The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
NEWS OF THE NORTH WOODS.
Tho New Law as to Deer Hunting Likely 20
Have q Good Effect

From the Utica Observer.
Tho hunters coming out OF tho woods do not
bring many deer with them. They carry the
news to the towns. cities. and farms that it is
not easy to get deer this year. for they find the
animals very shy and not so easy to find when
dogs cannot be used to hound them. The deer
are as plentiful as usual. but they are not 80 easy
TO get. 1t takes skill, patience. and intelligence
to hunt deer successfully now. A guide and a
bowling dog can't round them up for you. You
must be a true sportsman to succeed-of course,
II chance doesn't aid yoa.
The hunters are not SO numerous in the woods
this year-stop; that isn't right. The hunters
arc just as numerous. but the slaughterers are
not. The law has put a stop to the meanest kind
OF hunting. and the five years ought to DO CT.
tended throughout oil time. This stopping of
wholesale Strengthening may make q difference
in the incomes Of some Of the guides and tho
business of some Of the hotel keepers, but in
the end it will prove beneficial to them. as well
us to everybody else.
All agree that the new law is going to aid in
restocking the country with deer, as not as
many will be killed still hunting as II hounds
could be used. Old observers say that hound.
ing %scatters 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 Adirondacks for
fifty years says that he has seen a buck so ut
very NolH Out ny inc MOUNDS ana 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 tho
hunters will. AS usual. lie in wait near known
runways, OF tho deer, and guides will beat tho
woodlands until the frightened animals take to
their legs and expose themselves to the am
pushed hunters. Hunters will go into rough
camp all over the region. and will take their
chances of finding deer without the aid OF dogs.
The sunset shot and the early morning shot
VIII he more than ever resOrteu To. In Surh
cases the hunter lies in wait near the known
feeding places Of the deer. or paddles noiselessly
in a canoe up and down the streams that are
their haunts. This last method of hunting de-
mands great skill in padding rs well as fine
marksmanship. The hunter must be dressed in
dark clothing and must be accompanied by a
man who knows how TO paddle a canoe without
habits OF the deer. and must know when to shoot
and when 10 reserve fire for n better oppor-
tunity. The sunset shot is a favorite with those
hunters who hunt before the legal season opens.
The deer, are then less timid than in midseason.
SO that the chances OF success are much greater
than after tho season of legal hunting has
opened.
1t is believed that the law against bounding
will not be broken. because 1t Is difficult for a
hunter to use dogs without being detected. 1t
Is Easy enough to hunt out OF season with safety
and TO Kill more than the allotted number OF
two deer in n season to tho hunter. but there
will DO hundreds OF ears and eyes to detect vio-
lation OF the law against bounding.
Meanwhile guides and hotel Keepers threaten
an agitation for tho repeal OF the law mt tho
next, session OF the Legislature. 1t should be
the duty OF every true sportsman to exert every
effort not only to retain the law, but to extend
Its period for all time. Stop the bounding OF
deer forever 10 the way to do IL.