Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-07-03
COYOTE HUNTING.
Three Mile Winter Run for Men and
Hounds.

In the first place | may say these
are locally called wolves. For the
benefit of those who have had no ex-
perience of this form of sport, viii
give short account of my first sleigh
run with a wolf on a cattle ranch In
the Northwest territory, Canada,
which was typical of many l had
afterward.
To cattle and sheep breeders these
troublesome beasts cause good deal
of loss by taking newly born calves OF
sheep of any age, for, if they once take
to killing either of these, they seem to
prefer them to other food, although
there are any quantities of prairie
chickens, rabbits, etc., about.
The hounds used on the ranch
where was staying are cross be-
tween a thoroughbred deerhound
bitch and deerhound dog with a
strain of mastiff blood to give them
the pluck to tackle wolf, which, al
though cowardly beast, requires
hound to have some courage to go in
and stand the nasy bites he can give
when cornered. We always took the
hounds when riding or driving, for
frequently as many as two or three
wolves would be seen in the course
of the day. Our best day was four
kills. AS the hounds run entirely by
sight, and consequently lose the
game if it can get into thick bush, we
were by no means always successful,
but had some very enjoyable sport.
On the day which I will describe, a
lovely sunny day in the early au-
tumn, with about ten degrees Of frost
and only about six inches Of snow,
three Of Us started out in bob
sleigh to fetch home a canoe which
we had been using for duck shooting
on lake about three miles from
home. Just after passing the home
fence we saw a fox, and Immediately
cheered on the hounds. They dashed
in pursuit, but, after few hundred
yards, it got to ground in badger
earth, Of which there are great deal
too many to give much chance of kill
ing fox, as they take to ground at
the first opportunity, whereas wolf
only does so when very hard pressed.
They only use their earths in the
breeding season.
We then drove on, and had just got
the canoe loaded on the sleigh and
were comfortably settled on it when
we saw a wolf sitting up on a large
slough Shallow pond) about half q
mile away. This was not yet sufi-
GENTLY frozen for us to drive across
so, instead of going straight on, We
circled round to try and get
closer for a start, but the vol
saw the hounds and made off; so
shouting 'S's'away with himp' We
sent off the hounds. Unfortunately
owing to some reeds on the edge O:
the slough, the hounds did not al
first see the wolf, so it got good long
start; but, having half mile of ope1
to cover before it reached any bush
they were only about 900 yards be
hind when it arrived there, and were
able to continue busting it.
We galloped after them as hard a
we could 60, every now and then hav
ing to get out and run into or round
patch of bush to pick up the trail, a
we could not follow straight through
Once in awhile we caught sight O.
them as the wolf began to double OF
getting tired, and rode harder thai
ever to- try and get before them t,
keep him from getting into the thicl
bush at the end Of the lake. Whe1
we thought we were far enough w
turned toward the lake, along tn
side of which the whole run had LEI
Us, to see if we could cut the trail i
they had passed, but finding n
trail we knew we were ahead, s.
worked back toward them. and ar
rived just in time to save the ski
from getting badly torn, although tn
wolf, fine dog weighing 80 pounds
was dead.
On looking over our pack we fount
one hound had nasty wound passing
under the skin and near his eye to tn
angle of the mouth, which we wer
not able to touch, as after fight the,
are very touchy to handle. Feelin,