The Republican journal., 1902-04-24
A COON HUNT IN GEORGIA.
+ Correspondence of The Journal. !

To visit the south and not enj Joy a coon
or possum hunt, would be losing at
least half of the pleasures and sport
for which the south is noted. All
visitors are told Of the wild possum
soon after their arrival and among the
dark brethren few dishes are in greater
demand, or liked better, than good
tat pOSsum. Through the kindness of
southern friends few days ago had
the pleasure OF starting on hunt in
the early evening which occupied the
greater part of the night, and it was as
interesting as it was novel. WeSecured
the services of an old negro, sBob
Leggett by name, whose reputation as
possum hunter has no equal in
Thomasvile, and whose dog is also
said to be the best. Providing our
selves with hearty lunch, lanterns,
revolvers, axes, bit of rope. some
bags in which to bring home the game
half dozen dogs and an extra neg1o
boy to tote the poSsum, we were off
Our dogs were not allowed to run until
we were well out of the ,.ity into the
woodland, and were then turned loose.
Extra precaution had been taken by all
OF the party III preparing ourselves
with loose leggings in case we were un
lucky enough to come across a rattle
snake. and as the season is opening for
them, Low that it is getting warmer,
we We're many times cautioned that
great danger existed The rattlesnake
after being denned up all winter has
within the past few weeks of sunshine,
eraW led out of his W inter home. and as
the nights are growing warmer is daring
the chill by remaining out of doors all
night AS they lay asleep on the
ground at night people unconsciously
walk on them and before they are
aware what they have met, the snake
IS upon them and in almost every case
the deadly tangS have done their work.
1t Is necessary for the snake to coil up
before he is able to strike you and he
always gives three shakes of his rattle
before striking If one is quick, and
realizes at once what has happened, he
wi. Very often be able to escape after
tie sounding o1 the first rattle in the
night. but if if be i'll the day he will
discover the snake and take a most un-
teremonioUs leave Wewere fortunate
enough not to meet any and heard none
throughout ouI trip
Nothing is heard for a little time
after the dogs have been turned loose
and they run along silently, for they
are so we'll trained as not to 90 off on
the Trail Of anything but possum or
coon. We go on silently through the
quiet woodland, the tall trees towering
on either hand, while we walk through
long grass, where snakes might wait in
cover for their prey. All is quiet, other
rhan the breaking Of pine cone or the
tWigs beneath our feet, or the cracking
OF bush as some animal moves, aWak-
ened by the light of our lanterns Once
IL a while we heard a low whine from
the dogs far ahead, While in the distance
at the home Of some lonely farmer, is
heard the barking of the dogs and the
rOOsters Growing, for those two sounds
are heard here i'll Georgia almost con-
tinualIy from sun down until the day
breaks again,
We had covered quite territory
when the dogs began to whine and fol
lowed this by low howl which told the
experienced ear Of ON guide aud veter-
an hunter cole Bob" that we had at
least got a trail He utters a peculiar
cry and the dog responds He continues
this awhile the dogs responding, and
then they become quiet and we know
that the trail, be it posSum orcoon, must
have been cold one or the dog would
not have given it Up as she has done.
We had tramped many miles in the wood
and the hour was getting late before
we were rewarded with the long looked
for yelp of the dog in response to the
cries of "Ole Bob" but this time
they are heard in good earnest and we
are assured Of some excitement as
result Of our trip. soon the yelps of
the dogs grew INTO short howls as the |
trail grows warmer. and as usual the
chased animal takes to the brook. |
termed III the south a ''branch," lust |
70 puzzle the dogs. But they are soon
out and after him again The cries Of
ole Bob are oftener heard as encour-
agement to the dog, and we are growing
warm in the enthusiasm of the chase.
Louder and louder grow the howls of
the dogs, While we stand in the dis
tauce waiting until they have treed the
game, and we are soon rewarded. The |
short. sharp bark of the dog tells us that |
The game is treed, and filled with the
spirit Of the hunt we hurry across the |
woodland to the tree. \ fire is lighted |
in the nearby grass and we see our
game far up in the tree on a distant |
branch where he has sought refuge
from the dog. The game we are as
sured is possum because lie has taken