The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-05-11

store for him. The spor,
Of fox hunting is enjoyed
in the western part Of
Maine for few weeks each year. and
It Is battle OF wits. The intelligence
OF the man and the trained Instinct Of
the hounds are matched against the
shrewdness Of the FOX. Even when
fighting FOR life against these odds the
fox frequently comes out the winner.
and the old hunters claim that the red
fox looks forward TO these weeks Of
excitement from year to year and
really enjoys the sport as much as do
the men who hunt him.
In ether parts of the country foxes
are hunted with packs Of hounds and
on horseback. the chase often extend.
ing over miles OF country. This is the
English form Of the sport and no FIRE
arms are employed IN Staying the III.
lie animal. who is simply run to his
death by the swift hounds. But in
Maine and in some other parts Of New
England the shotgun plays an impor.
tant part in the chase and dogs of
especial keenness OF scent are trained
for this particular kind of work
The Maine method OF hunting foxes
has developed hound which has NO
equal in the world for speed or sa.
gaetty. or late years there has been
marked change in the kind Of dogs
which are bred for fox hunting. rhe
modern hound bears about the same
resemblance to the old.fashioned fox
hound as the coach horse does to the
trotter. The hound is faster and more
racy looking Instead Of following the
tTail OF the fox at a long distance be.
hind his game. he rushes the chase.
while true upon the scent. and has
enough TO overtake an ordinary fox
In fair race in an open field. Par.
dcularly is this kind of a dog bred
in BucksheId. in oxford county and
hounds trained there have a world.
wide reputation
An early start is necessary on n for
hunt in Maine. The dogs have been
carefully confined for two or three
days before the hunt. and are well fed
and given a chance to rest Soon aft.
er daylight the hunt begins Usually
TWO dogs are taken by TIE hunters
who may haye a companion. A shot.
gun with a plentiful supply Of double
B shot is required. ard the hunter IS
clothed so that he may spend the dav
In the open without Inconvenience
The dogs go bounding away toward
the meadow wild with excitement Of
the days prospects. The course ia
taken toward high wooded ridge bor.
dering on the hin pasture. On com.
ing up TO the fence on the side of the
pasture the dogs suddenly become
possessed of a strange excitement
Their noses search the ground eager.
ly. their tails stiffen and their hackles
rise. 1t is evident that n fox has
been there. early in the norn,,g
searching, perhaps. for field mice
Round and round in widening circles
go the dogs searching for the trail and
trying to determine the direction in
which reynard left his housing. When
at last the trail is found up 20 tho
dogs muzzles and the fact Is pro.
claimed by the Characteristic bugIe
notes. The baying Of no other dog
can equal that OF the foxhound for mn.
steal quality. There is mournful note
in 1t, and 1t has the peculiar vibrant
quality OF an echo To those who
love the chase it is the sweetest sound
in the world.
The dogs disappear, running nact
and neck over the top of the hin and
down into the valley. which is covered
with a scrubby growth. The sound Of
their baying comes back to the hunter
now and then and tells him of their
whereabouts. When startled by this
first warning note OF the chase the
fox trots leisurely along. doubling
upon his traIl perhaps or circling the
hill. Now comes in the skin Of the
hunter. who. If he knows the habits ~
foxes well. VIII station himself nj
some point where he can survey a
large open space and maybe get a
shot at the fox when he comes along
In doing SO he has to take into nc.
count the direction in which the wind
is blowing, for scent from him will
cause the fox to suddenly turn in an.
other direction.
Giving attention to the baying of
the dogs the hunter soon picks out
the place beneath some hill which the
fox is quite likely to circle. The hunt.
er must cultivate his patience and
wait in his tracks. Now the baying
OF the dogs seems close at hand and
then 1t dies away In the distance. ME-
Fox lodges and twists about. circllng
first this Hill and then another one
but eventually the hunter knows he
will he making n circle NJ fha ,,a,.,, ttfl