Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-01-17
DEER HUNT IN TEXAS.
Mr.. D. J. Morgan, an Edgefield
Boy Writes of Thrilling
Deer Hunt in Lone
Star State.

When mother earth was formed
and natures laws were set in mo-
tion, upon no section were greater
gifts bestowed than upon that now
known as the Lone Star State, of
Texas. Her varied soils, her many
changing landscapes, her Italian
skies and untold beauties of nature,
that to those who have been so for
tunate as to enjoy, for time, the
unsurpassed grandeur this narrative
may appeal.
At the fair little city of Merton
: in Orion county, party of happy
hearted hopeful men met November
9th. Their movements and prepara-
tions bespoke trip of some weeks.
Mr.. loftin, the veteran deer
hunter, drives up with Noah and
Beck to wagon we'll loaded with
feed. Next Elmore Loftin, his son,
drives up with Johnny and Jude to
two seated hack. Soon Murray
joins the party. Gilbert quits his
shop and with the rest is busy load
ing the chuck wagon. The hack is
sent to the different homes and the
camping outfits are soon loaded.
At 10 a. m. the party stood to
roll call as follows: w. II. Loftin,
Elmore Loftin, w. H. Gilbert, A.
A. Murray, D. J. Morgan. We
must not fail to mention our faith
full domestics; Noah and Beck, mo-
, tor power for the chuck wagon,
respectively, % and "a years.
and tips the scales at 2,7O0 pounds.
Next Johnny and Jude tle hack team
then old Ranger the true deer dog
who for nine years has been terror
to the feet-footed denizins of the
forest is animated over the prospect
of another chase. Farewells are ex-
changed with our friends. Our good
wives now have time to wonder if
all men could create such q hullaba-
loo in preparing for a hunt. Head
ing south we took the Ozona road
passing the beautiful alfalfa farms
along Spring creek.
At noon we stopped near the
Nolke ranch, made coffee and con-
sumed what good things we had
ready cooked and began our even
ing drive, stopping for our first
nights camp near the O. 9. ranch.
Here many cattle man can call to
: memory some incident of the past.
Only few shots had been made
the first day and they were at coyo-
tes at long range. Murray prepared
our first meal and Judging from the
size of the biscuits he thought our
appetites good, double headers. Well,
guess they were! After the sumpt
uous meal we retired for the night,
using the regulation tarp with such
accompaniments as were in our rolls.
The night was cloudy and at
a. m. we found a slow rain begun
! falling. Beds were soon rolled up,
breakfast prepared and at early
dawn we were moving again. A
slow rain fell all day, but we con-
iinued to go toward the Rio Grande.
Near nightfall we stopped at Ozona
with our kind friend, Patrick.
After night of refreshing sleep
Venison was served us for breakfast,
Mr. Cooke, son-in-law of Mr.. Pat
rick, having come in during the
plight with deer, the first he had
over killed.
The taste of venison set our
minds to imagining vain things.
The life of Boone might soon be
made to look tame. At a. m. the
i. clouds having lifted, we set out
rom Ozona going south west to-
ward Pecos, houses were left be
hind. Immense stretches of ranch
and lay before us. We had not
travelled far before we had taste
of what sport might be in store for
us. Old Ranger had left the wagon
trail. His yelps drew our attention
TO the mountainside. "Hs has
bayed," called out Elmcre. Gilbert
got his gun and we soon found old
Ranger holding the attention of
large cstamount, and shot laid it
out. We found it was in trap with a
drag to it. After some miles of
traveling Murray and Elmore took
shot guns and killed enough blle
quail for our dinner. That night We
pitched camp in the edge of the
bunting territory. Thursday morn
ng after travelling a few miles
Murray and Gilbert took guns and
began to scout for signs of game.
The rest of the party drove on a