The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-15

This is the first day of the open sea-
son for rabbits.
Two hundred and eighty-two New
arkers have taken out licenses which
entitle them to shoot at these fleet and
elusive little citizens of the stubble
and the brush pile. Hunters are also
permitted by these licenses to kill
rabbits. but it is believed that many
of them will not avail themselves OF
that opportunity. After the rabbit coun-
try has been shot over for two or three
days it is rare. indeed, that a hunter
can find a rabbit which will consent to
pose for him. inc a rabbit running
affords but a poor target at best for the
casual and intermittent Nimrod.
A few simple and antiseptic rules for
hunters who have taken out licenses
for the first tim may not be out of
place just now.
When in neighborhoods where rab-
bits are to be expected at any minute
the hunter should always have his gun
fully loaded. After the quarry jumps
and starts to run 1T acquires SO great
a speed that the hunter will find he
has little or 40 time to load. SO 1t is
always better to be prepared. Rabbits
when frightened by b approach of
dog or hunter have no respect for speed
and traffic regulations.
Now the hunters sole object in firing
should be to make his shot so effective
that the rabbit will be permanently die
couraged and readily permit itself to
be brought home in a pouch of the
hunters coat. This is the sole counter
in the game No matter how closely
the dog is following the rabbit a hunter
ma not claim he has scored even one
point IL he hits the dog.
Indeed, it is impossible to exhibit
worse rabbit hunting form than that
which is afforded when a hunter shoots
his dog. He may assert that the dog
ran in front of his charge of shot, and
give a hundred and one other reasons
and yet his action is inexcusable. And
then too many a good rabbit dog has
been spoiled in just this manner. A
dog may be p~assionately fond Of his
master and of rabbit hunting, and
after being shot two or three times will
lose his taste for both. Indeed, some
of those breaches of Notwithstanding
~etiquette'N have been known to end
ldldlly lOI a lditiilui id VI htp6
dog.
Too much cannot be said concerning
the futility of firing at the spot where
the rabbit is first seen. The little ami
NAL may be miles away when the shot
rattle about It's first resting place. A
much better plan is this: When the
white streak is first sighted. pick out
a spot some two or three hundred yards
ahead of 1t. Then quickly calculate
the speed at which the rabbit is run
ming. Draw your hunting case watch
and estimate at just what time the ami
NAL will reach the spot which a been
selected. Aim the gun carefully at this
spot and hold it there. Then watch
the watch. The instant h second hand
shows that the time has arrived when,
according to your calculation. the rab-
bit should be at the appointed spot, fire.
If the hunters calculations have been
correct and the rabbit continued run
ming in a straight line after it was
sighted and his aim was true. the hum
ter will be rewarded by finding a dead
rabbit on the spot designated.
This is known as scientific hunting,
and may only be practised by those
who have had a thorough scientific
training.