The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
ADIKoSDAcx DEER HUNTING.
Motel Keepers and Gu,ae. DO Not Like the Law
AGAINST aioundIaK.

PArL SMITHS Aug. 7.-Guides and hotel
keepers throughout the Adirundacks are srum-
bling at the prospect OF a dull hunting season.
The dulness in prospect is not owing to any
special scarcity OF deer. They are certainly as
plentiful and as bold hereabouts as at any time
during the last half.dozen years. Paul Smith
himself Is swelling with in lignation against a
great buck that has been invading his garden,
and the same buck has crossed and recrossed a
public road for weeks past in his journeys to
and from his feeding grounds. Hunters OF the
streams in this region report frequent evidences
or deer. and they have been heard and seen
within earshot OF populoUs permanent camps.
What troubles the guides and the hotel keep
ers is the strinGency OF the new game laws. No
dog may be turned loose upon a deer's trail this
season, and many sportsmen who usually come
into the region in the hunting season will
shorten their visits or stay away altogether. A
guide expects to earn from S75 to 800 a season
from his dogs alone, and so much he must now
count out OF his income, while the hotel keepers
will iad their season cut short several weeks by
reasoh OF the new law against bounding.
Old observers Of the deer believe that the
new restrictions will greatly check the destruc-
ton of the deer and promote their increase.
How many lambs would a sheep farmer ex.
pect." said an old guide. "if he should worry
his flock with dogs twice a week for half the
fall Hounding scattcrs the deer. drives them
from their feeding grounds. and wearies out
many that escape the bullets of the hunters. A
guide who has known the Ad!rondacks for hfty
years says that he has seen Il buck so utterly
worn out by the hounds and so chilled from
taking refuge in an icy stream that he did not
even attempt TO escape at the approach OF the
hunters.
Guides will. in some sort, take the place of
dogs in those parts OF the Adirondacks where
deer are plentiful. In such regions the hunters
will, as usual. lie in wait near known runways
OF the deer. and guides will beat the woodlands
until the frightened animals take to their legs
and expose themselvesto the ambushed hunters.
Hunters will go into rough camp all over the
region and will IKE their chances OF finding
deer without the aid OF dogs. The sunset shot
and the elrly morning shot Will be more than
ever resOrted to. In suCh cases the hunter lies In
wait near the known {, eding places OF the deer, or
paddles noise!essly in a canoe up and down the
streams that, are their htunts; This last method
OF hunting demands great skill in padding as
well as fine craftsmanship The hunter must
be- dressed in dark clothing and must be accom-.
canoe without noise. Both must be well ac-
, quainted with the habits OF the deer, and must
know when TO shoot and when TO reserve rre for
n better opportunity. The sunset shot is a IA.
vorite with those hunters who hunt before the
legal season opens me deer are then less timid
cess are much gre ter than after the season OF
legal hunting has opened;
II is believed that the law against bounding
will not be broken, be ause II Is difficult for a
hunter TO use dogs without being detected. II
is easy enough to hunt out OF Sc son with safety,
and to kill more than the allotted number OF
two deer to The hunter, hut there will he hun
drehs OF ears and eyes eager to detect violation
of the law against bounding.
! Meanwhile guides am hotel keepers thre ten
an agitation for the repeal Of the law at the
next session OF the legislature. Whether The
threat is carried out will depend a good deal
upon the effect OF the law upon the business OF
those especially Interested. II there arc "a many
hunters as usual when the season opens on
Aug: is, and II the falling on IN SEPTEMBER is
less than the guides now fear the law may be
single years suspension OF bounding will bring
about a considr increase OF deer in those
parts OF the Adirondacks where deer are now
scaFcest,