Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-11
WILDCAT STRATEGY.
Clever Way in Which the Animal Out-
witted Pursuing Hounds.

Witted Pursuing Hounds.
From the Youths Companion.
In many parts of Tennessee, hunting
wildcats is popular as a sport as the fox
chase. The wildcat is as tricky as the fox
He has still more logged way of sticking
to the thickest cover and the most rugged
ground. and when oyertaken will generally
fight till he dies.
Some years ago l witnessed a wildcat
perform an act Of cunning quite re-
markable as any I have heard attributed
to the fox. With six other young men /
was camped near the head waters of Buff
faIo creek not far from the Alabama
line, when We determined to try wildcat
chase, and for that purpose went to a
thickly wooded strip of country lying be-
streams. In the dense woods there are
occasionally small openings connected by
a few old roads which we could traverse
on horseback. Only at the lower end of
this strip of woods were there any caves
or holes to which the wildcats would be
likely to retreat
Our chase began on a cloudy, drizzling
morning q capital time for the hunt for
and the trail is strong Three of our party.
including myself. tiok Positions near the
junction of the two STREAMS. in the edge
OF small space that, was clear of under
other four. taking the dogs. went some two
miles up the river to start the game, which
would probably pass near our position.
either to take refuge In I neighboring bluff
to dodge the hounds by winding among the
rocks. and then doubling on their trail
We had waited fully two hours when we
heard the distant cry of a hound, and soon
afterward full chorus of the dogs. They
were coming toward our place Of conceal
ment. although as yet far on, and to Judge
from their cry the tran was growing hot
ter every moment. After, a run of some
twenty rntnIItnS the Of Nv ho1-i
ceeded by din OF short. sharp yelps, and
then we knew the pack had sighted the
game. We kept perfectly quiet among the
bushes. our guns ready for action. and
when the hounds were about a quarter Of
a mile distant we heard a rustling among
the bushes between us and the dogs, a
succession Of light. spr1nging leaps, and
then an enormous wildcat bounded into the
clearing.
We should have fired but that our curl
osity was reused by the eccentric move
ments Of the creature. For an instant he
looked back in the direction Of the hounds,
then making several active springs to the
left he returned to his trail and made as
many springs to the right. Then turning
ne jumped upon the trunk of a leaning
chestnut tree, which, having been blown
down. had been broken off some forty
feet from the root. The break was seven
or eight feet from the ground. and the
leaning trunk was pointing in the direction
from which the hounds were coming
The cat ran quickly to the upper end, but
instead of ieaping off. as we expected. he
scrambled underneath the trunk and
crawied out upon a broken limb that pro-
Jected two or three feet from the lower
side. Here he sat, close crouched with his
snort ears thrown back and his great yell
low eyes glazing fiereely
Pretty soon the dogs came up In full cry
on the trail Three old hounds led the pack
and these were a little puzzled when they
came to where the cat had turned aside
Ihe other hounds. most of them being
young. scattered over the open place. ali
the while baytng Justify, but without strik-
Ing the trail at all The leaders, having
made several starts in different directions
hnally struck the trail, and were forthwith
Joined by the others. Up the trunk they
went with sonorous bay, one right after
the otter.
Under the end of the log on the broken
limb still crouched the wildcat, motionless
as stone. except as he bent his fierce yell
low eyes around him and moved his short
tail slowly from side to side. Only the
thickness OF the log was between him and
the foremost hound: still he did not move.
Out only crouched closer to the limb His
pursuers paused but for a moment on the
log, and then leaped to the ground In quick
succession After a little confusion in
searching for the TRAIL they started of at
1uli speed on the back track, and were
soon some distance from the place.
ihe cat did not move from his place until
the hounds were well out of sight Then,
raising his head. he cautiously looked
round. and. finding no enemies in sight. he
sprang lightly to the ground and started
10 make on another way. I wished to re-
ward the animals sagacity by allowing 1t
TO escape unhurt, but shot from one Of
the party stopped Its course.