern
Kansas town has been followed by .
rapid increase in popularity, until
the custom has become . standard
one on the plains.
The contest opens by two leading
| Nimrods choosing every available
hunter OF the community upon one Of
two sides, of which they arc captains.
Usually thirty men and boys can be
found for each division, and the
boasts and rivalry resulting from the
~"choosing up'' are q direct incentive
to hard work on the day of the oon-
test. Before that date, however, .
schedule OF points is agreed upon,
each specimen Of wild creature shot
or killed be ng worth . certain mum.
Der in the summary Of the rival COM
panies' work. Here Is q card
from a recent event Of this kind:
deer, 100; antelope. rs; coyote, 40i
prairie chicken, IS; wild goose, rs;
Wild duck, 20; plover, 10j quail, 8;
jack rabbit, 90; common rabbit, s;
squirrel, 80; wild turkey, 80; prairie
dog, 20.
The temptation to indulge In pot
hunting on quail is curbed by the
small value in the score put on these
pretty, but rapidly decreasing, game
birds.
On the morning Of the appointed
day both parties sally forth, armed
with double barreled breech load
ers, rifles, old army muskets, and
revolvers-anything that promises
to create havoc among the wild
creatures Of the plain. All day the
"bsng, bangl" Of guns is heard, and
from sunrise to sunset the eager
hunters scour ravine and wood clump
In order to add to the summary Of
their work in the contest.
Down at the settlement, where the
general merchandise store and the
postoffice are located, stand the
umpires awaiting the coming Of the
sportsmen. As evening approaches
the weary searchers for game ap'
. pear, singly and in groups, eacf
bringing his quota of the booty will
. him. Two great heaps are made ant
y grow apace, as the contributions in
y crease. On q wide board are pu
down the respective scores repre-
sented by the game displayed, ant
. the excitement increases as the en-
. Of the report approaches. That sid
is indeed fortunate which can tos
u hpon it's pile at the close some higl
scoring carcass, thus deciding tn
contest. In the match referred I
the total scores were 1880 and SILK
showing that the hunters had put 1
. Q good days work, and indicatin
the game wealth o I; some sections {
the West. Indeed, the commone
q varieties Of Wild life are 80 abundar
- that year alter year the capture an
g slaughter 60 on with little diminu
!, ton in the supply. The hares, pal
t cularly the jack rabbit family, al
~ seemingly inexhaustible, while ii
10 ever present coyotes, notwithstand
D. ing a bounty of from 81 to % offere
by the various counuies, continue
~ roam in all their ungainly pesti 81
" BUSINESS around the corrals Of IL
o. ranchmen and farmers. These sp'
cies usually comprise = large portis
of the heaps of game secured in Il
contests, because OF their plenteou
w ness, but their is also a genera
supply of the delectable varieties
o. prairie game that contribute to 81
t festivities which close the gala occ
VIZ sion.
The evening 10 really the gre
ed treat Of the event. 1t IL then til
the losing side pays for its defeat
serving the best supper that prsil
tables can afford to all who wish
%, come. The largest room possil
to he obtained is set with long tab
ne and the best Of the game killed dr
ing tho day 10 cooked by will
housewives and maidens for
eager and hungry contestsn
steaming hot venison, hare, .
wild turkey are served and all
w. their All. Then the tables r