The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-09
BEAR HUNTING IN VERMONT.
Five Bears Csusht BY One Trspper In . Tear
Near Montpelier.

MONTPELIER. VI, Sept. 7-Don n. Celly ~
Berlin. who lives about SIX miles from this
city. has captured FIVE bears within a year.
There are several old bear hunters and trap
pers living near Montpelier and one Of them
is credited with having taken forty bears dur
ing his career; but these men are old timers,
and have not set n trap for twenty years. Mr.,
Celiy. therefore. describes himself as the cham
pion active bear trappcr Of the state. All Mr..
Celly's bears were taken within eight miles
Of the capital city 81 Vermont.
There has been in Vermont n tendency on the
part Of various wild animals TO move south
ward within the past few years. In the case OF
the bears this may he accounted for In ameas-
ure by the fact that the second-Growth for
ests have become big enough to afford them
protection, and that the roots on which they
love to feed are again abundant. As related
In THF Sun, wolves have been killed recently
only a short distance from Montpelier. The
presence of the wolves in this vicinity Is ac-
counted for by hunters on the ground that they
are attracted by the increase of the wild deer
That has taken place under the protection OF
the rigid game laws.
Mr.. Ccllry last capture was n cub. which
was such a cute little fcllow that, instead OF
killing il for the sI2 bounty offered by the State
he took il home and built a pen for IL. The leg
Of the cub caught IN the trap came on, but the
wound healed and in, a little while the cub
WIS KttIllk Nl'hl ia hwy ANll' VA AHAFf
legs. II subsequently became q great pet
Mr. Cellcy's girls fed II from their hands and
fondled it a. they would any other pet 4 rain
storm came up one afternoon, and, as IL threat
ened To last all night. MIR. telcy put u dry goods
box into the pen to shelter III" cub. The young
bear. instead ~ lying inside the box as it had
hccueNIectrd 10 do. climbed o ntop oft jumped
10 the fence, ihcp down on the other side and
made on into the woods. II has been seen once
or twice this summer and to all appearances
To a couple of visitors recently Mr.. Celley
explained how he came to set traps for bears.
'On Aug 5. 1899, he said, Il caught sight 81
a bear II was the first one seen In these parts
for a long time. As the farm work was not
pressing just then ! made m my mind TO get
trail here and there without sighting II again.
] gave up the idea Of shooting the animal finally
the one | was after but a second one beside.
before winter set in set two traps again
this spring as soon as the snow melted, aud
again had good luck. catching two full grown
Mr Ceily exhibited a trap in which last spring
he caught a she bear, the mother of the cub
that was captured later After setting this
trap Mr.. Celly did not visit II for several days.
On going up tho mountain one morning rs
The trap itself weighed twenty-five. pounds
and Il was hltched to Il clog six feet long and
bath the wounded animal made In dragging
the trap and the clog after her. She travelled
down the mountain II mile and a half and then
lance of the place where the trap was set. She
Was dead when Nr. Celly found her. Near
her were two cubs which had followed her
throughout that terrible journey. They made
OF before Mr.. Celly could shoot them. In
her death agony the she bear had gnawed the
trees within reach.
To prove that bears can climb small trees
Mr.. Celly points out where one bear went up
an oak sapling less than six inches through
having on one of it, fOTepaws the heavy trap
from which the big clog was dangling In tho
came trap last autumn a big male bear was
captured. MIR. trlly found II a mile away
down the mountain. The bear was full OF
fight when overfaken. When II saw Mr.. Celly
II stood on its hind legs and angrily shook the
trap that ClutChed a forepaw The. heavy
clog, however, made II impossible for the bear
20 move rapidly and Mr.. Celly shot II without
According to Mr.. Cely. the Vermont bears
for food thoroughly over one before passing
on 10 another. They dig wild tuTnips and
squirrel corn. eat blackberres ana the berries
OF the mountain ash. OF which they are very
fond.
Mr.. Celly, before setting a trap. builds a
eort Of wigwam out OF small posts, leaving a
good-sized opening. This Is 10 prevent cattle
from getting into the trap which Is placed in
side. He covers the trap with leaves, places
n piece Of meat well back from the opening,
and ~scattcrs bits of bread over the k-pAind
The bears enter these pens apparently without
fear
MIR Ceny has been for a long time a famous
fox hunter. He intends now. however 70 devote
his leisure time chiefly to bear. The state
allows sl2 bounty for each scalp. 80 that, aside
from the excitement Of the thing, Mr.. Celly
expects to make enough TO pay him for his
trouble.