Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-12-08
KILLING DEER
Big Decrease Evident In the Main Woods,
Lumhermen Complaining.

Kineo, Moosehead Lake. Mel
looks very much as If the law which
permits the killing of one deer fol
food purposes during the month oi
September will be repealed. There are
two reasons for this. As the season
advances the fact that deer have great
ly decreased in numbers is being posi-
lively demonstrated. and in addition
to this the Maine land owners and
lumbermen's association has publicly
announced it's hostility to the clause.
The attitude of the lumbermen is not
based on better game protection, bur
they consider September a dangerous
month for forest fires, and desire to do
everything they can to decrease the
number of people that are in the woods
at that time. They argue that the
September law draws on unusual num-
bers of people into the woods during
the dryest and most dangerous month
Of the year, and while they do not op-
enly charge the September hunters
with being responsible for the fires
they feel that every precautionary step
possible should be taken to guard
against them.
In this section the September law has
been very popular. Nearly third of
all the licenses sold annually have
been issued by the Mount Kineo house,
and the hotel management is confident
that the law has more than doubled
the SeDtember business.
Sportsmen are, as a rule. Indifferent
concerning the law, for it is generally
understood that man who goes for an
extended trip in the woods has venison,
license or no license. One thing is
sure, more deer are killed with license
than without, and if the supply of deer
has decreased enough to warrant re-
and further protection the
law should certainly be repealed.
The record of game taken through
Bangor last week was 230 deer and
moose, loss of 50 deer over the same
period for last year, and one of the
records of the present year.
This makes this seasons total ship
ments foot uD to 1872 deer and 81
Such decrease as this must
be accounted for by some other cause
than poor hunting conditions, allow
ing that they have existed, which is
questioned. 1t is generally agreed that
more sportsmen have been in the
woods this year than ever before. and
there should have been, naturally, an
increase in the number of deer taken
1ut. The majority of the sportsmen
seen by The Commercial Advertiser
this season, men who
nave not only been in the country
'ound about Moosehead Lake but else
where, say that deer are perceDubly
carce and extremely wild and wary.
From present indications it looks as
.hough the courts will be called upon
o decide whether a man has the right
o kill moose in self-protection, pro-
'iding, of course. that the case can be
proved. Game Warden Pollard has
'een investigating such "a case at Brad
ord early in October two hunters told |
low they run across two bulls engaged |
n mortal combat near Dead Stream. |
They crept up to get better view of |
he furious struggle, and in doing so |
the attention of the madden |
d animals. who Immediately turned |
pon them. The hunters were obliged |
o flee for their lives. One Of the |
moose pressed them so hard that it
vas necessary to Shoot it down but it |
truggled to its feet and the sportsmen
ought refuge in the branches of a |
rec. After a while the moose left
hem, and went to a stream where it !
aid down as if in pain. After a while
he men cautiously descended from the |
rec, Dut tne action reused the moose, |
nd once moro the huters climbed sky
Yards. Later the wounded moose
vas Joined by two others, ana cise
unters were kept in the trees all
through the cold night. Early in the
1orning the moose left and the men !
e9cended in safety. Game Warden
'ollard has found a dead moose, and |
e thinks it is the moose referred to in |
he story which the sportsmen told |
oon after the incident. The outcome
Iill be watched with some interest.
The Moose record is holding its own
his season and making a slight in |
rease over last. Many moose hunters |
re in the woods and will remain until |
ljven out by cold weather. Others |
viii wait until the SHOWS before going !
n, so that it is a bit early to Drophesy !
s to the final result-New York Com |
nercial Advertiser.