The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-02-12
BELGIAN HARES AS GAME.
They Are Wonderfully Speedy and
Strong and Furnish Fine sport
for BeaGlea.


the sport of the beagle hunters
within the last IL months, and one
| which will soon raise the sport OF
rabbit hunting to a position in the
field of sport TO which it has never
before attained.
The admirers of the little hound
have always found one serious draw.
back to their chosen sport; the fact
that the coney rabbit, upon which
they are almost wholly dependent in
many places, will not make a long
run ahead of fast driving pack OF
beagles. This drawback seems in a
fair way to be done away with in
Massachusetts through the advent OF
the Belgian hare.
What sort of sport they would af'
ford the hunter was not shown until
last fall, but the first report which
came to the fish and game commits
sioners about the Belgian hare as O
game animal settled that question in
most conclusive manner. This re-
port came from Worcester, the home
of many famous hunters and scent
followers, both foxhounds and bea.
giles. This is the story:
A party of Worcester gunners were
hunting in large swamp in the
town of Holden, about eight miles
north of the city, when their dog
picked up running track and made
several circuits of the swamp before
one of the hunters caught fleeing
glimpse of swiftly moving animal
through the brush. He fired. but
without apparent effect, as the chase
continued.
Tony, the beagle in this case, is
fast and hard driver, and no rab-
bit had ever been known to stay
above ground ahead of him for such
a length of time. The hunters final
ly concluded that he must be driv-
ing a fox, yet the animal did not
lead as a fox naturally would, but
continued to play about the swamp,
with an occasional swing around the
adjoining pine hills.
The hunters took positions on diff
ferent runways, and for over two
hours enjoyed the finest drive they
had ever listened to, when one of
them brought down the quarry,
which proved to be a plump Belgian
1t was then discovered that the
first shot had raked him across the
back in several places, but had nc
appreciable effect on his speed or
staying qualities--a fiat contradic-
ton of the claim that the Belgian
was a coward.
This was the first report of any
such run and the story Of the mag
nificent run soon spread through the
country and at once established the
Belgian's reputation as a most de
sirable addition to the native game
animals of the state.
The commissioners later received
another account of a Belgian hare
run quite as encouraging as the first
This came from one of their own
men. Deputy Shea, of Ware. Mr..
Shea was also out after rabbits with
pair of beagles. The dogs soon
had one going and drove him steadily
for over three hours. The chase led
through all sorts of cover and the
Belgian, which was seen several
times, had no difficulty in keeping
well ahead of the dogs, which he
finally succeeded in throwing of en-
tirely.
The Belgians have been reported
from many different parts of the
state during the past summer; in
fact, considering the limited number
the commissioners have been Obliged
to spread over large territory
The few which have been killed
were plump and in fine condition and
when served on the table were pro.
nounced of exceptionally fne flavor
showing that they take kindly to the
Massachusetts covers.
When full grown and fat they will
dress from eight to ten pounds each,
says the Boston Herald, and il they
ever become plentiful, as now seems
quite probable, they will prove a val
liable food animal, besides furnishing
class of sport midway between fox
and rabbit hunting, with all of the
excitement and long runs Of the
former, but not leading straight
away for several miles, as that ami
NAL frequently does.