New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-22

some expert who reared and trained Pups fOt
the chase
A yearling dog that could distinguish the
track of a fox from a rabbit track and which
would follow specific trail for days
worth anywhere from S2j to 800 To-day the
man who seeks 10 buy good hound pup viii
have to travel long to find one that meets tins
requirements, and when such one IS discovered
the chances are that the pick Of the litter can
be bought for so.
So great has been the decline In hunting with
dogs that few Of the breed are kept. and most
of these are unsatisfactory in bringing desired
results. The men who still seek the valuable
fox skins and do so for profit either trap Or
poison the animals. or practise form Of still
hunting locally known as the Interchangeable
method.
When followed by experts the New-Hamp-
shire style Of foxhunting is mathematically &C
cu-ate in its results. Given a rolling country.
consisting of fields and pastures and woodIots,
interspersed with brooks and farmhouses. the
man who secures a hunting companion and
goes out on the crusts Of late February or
March to seek foxes is certain Of meeting with
success, provided there are any foxes in The
region. Owing to the fact that foxes make love
in early winter or late spring. they roam abroad
all night for nearly two months.
Before sunrise they seek refuge among the
clumps of woods which crown the rocky hill
tops in nearly every section Of Eastern Maine
Here they lie an exposed knoll for nearly all
day. summing themselves and resting for the nexE
nights travels.
At such a time two men on snowsho2s and
armed with guns approach clump Of woods
in which a fox may he hiding and, separating,
thev walk in different directions. each man max
ing careful note of every fox track which enters
or emerges from the woods. In this manner the
men circle the woods until they meet on the
opposite side Then they ready for the
Sherlock Holmes business BY adding up the
number Of tracks entering the woods and then
adding those which have gone out it may be
evident that one or more foxes still Turk in the
bushes, and the hunt is on.
The first principle In fox tactics when aroused
is TO run toward the wind. for by this method
the Animal smell any lurking danger ahead.
while il can look out for foes behind by running
away. The EeXt idea OF Importance IN ne Z ma
OF tie fox is to keep as much as possible in the
shelter Of the woods and never come out IN the
OPEN unless to escape to the adjoining WOODS.
Knowing these facts. one Of the hunters walks
10 the w-iI:dv6rd along the side Of the bushes
until he reaches a spot where the bushes narrow
down TO n width which is not beyond range
Here lie hides himself among the thick e@fr-
green's cocks both barrels OF his gun and awaits
the CcHing of his game
Having g lowed his companion time n place
himself where hc do the most good the
hunter who remains behind enters the woods
ana begins TO make a loud noise by breaking
down bushes, dreaming and hrlng his gun IN the
The fox axes VI with start shifts the wind
ward. keeping under cover all the time, and soon
falls victim TO the ambushed gunner
The method is not as simple as A 3. G. but IL
brings quick results and when praCtised by men
trained to the business it seldom fails. BY care
fully following the Hampshire method two
hunters can capture two or three foxes in
forenoon, which is much better than they could
do with hounds. The work is easy, requiring no
running or tiTesome jaunts. Best OF all, the skin
of a fox captured by detective work viii bring
as much in the market as II it had been chased
for week with hounds
As fox pelts continue to grow more valuable
from September until about March 90 the ami
mails are in prime condition when IL is prac-
ticable to hunt by the New-Ham pshire method
A skin that would bring more than So 50 in
October is worth So 80 to 81 in March. and
time drags after the snow becomes deep and the
highways are blocked. not few well to do men
find some profit and much sport In this method
of hunting.
Owing to a law making It a fine 70 put out
poison within three miles OF a human dwelling.
the men who hunt foxes with strychnius pellets
seek out remote lumber camps and seldom visit
villages until they have secured peIts enough 10
make load.
Except in rare cases the men who catch foxes
in traps go far upriver and make hunting
business, catching otter. mink loupcerviers and
muskrats at the same time they are Turing
ReynaTd to his undofng.
In Maine, as in other States Of England.
few men care to make money from poisoning
trapping foxes. They are fond enough u
the cash which is received from the pelts. but
the price they have to pay IN sef-respect seems
too high.