The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-14
HUNTING WITH A CAMERA.

HUNTING WITH A CAMERA.
The substitution of hunting with
camera" for hunting with a gun is COM
mending itself more and more as afford
ing the true solution of the problem or
preserving at the same time the benefits
and delights of craftsmanship and the
existence of the beautiful and useful crea-
lures Of our woods and fields. As says
Frank NJ Chapman, in an article on
this topic in the worlds Work for June:
Among sportsmen a photograph of a
wild animal in its haunts is beginning to
be more priced than the animal itself.
When this sentiment becomes universal,
the camera will have replaced the rife.
Camera hunting more than fulflls all the
essential requirements of true sport. 1t
is infinitely more difficult than hunting
with the gun, and makes far greater
demands on the patience, perseverance,
strength and ingenuity of the hunter.
The apparatus is interesting in its mani
pulaton; its use implies no restrictions
of place or season; and once its results
become as desirable as those obtained
with rod or gun, the latter will be used
by sportsmen only to supply the larder."
Concerning the last words of this quo
tation. it might be added that-with all
hunting with guns prohibited, except in
the case of beasts of prey like the wolf,
the mountain lion, and the wildcat-deer
and game birds Of all sorts would so null
tipIy that the larder" could be for more
abundantly supplied through other agen-
cies than "sportsmen"; and venison and
prairie chickens would find their way to
a great many more tables than at pres
ent. To the temperament which delights
in mere killing, and which finds no APP
preciable enjoyment in hunting unac-
companied by blodshed, the camera as
substitute for the gun, would of course,
be unwelcome. But this temperament
is not that of the true sportsman, and is
fortunately becoming rare. The true
sportsman is he who goes for game be-
cause he loves the life of the woodland,
lake. and river-loves TO trace their fur
red and feathered creatures to their
haunts to observe their beautiful ways.
and to feel the thrill Of the supreme mo-
ment when gun or camera shall do its
work. And the work of the camera is so
much more neutrality-suspicious. so much
after enjoyment not alone to the sports
man. but to his friends, and perhaps TO
the public, if it shall be given to the
press-that it would seem infinitely pre-
ferable to ths other. No game laws limit
the season or the number of shots" the
camera hunter may take. Nor is his
merely selfish amusement. as it is in
most cases that of the man with the gun.
The generous hunter who now divides
his game among few friends may with
the products of q camera make his whole
circle happy.
There remains the objection that cam
era hunting would not furnish TO the
armies Of the country any such reinforce
ment Of trained rihcmen as the ranks Of
American spartsmen have heretofore sup
piled in time Of war. But the main ad
vantage which the hunter has had over
the recruits in our armies has lain not
so much in his already acquired ability
10 shoot straight as in the hardihood and
ability to take care Of himself in camp
and field acquired in hunting experiences.
Such hardihood and ability come just rs
naturally from hunting with the camera
as with the gun. And the nice adjustment
of the lenses affords an education to the
eve not at al TO ne uGSplStu d. a pre-
paration for the use OF the soldiers rife
Besides, the proportion Of experienced
hunters to the whole numebr OF army re-
cruits is small and there are other me-
thods in abundance for acquiring the art
of the sharpshooter without practicing on
deer and big game.
The immense increase of deer. which
follows the prohibition Of hunting, is IL
Illustrated in the experience Of Vermont
and Long Island. where a long close sea-
son" was established: also in the null
Indication Of reindeer in Alaska. Surely
the vast additions 10 the countrys sup
ply Of toothsome meats which may be
thus obtained. added TO the delights Of
camera hunting. viii compensate fully for
any small drawbacks in the way of I'M
stated bIoodthirstiness and lost oppor-
tunities for the education Of sharpshoot-
ers The more the subject is agitated.
the more clearly il viii be seen that the
country has paid dearly for the preser-
walton OF the gunner's sporting oppOrtu-
mites and that the development Of cam
era hunting as a substitute contains bene-
ficent possibilities.-St. Paul Pioneer
Press.