The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-02-21
COYOTE HUNTING.
three Nile Winter Run Ter Men aud
Hounds.

recent number Of the London Field:
In the 6rst place | may say these
are locally called wolves. For the
Benefit OF those who have had nc e1-
perience Of this form OF sport, | will
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
sfterward.
To cattle and sheep breeders these
troublesome beasts cause a good deal
OF loss By taking newly born calyeso or
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
lhickens, rabbits, etc, about.
The hounds used on the ranch
where | was staying are a cross be-
tween a thoroughbred deerhound
Ditch and a deerhound dog with a
Etrain of mastiff blood to give them
The pluck to tackle a wolf, which, al
though a cowardly beast, requires a
hound to have some courage to 90 in
and stand the nasy bites he can give
when c%ornered. 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 il it can get into thick bush, we
were BY no means always successful,
but had some very enjoyablesport
On the day which | viii describe, a
sopely sunny doy in The early au-
tumn, with about ten degrees Of frost
and only about six inches Of snow,
three Of us started out in a bob
sleigh to fetch horne a canoe which
we had been using for duck shooting
On a 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 a few hundred
yards. it got to ground in a badger
earth, Of which there are a great deal
too many TO give much chance Of kill
ing a fox, as they take to ground at
the first opportunity, whereas a wolf
only does 50 when very hard pressed.
They only use their earths in the
breeding season.
We hen 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
elough Shallow pond) about half a
mile away. This was not yet suffi-
ciently frozen for us to drive across
50, ID cad Of going straight on, We
ciTcled round to try and get
closer for a start, but the vol
saw the hounds and made off; so.
shouting IS away with him. We
sent or the hounds. Unfortunately
owing to some reeds on the edge Of
the slough, the hounds did not at
frStsee the wolf, SO it got a good Ions
start, but, having half a mile Of open
TO cover before it reached any bush
they were only about 200 yards be
lind when it arrived there, and were
able to continue bustling it.
We galloped after them as hard al
we could go, 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 0. the lake. Whel
we thought we we're far enough W
turned toward the lake, along tn
side Of which the whole run had le,
us, to sec il we could cut the trail j
they had passed, but finding n
trail we knew we were ahead, S
worked back toward them, and al
rived Just in time to save the ski
from getting badly torn, although tn
wolf, a fine dog weighing 80 pounds
was dead.
On looking over our pack we foun,
one hound had anasty wound passin
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
very pleased at our success we threv
tho Wolf ontn tho sle;ob and etar4a