The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-25
EASY NOW TO TRAP BEARS
Bruins Laying On lis Winter Fat. and
Ills Hunger Is PrOliiGi6us.

hls munger Is FrO0iGiOus
LAcHINE, Canada, Oct. q Sine Latour
of Ottawa county has a short cut TO his pig
sty through the floor OF his barn, which is
contiguous to his hog house. ByopeninS
trapdoor and descending short ladder
he saves himself the trouble of walk ing
around 70 the back Of the barn and undoing
the heavy door which is always kept well
fastened. because Of the nearness of the
bush which surrounds bis little clearing
on all sides.
Being DESTROYS Of having little sport
with the early-rising ducks on lake not
very far away, he went out with a lantern
one morning before daylight to feed his
swine Fortunately for him, he swung his
light through the trapdoor before going
down with his pail OF swill and saw that his
ladder was not in it's place. knowing that
he had nailed it securely. he looked more
carefully about the pen 10 find out what
could have happened during the night to
disturb things, and after some examination
raced back again to the house for rsen-
forcements
Bidding his wife to hold the end Of the
rope TO which he had fastened it, he let the
light down some feet into the pen. Then
Fastening around to the back he pushed
the muzze Of his heavy oId-fashioned rife
through the tiny window. sighted carefully
and fired The shock of the explosion put
out the light but from out of the dark ness
came some wild struggling which showed
that his aim had been true.
When the relighted lantern was again
let down, Iatour swung himself into the
pen, and announced that his bullet had
gone through the head and done for the
biggest bear he had ever seen. Both pigs
were dead, 90, murdered by the maraudng
visitor, and one of them was partly de-
voured OF this loss, however the farmer
spoke lightly when interviewed by trav-
cling sportsman
He had 400 pounds Of bear meat which he
declared was Just at better as salt pork,
a quantity of grease for which there is
always q great demand at high price,
and a well furred hide, almost prime in
quality, early though the season is for
which he snilingly refused his visitors
offer Of SIS.
No doubt the bear entered the hog pen
early the previous evening by latour's
short cut. and in his chase after pork had
knocked away the ladder, thus cutting on
the possibility of retreating by tho way
! he had come in.
At this season Of the year bears take many
! chances to satisfy their cravings of hunger,
instinctivelv induced by the anticipation
( of the long fasting season of Information.
! During the next few weeks the creatures
! will Law on several inches Of fat just inside
! of their skin, which will be the mainstay
of their existence in the long winter months,
/ 1t is not unusual to find that bears killed
lust as they are denning up have nine
inches Of fat stored away upon the shoulders
and ribs
! This abnormal appetite of the bear is
! what the hunter who is on the lookout
! for his fur coat just at this time of year
! trades upon Early in the season the eau
ton and deIibera'ion Of the brute make
| it almost impossible to get him into trap,
but it is possible in the late autumn to take
advantage Of his necessities.
Many hunters try to attract him by
his traditional love Of a dinner of fish,
| Bullpout, cells, suckers, or any other old
thing the waters may furnish in sufficient
! numbers to make a good big string, are
hung by the Preside for day or two, or
| exposed to the sun at the side Of the farm
buildings. When their perfume becomes
really loud they are fit for Use.
Or a porcupine or some other animal is
shot and roasted in a fire near the place
where The trap is TO no set, care being taken
TO cook il well. so that the aroma of the
cooked meat may 60 abroad Sometimes
fish are fried or gr!lled near where the trap
is set. Anything which smells like good
dinner will do to bring the hungry bear
to the locality He will scent a fine roast
nearly a mile away,
On one occasion the cook in lumberers
shanty had left his fresh meat cooking in
a covered pot over the fire while he took
his gun and set ont 10 meet the returning
choppers, with III" intention Of shooting
a few partridge by the way, As the gang
approached the shanty they heard curious
noises, and. cautiously peeping in, were
surprised TO find n big bear dancing about
on his hind legs
The hardy fellows managed to kill the
visitor and found that the reason for hi'
gambollings was the burning of the Skin
from his forepaws. The hungry beas
had swung the covered pot with the rnea
from over the IRE toward MN, JCfn or 'h'
TOP and clawed out the humps Of scorch
ing hot meat, all Of which he had managed
10 gulp down, though his throat and stom
ach must have been badly burned.
Having appealed to his olfactories, the
next step ~ To prepare proper reception
for the bear. The trap--whether as some
times, though very seldom in this age.
deadisii nh,is as} that the trunk Of a larg,
tree may orl!,n the creature 10 death, ol
a iointed rirn Of steel like big rat trap
must be set so that the bear can approach
il from only one direction.
Usually a little stockade IL built Of logs
with an opening IN one direction only
At ths time ~ year, when the desire Il
satisfy MIS- hunger ~ paramount with fht
bear, no attempt need he made 10 concea
the siOckadr and II the steel trap ~ palnte,
some dull dark Color, or few leaves or
H,tIn earth scattered over IT, no furihe
cDuCralmrnt will bc urcfssary, The bait
a string of fish on roarted meat, lies ar hang
Just beyond the lTaU
one nEperluenialIst used 10 teth"r
email pig in tho right placr and keep II III
h.Iiaaliny CONDITION ny denying II food
, But the lure was 700 eNentive, Tor NOR
than Opne b@arD, fearing the pig would e.
; cape them, ieaped right over the trap, an'