The sun., 1902-11-02
LONG ISLANDS DEER SEASON.
Wedn esday's the First Day y-2,OOO Hunters
Expected 10 Turn Out.

EAsTPoRT. l.. l., Nov. THE deer hunt
ing season on Long Island begins on
Wednesday next. IL comprises the first
two Wednesdays and Fridays in November
III the sport hundreds of hunters from
New York and its vicinity take part. New
Jersey, Pennsylvania. Rhode Island, Con-
necticut. Massachusetts, Vermont and even
New Hampshire also send delegations
to Long Island on these days.
On Tuesday next all the passenger trains
arriving at Oakdale, Islip and Sayville
will bring parties of hunters, most Of whom
will proceed Immediately TO the shooting
grounds for the purpose Of raising their
tents and preparing for the sport which
will begin at midnight. Others will obtain
accommodation at the outlying farmhouses
and taverns.
No sooner will the old clock in the belfry
at Sayville have tolled the hour OF midnight
than all the surrounding woods will be
infested with hunters who. by shouting and
beating tin cans, will endeavor to drive
the game from its coverts. Hundreds OF
hounds will be unleashed.
Should the night be moonless iacklan-
terms will be carried to reveal the frightened
animals as they dash from the bushes.
Ever and anon the sharp crack Of a rife
or booming Of a shotgun will proclaim
the progress of the sport.
While few deer are killed during the
night by this reckless form of sport II IL not
until daylight that the real shooting begins.
The sportsmen are then stationed along
the various runways and more dogs are
unleashed.
At one time the tracks Of the Long Island
Railroad were a favorite station for the
hunters, but OF late years the railroad COM
pany, owing to the lawless conduct OF the
hunters. has compelled them to seek other
ground. The fire line separating the South
Side Sportsmen's Clubs preserves from
the public land Is now the most favorable
avenue, as the deer are almost certain TO
cross II to seek the protection of the clubs
confines.
The hunters are so close together that
the liability of accident is great and scarcely
a day OF the open season passes without
one or more casualties. Where the pres
ence of high grass impairs the range Of
vision trees are not intrequently climbed
and curious spectacle Is presented by
the appearance of many hunters i'll the
topmost branches of tall pines or oaks.
The course OF deer through the woods
may be marked through the shooting which
accompanies its dash for freedom. The
cessation of the shooting is always re-
gretted by hunters other than the sue
cessful ones. because il invariably indi-
Gates that the deer has been killed.
The open season always attracts the
lawless element from the surrounding
villages and fortunate is the sportsman
who. after killing deer. is successful in
carrying il home. Many there are who
visit the grounds without dogs or guns
and depend upon their boldness To secure
game.
These men usually travel in strong par
ties and, when a deer il known to have
been killed, they rush upon the hunter
and demand all or part of the game as
serting that their dogs ran the deer. Tn
less the rightful owner Is physically capable
Of establishing his rights he will see the deer
carried away from him. More than ono
quarrel occurs every day during the
season over the Possession Of deer.
There Is an unwritten law as 10 the di-
vision of a deer among the hunters. The
head Is given to the man killing the deer
while the hide belongs to the owner of the
dogs. Should the dogs belonging to
another party have chased the deer they
are entitled to one-half of the venison.
IL is estimated that when the shooting
season begins on Wednesday morning
there will be at least two thousand sports
men gathered on the grounds These will
probably kill between eighty and one hum
dred deer.
The demand for the deer which have been
killed Is very great among New York sports
men anxious to return home wit game and
much as $50 is paid for a single animal.
While the weight Of the Long Island deer
is less than that of those found in more
northern latitudes several have been killed
which exceed 225 pounds