Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-03-28
HUNTING aAHBrrs IN THE sSow.

HUNTING RdBBITs TN THE SNOW.
An Old Sportsiiisn's Pleasant Reminis-
cences Of Boyhood Days,
81. Louis Globe-D Democrats
The beautiful snow OF the latter part
OF the week sent all the rabbit hunters
scurrying to the fields where bunny
hunts his daily food. II appears that
the game wardens over 10 Illinois are
not very strict with the rabbit hunters,
especially where they are the guests Of
native farmers, hence many nimrods
crossed to the other side Friday morn
ing. There we're some fine beagles
among the motely bunch of dogs that
wore led forth to chase the rabbits to
their laifs. There are thousands If st.
Louis sportsmen who would rather go
ON rabbit hunt when the earth is
white with snow than do any other
kind of shooting. There is something
decidedly exhiarating when the air is
bracihg and the SKY blue, and every
bush and bunch Of grass is bending
beneath mantle OF purify, to follow
weIl-broken rabbit dogs through snow
covered fields, along the hedges,
through the second growths and down
into the rayines, where the little
brown fellows ouddle beneath some
lush or log.
1t ia easy to tell where the rabbits
have stirred about directly after the
snow has ceasad to fall. When the
moon is out the Dummies clay about in
the snow, and seem to enjoy the sport
like schoolboys. dim recollection
comes back to the writer OF many long
tramps, as a boy, away down in York
State, where rabbits were not as plenti
full as they are in these parts, Though
snow @, era foot deep, tracking the rab-
bits to their hiding places. either in
some hollow log, stone feuoe, or hedge
thicket. When the cheerful morning
call announced that it showed last
might, 1t was sure thing that the
boys we're all up early and away to the
woods and fields. The dogs were not
allowed to run at large in tracking
snow, but held in leash to turn loose
| when q rabbit was started from brush
pile and made away for new cover
BOYS did not use guns in rabbit hunt
ing In those day s. The old dog and a
stick were all that went with them.
1t was hard work, but the boys Of the
Western New York farms didn't care.
From blush of morn until darkness
filled the woods with shadows they
would tramp, dig, and delre. If half
dozen rabbits we're secured in day g
chase by pair of boys, they were the
proudest youths in the Empire State.
Sometimes when the moon.was full,
and the crust on the snow strong
enough to bear q person, then two or
three boys would 60 forth together to
hunt tie rabbits On these isunts
little old-fashioned single barreled
shotguns were used. Every boy also
took with him a sheet. They would
scatter out, usually In an orchard or
in oorntields, where the stalks were
stacked for wioter fodder. Som Q
times the boys would make snug
cover in the stalk stack and just sit
still until the rabbits began to come
forth to play about on the crust or seek
for food In the stacks. Many rabbit was
killed in stbis way, as it was sure
shot at 40 yards for any Of the boys
with the old-fsshioned guns that had
been made over from the muskets OF
the Revolution. When hunting in or.
chards the youngsters wrapped the
sheets about their persons and strolled
slowly through the trees, often walk
Ing right up to some unsuspecting
bunny industriously biting the bark
from the young apple tree. Many a
time the boys were mistaken for ghosts
by the farmers who were not up to the
sheet method of hunting rabbits.
There was great sport in ali that kind
of hunting. None since those old days
and nights after, the rabbits have evei
seemed SC full of exciting exhilaratior
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