The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-11-25
Such Has Been Expert
ence Of Local Hunt
ers Thus Far.
INCLINATION TO SHOOT
PHEASANTS IRRESISTIBLE
TriaIs'of City Hunter WhoWorks
Day and Night--Faseina-
tions of Coon;Expe-
dition.


Il aside by legislature for hunting
this year have gone and there Is but
one story that is told by the RETURN
ing hunters - rabbits are plentiful and
quail are scarce.
The past week has been ideal for
hunting. The weather was wet and the
days much cooler than the week pre-
vious. Rabbit dogs and bird dogs
could catch the scents better and the
sport was in the main more satisfac-
tOry
Saturday there were large numbers
Of hunters who drifted back into Can
ton. Those who came in from Coshoc-
number of quail seen. The hills and
valleys down there seem to have es-
capped the destruction of cold and wet
that decimated the number in other
sections.
Very few farmers in Stark county
object to killing rabbits and hunters
who go out with hounds and rabbit
dogs can get in whero man with a
bird Jog is refused permission. In the
large swamp districts in Stark county
there is lots of this sport enjoyed, and
hundreds of rabbits are killed every
day
Hounding rabbits requires less skill
than chasing them up by tramping
them out of their "squats." Before the
dogs they lope along at easy speed and
can be even shot sitting still, as they
stop frequently to listen to their pur-
s,Iers. When they are chased Up by
the hunter, they go off at speed and II
takes some quickness of eye and hand
to stop them.
A number of Canton hunters bought
new hunting dogs before the opening
of the season and a majority OF them
secured prizes in their purchases.
They are improving as the season adj
Iancos and their owners not only have
the satisfaction of getting fair bags,
but the pleasure of seeing the dogs
work on game.
The season has not been without its
mishaps and accidents. While no SER
ioIs accidents have been reported from,
this immediate section. several deaths
have occurred in the state. hunters
have been wounded, dogs killed by ac-
c!dent and game wardens have been
sufficiently wary to capture number
of yiolators of the game laws and
heavy fines have been imposed. Tbr
principal offenses have been shooting
pheasants and hunting without permits
The temptation to shoot at pheasant
Is the greatest that can be presented
TO a hunter in this section. This ~
the gainest bird that flies and when
he gets up with roar of wings thai
discounts stage thunder, the natural
impulse is to shoot first and think of
the game laws and its penalties after
ward Jf the hunter had to pay for
the ones they miss, next years salary
wonld be in hook before the season. is
over.
A diversion of the season Is coon
hunting, which is INDUCED in in many
sections. The boys in the smaller towns
and country places delight in running
the city hunter around all day until
his limbs are weary, and then banter
him to go coon hunting at night.
fellow has to be game or he would
nave to stand the ridicule of the gang
and so the city man goes with the
hunters. much as he would prefer
warm bed.
The hunt Is kept up until late in
the night, 1t often being daylight be-
fore the quest for the ring tailed gen.
tlemen Is given up. 1t seems to be the
fate of the city hunter to hoodoo a
coon hunting crowd 1t is ten to one
that for some reason no coons will
caught. The night will be too dry, the
moon too bright, or old Ben" the coon
dog, will be off his feed.
As they wander through woodland
and swamp the crowd will regale the
visitor with such expressions as these:
1--WE treed two right on that old snag
night before last, ,""The dog caught one
on the ground in this corn field last
week one night before he could get to
The timber" Whenever old Ben gives
tongue you can bet it's coon. He won't
look at rabbit after night"
Just about that time the mellow
voice of The hound will come up over
the hillside. For q time the below
ing IN fitful and uncertain. Presently
The notes come clearer and more fire.
qucnt. Then the music is taken up
and there is hot foot ahead. II is
enly a moment or two until the dog
= Inrking up. He has something
treed. Some Of the boys are . little
obublful. The trail was run too sasy1