The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-29
nEmARxAB1E HUNTING SEASON.
Bears Tee rat 10 Chase Deer. but Foxes
Thtnned out the PRrtridEes.

MONTREAL, Nov. 2s.-Mr. John NATHAN was
in the city this week from his timber limits In
the upper Ottawa valley. He came down for
shanty supplies and TO have n look at the city
folk, ho said, before going into the bush for the
winter. OF course his friends were pleased to
see him and get his annual report on tho condi-
ton of game and the hunting in the north coun.
try. In discussing these matters Mr.. NATHAN
quoted as his authority Joe Ricurd. who lives
on a little clearing on the outskirts of one OF tho
lumber limits farms. Joe is a farmer in a small
%backwoods way. and hunter and guido between
seasons.
well said Mr.. Mattan, Joe tells mo this
has boon n very remarkable senson. Everything
in the hunting limo seems to be under a hoodoo
as far as he is concerned. lie is so discouraged
that he threatens to put up his rifle and traps
and hire in my shanty for tho winter as a chop
per. Joe sums up the season in this way. The
early part promised we'll for deer; the woods
seemed full OF them. Then tho bears cam out,
and they wero SO blamed thick they would have
chased evory deer way had 1t not been for the
blueberries. There never before was such a crop
of berries; they simply colorcd the face OF the
country. and gave 1t a very odd appearance.
Well. after q time the bears got so fat from eat
ing berries that the. could not run fast enough
to chase the deer. But tho bears were soon
driven of for want Of food. for in some way tho
partridges got wind OF the berry crop. and in
they fiockcd from all directions. The bush about
there was simply alive with them. and the noise
of their flying about and drumming on the down
timber made one think n thunderstorm was rag
ing all day long. The blueberries vanished, but
there was trouble in store for tho partridges.
The state of affairs In some way leaked out
and the foxes were not long in sizing up the sit
uation. Here was a chance to make tho feath.
ers fly, and they promptly improved 1t: In they
chops in anticipation of the feast awaiting them.
One could not take o peep Into the woods with
out seeing their bushy brown tails whisking
about through the underbrush. The snapped
up the cartridges right and left, until IL looked
like an exploded feather bed wherever the berry
bushes grew.
After a time tho birds, finding themselves
reduced to a small but much-sought.aftcr mi
nority, took the hint and cleared out. Then the
foxes found they had overdono the thing. There
was nothing left to eat. 1t was n case OF popula-
Heynard scratched his cunning head and sought
u solution OF tho problem. He soon discov.
cred that down tho river were the clearingd
ers. He also drew the Inference that upon
these farms would DO poultry roosts. So
down country tho foxes trotted and soon the
keys. They continued, to. disappear, and soon
the foxes became SO bold that they successfully
tackled young pigs straying about in the fields.
The farmers tried guns. and they tried traps, and
brush were arranged around the edge of the
clearings and set on fire at night to keep the
foxes from venturing out of the bush. II sue
ceeded very well. Butadry spell came on; the fire
got into the bush and burned up the foxes. to-
gether with $4,000 worth of pinc timber. Joe
Ricard said II destroyed his cabin and barn. and
that was why he moved out. went over to the
branch. and sauatted on a bit Of the limits
hay farm, where my foreman found him when
he went up with the shantymen this fall. Joe
his new homestead. That is why he Is not hunt
ing. After a man has had such hard luck
cannot refuse him a little help