The independent-reporter., 1910-10-06
BIG GAME SAID To
Be PLENTIFUL
Good Sport Found in
Hunting Black Bears
The Real Thing In Hunting, and A
True Bear Story


full in this section of Maine than at
present Parties around the many
ponds and streams in this vicinity re-
pott seeing moose and deer daily.
Campers and guides about Moxie pond,
the Austin ponds and Dead Water, the
Dimmick, Chase, Robinson. Rowe and
Pleasant ponds, the reports are all the
of deer and an occas-
ional moose of the right sort.
From farther up in the great woods
to the north, around Indian pond and
Squaw mountain, and as far back as
Tomhegan, and north-westerly TO
Holeb and Attean, reports are the
same. If hunters this fall do not get
their quota of big game, 1t Will be
their own fault. Last winter was an
ideal one for deer The light fall OF
snow enabled them to move about
freely, and they were not confined 10
yards" as usual, hut roamed the en-
tire forest and selected the JUICY
SPROUTS of which they are so fond, at
their pleasure.
Probably nearly 10000 deer were
killed in Maine last year, and at least
800 moose. Caribou has vanished, but
deer and moose seem to be on the IN
crease in spite of the reports OF lie
gal killing and their slaughter by the
loupcervier.
For those who do not care to hunt
for deer or moose or the variety OF
small game to be found in the north
woods. it is possible to do the state
and the big game service by hunt-
ing bobcats; bear and foxes. Irallins
bear is one of the most exciting Sports
of the north woods, and comparatively
few undertake 1t. But for the one who
wishes the real thing In hunting and
matching of wits against those of the
hunted. no more interesting sport can
he fonnd than camping on the trail Of
the black bear.
With good guide and pack OF
dunnage and a rifle the usual pro-
cedure Is to wait for the first snow
and follow Mr.. Bruin into his dark-
some haunts, where he Is most hkely
to be seeking winter quarters. Some
times it requires several days of al
most constant tramping over oiu
windfalls, jumping brooks and roots,
and making tortuous way through all
sorts of wood snarls; up mountain
and down gully; camping for few
hours under the stars by an open nre,
with a more than probable rain or
sleety snow. Such sports tries the
metal of the man who claims to like
roughing it in the Maine north WOODS.
1t is the real thing In sports.
Comparatively few Of the 10000 or
so yacationists and sportsmen who
visit Maine every year ever see bear
or even the track of one, but there is
many camp in the heart OF the will
derness whose occupants could tell
thrilling and true tales Of nocturnal
visits of this intelligent prowler.
The writer calls to mind an anus
ing incident in an old camp near Ba-
ker stream, about a mile from the
head of Moxie pond, several years
ago. We had made our headquarters
at an abandoned logging camp. In the
delightful October days, and were de-
voting ourselves principally to hunt
ing small game. We had acquired a
certain degree of neatnegs and care In
our camp household, and also liking
for sleeping under the stars. The
waste from our\ frugal table was
dumped in an old bucket at the corner
OF the camp, and when this became
offensive from its odors 1t was car
ried away into the swamp and dumped
Part of our living consisted OF
smoked herring, and this refuse soon
smelled to heaven and must have sent
forth a highly penetrating odor from
the incident that grew out Of 1t. We
had moved our bed one night to the
windward, 80 that the northwesterly
breeze might not watt the odors Of
our swill-pail to our nostrils during
the night
Along about midnight, one night.
the writer was awakened by his guide
whispering: Wake up, we have Wis
itors."
"Who Is it?' was asked.
"He hasn't brought in his card"
said Ike, but he Is making an all
fired racket down at the 'dingie'."
We arose and crept toward the
camp yard to Investigate. There in the
bright light of the October moon a
grotesque and somewhat eyrie figure
greeted us.
Dancing about on the chips about
the old hovel was an amazing appari-
tion. bowling comically and from a
doubled-up position on the ground ris-
ing up to the height of tall man.
We supposed it to be man but could
not make out from his antics, what
he was trying to do. In the deceptive
light, he looked to be at least q six
footer, and as he arose to full height
we could get better view of the top
of his head against the skyline over
the top of the trees, 1t looked per-
fectly square and about foot and a
half across.
What the devil" l began. i.
That's him., said Ike with finality.
We crept nearer, and the perform
ance continued almost noiselessly on
the part of the visitor. He seemed to
be unaware of our presence, and was
giving his entire attention to his
moon dance"
"He is an all-fired polite chap" said
Ike-"he bows to us as II he thought
we were real royalty"
Finally, when within distance of
a rod or more, Ike let out q whoop,
AYERS IA