The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-11-02
CRUEL SCHEMES OF PoAoHHRs.
Birds Killed by Hooks and Springs
Deer Stunned by iron Bars.

indifferently cared for, the task that
faces the poacher becomes increasingly
difficult, says the London Sketch.
Where in times past he had to avoid
no more than one or two watchers he
must now prepare to face on all large
sporting estates the almost military
tactics of a we'll organized body of
keepers and assistants In spite of the
danger and uncertainty of his task,
the poacher perseveres and a great
majority Of the preserves in these is
lands pay him tribute. When the
game has been stolen the reward is
small. Birds cannot be sold in open
market, and must be disposed of for
very little to class that is content to
buy cheaply and ask no questions.
The poacher's biggest prize is, OF
course deer, be 1t red, roe or fallow.
Nowadays the first named is very hard
to secure, though time was when the
poachers of the Highland forests shar-
ed the "antlered monarch" with the
laird, and even the shepherds, in order
to get shot at close quarters were
wont to hide where the red deer came
to drink. In private parks, where roe
and fallow deer are to be found, the
iron bar is the most favored weapon
Gunshots might alarm a keeper, but
bar will serve to stun an animal that
passes under the tree amid whose
branches the poacher is hidden.
Next to deer the pheasant is most
widely sought after and many devices
are used for his destruction. PheasaIlts
roost in trees and are sometimes shot
with airguns or rook rifles that make
little or no sound. At other times
brown paper and sulphur are fired un-
der branch where the birds are sleep
ing, and If there is a light, favoring
breeze some are sure to inhale the
smoke and fall to the ground stupefled.
Another poaching method is to lime a
sheet of paper and roll it into the
shape Of a bag. The narrow end is
then fastened to twig at a height
calculated to bring 1t we'll within a
pheasant's reach and lightly busted
with peas. The pheasant pushes his
head in to get the last pea and when
he seeks to withdraw it only succeeds
in pulling the paper from the twig.
The birdlime holds him to the bag un-
til he suffocates.
A method stih more cruel is prac-
tised in very cold weather. Balls of
fat, with piece of coiled up watch
spring inside, are frozen hard and set
in the birds paths. When the fat is
eaten 1t dissolves and the spring, set
free. bring the unfortunate bird to a
cruel end. Patridges are sometimes
shared with fish hooks baited with
dough, the hooks being attached to a
fine line stretching across meadow
or stubblefeld. Grouse and partridge
suffer less from the poacher than any
other game, for the netting work that
is sometimes practised requires consid-
cradle skill, and demands the services
of some two or three men, who can
not readily escape observation. Pig
cons are sometimes taken as they come
| from cover by well directed blank
shot that makes little noise and avails
to stun the bird. and blank cartridge
is used also, for smafl birds that may
be taken in the hedge rows and yield
palatable meal in response to little
kitchen care.
Hares and rabbits suffer most from
the poaching fraternity, and the man
whose skill will not carry him to well
preserved plantations often takes
heavy toll Of field and hedgerow With
the help of good lurcher he can turn
up hares with ease, and as puss always
makes for q gate when pursued, the
gate net seldom fails to yield a profit
to Its owner. Tangled in the net,
hare is seized at once by the poacher
and killed before 1t can call. Wound
ed by a shot or caught in snare its
pathetic cry is widely heard and easily
recognized. Rabbits are poached in
many ways. Some men can lie above
rabbit hole and catch their prey as
1t comes in or out. Well trained dogs
will snap rabbits or drive them out
of hedges into bitches where nets are
placed.
TraI5s and gins work havoc if placed
in proper position and lightly handled;
the track of hare or rabbit is as plaIn
to the eve Of trained poacher as the
word on the printed page. Every coun-
try woman with large family to feed
will give shilling for couple of rab-
bits that have not been shot, while If
they can be got to market they will
fetch any price between 10 and Is shil-
lings the dozen. The poacher is never
anxious to use his gun. However care
fully he may hide it by covering the
butt with his coat and sliding the bar
rel down the leg of the trousers, a
keeper or policeman has a keen eye
for shape If he suspects man of
poaching, and when guns are out it
often happens that the temptation to
fight for liberty is irresistible, and
such fights lead all too often to penal
servitude for life or even to the
galloWs