The independent-reporter., 1910-10-06
DEER So PLENTY THEY
BECOME A NUISANCE
How the Wary Animals May BE Hunt.
ed With Success.


Deer have become so common in the
Maine forests, and around the settle
ments that they have become a nuis
ance to the farmers by destroying
growing crops at time when it is un-
lawful to shoot them. Hunters are
allowed to shoot two deer apiece, and
there are very few men who go into
the woods that do not secure their full
quota Their tracks in the forest and
even along the highways are so num-
erous as almost to make one think
that flock of sheep are running wild.
But it is a fact that one can go
through the woods for days If they are
not looking for deer and pursuing
some one of the well-known methods
of hunting them, without seeing one
1t must not be thought, however, that
the deer do not see the man. They
recognize his presence in the woods
by a thousand ways. and they steal
away so silently and keep themselves
concealed so skillfully, that it requires
some of the best arts of the hunter
TO get shot. Of course this adds
to the zest of the chase. Still hunt
ing with a careful observance of the
direction of the wind, is the most
usual way of coming up with a deer
and getting a chance to land him. The
protection which the law has thrown
around the deer herds of Maine pro-
hibits the hunting of them with 4
jack-light by night, and the use OF
dogs for trailing. The hunter must
approach his quarry in a sportsman
like manner which gives the deer
chance to measure his wits with those
Of the hunter. The old jack-light
method was the most picturesque of
any, but it does not give the deer
fair show. An iron Jack with the
light concealed, was placed in the bow
Of a canoe. The hunter with his rifle
took his place directly behind it, and
the guide with his paddle directed the
canoe over the waters of lake In the
deer country, keeping near the shore
where the deer came down to drink.
When a cracking of the brush or
splashing of the water indicated the
presence of the game, the canoe was
turned toward it, and the hunter
opened the jack and allowed the light
10 stream out over the water. The
sight fascinated the deer. He fixed his
eyes upon the light, and slowly,
step by step, approached it. His eyes
glowing in the darkness like two balls
of fire, offered a fair mark for the
hunter, and a bullet planted squarely
between them, dropped the quarry in
instant death.
THE OCCASIONAL BEAR,
Perhaps next to getting moose the
desire to bag old Bruin on the hunt
ing trip is uppermost in the mind of
the hunter. There is a spice of dan
ger in bear hunting which does not at
tach to the pursuit of either moose or
deer. While a moose is fearful an
tagonist at close quarters he cannot
climb a tree, and bear can Ordlnar-
lily bear is as anxious as a rabbit TO
avoid an encounter with man, and
hastens to get out of his way with
almost as much energy as deer; but
when he Is wounded he becomes an
entirely different proposition. He Will
fight like a fend incarnate, and strike
blow that would put LII Artha
20 sleep. Besides the sport of get
ting him as a trophy of the forest
his skin is one of the most desirable
Of furs; and it takes a heavy and
strong shooting rife to make sure of
him. for he will carry off an amazing
weight of lead and seem to thrive on
| it.
| There was an old trapper living in
! Aroostook, who in his time caught
more than a hundred black bears. On
one of his visits to his traps in the
deep woods he was accompanied by
his son who bore the name of Abra-
ham Lincoln. They came upon
bear with his foot fast in the steel
laws of the trap. He was wrath
full looking object; but the old man
with his years of experience approach
ed him fearlessly to give the fatal
shot The bear, gathering all his en-
ergies, made jump for him, and
reached him. When the hunter felt
the terrible embrace of his great
paws he said to his son
Abraham Lincoln, if you are ever
going to do anything for your old
father, do 1t now"
The boy was on the Job and gave
bruin a clip with the poll of his axe
that put a quietus to his activities;
but the old man bore the marks Of his
cruel claws to his dying day.
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