Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-09
IN THE GAME COUNTRY.
Mr.. C. W. Jones Tells Of His Recent Huniiro
Trip Near Pa.ten.

returned from a short hunting trip the
last of the week, bringing with them
four fine deer. In conversation with a
Journal reporter Mr.. Jones said: "It
was throughout thoroughly enjoyable
trip. In fact | can say that I have
never had a pleasanter outing in NV
life. We had made careful inquiries of
men familiar with the various game
regions of the State, and decided that
the section about Patten offered as
good Inducements to sportsmen as
could be found in Maine. | wrote Mr..
Lewis Cooper at Patten and made ar
rangements for us to stop with him.
Mr.. Cooper runs a hotel about liz
miles from Pattcn in the very heart of
the game region. 1t is a stopping
place for the heavy tote teams that
travel to and from the lumber sections,
and it is no uncommon thing for nine
or ten of them to put up there in a
single night. These drivers bring Mr..
Cooper the mail from Patten. so that
he practically receives it daily. 1t is
an advantage which his CHESTS have
never failed to appreciate We left Au-
gusta on the Saturday morning Pull
man in pouring rain, but by the mid
die of the forenoon when we reached
Patten it had cleared away. We were
met here by Mr.. Cooper, and after din
ner were driven to his place. which we
reached about O'Clock. The clearing
weather enabled us to get a fine view
Of the country which could scarcely
appear to better advantage than it does
at this season of the year. We en-
joyed the trip hugely and incidentally
worked up a good appetite for the ex-
cellent supper that awaited us on our
arrival Mr.. Cooper's place more than
met our expectations 1t was scrupu-
to be desired. There was a good var
iety, and everything was well cooked
and neatly served. Mr. Cooper is a
past master in the art Of giving his
guests a good time.
quite party of ladies' and gentle
men from New Hampshire and Con-
necticut, were already on the ground
when we arrived. We were particular
~ impressed with the character Of the
guides. They We're all clean cut young
Americans, who were thoroughly famil-
lar with the woods and the habits Of
the ms and outs of camp life. and We're
good fellows with whom it was a pleas
ure to be associated After breakfast.
Sunday morning. we started for the log
camps which are run by Mr. Cooper
some Az from his hotel. We had the
whole day before us and made the trip
in very leisureIy manner. arriving
there about noon. The camps are
beautifully situated on a knoll over
looking the Sebois river only short
distance from the mouth Of Shin brook.
They were used originally for a big
numbering crew and are large and
roomy. Mr.. Cooper has carefully re
fitted them ana nothing is lacking there
for the comfort Of sportsmen. only a
few feet away is one of the finest
spring Of water | have ever seen.
1--WE learned from our guides that the
long stretch of dry weather had brought
the deer into the low lands close to the
water supplies. We We're glad that this
was so, for the conditions were such as
to make still hunting practically out OF
the question on the ridges. The only
chance was to follow the wood roads
where the conditions Were more favor
able We started in bright and early,
Monday morning. and for the next four
days we devoted ourselves to hunting,
taking our dinners with us and eating
them in the woods. The weather was all
that could be desired. During the four
days we saw no less than % deer and
partridges in abundance. Nearly all Of
our hunting was done over triangle OF
wood roads covering distance of about
six miles. We tramped over and over
this course and never failed to see game,
although We We're not always able to Sc
cure good shots at it. Monday night, the
New Haven party came into the camp
and for three days there were SIX of us
with guides, hunting over the same terri
tory. We saw plenty of moose tracks.
and a New Haven gentleman and his
guide ran on to two of them within
short distance of the camp. From my
own observation | have no hesitation IN
saying that this is one of the finest game
regions in Maine. Any man who is even
a fairly good shot, and is willing to get
out and tramp for it, need have no
trouble in securing deer there.
when our party returned to the hotel,
Thursday we carried L deer. On our ar
rival there we found that a Massachu-
sets gentleman who came in with US,
and who had not gone to the camp. had
shot a fine buck within 80 minutes walk
of the house. We did not pay much at
tention to shooting partirdges until the
day before we left camp, but had no diff
Guilty in securing eight which we brought
home with us. On our way to Patten,
Friday morning, we saw fine doe beside
the road within easy rifle shot; but as we
had secured our quota, we allowed her to
DEPART in peace-which she did in very