Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-06
COON RAISING IN MAINE.
Profitable BY Product of Corn Cam
ming Industry.

In Maine growing fat raccoons is Il
by product of raising sweet corn for
the canning factories. Plump and
wcighty coons are next to the last
crop harvested from the corn patch.
The first is the roasting ear in the
milk, the second is the glazing kernel
for the cannery. the third is the green
c0snstalks or stoVer for the silo, the
fourth or next to the last consists of
a dozen or more coons to every acre Of
eorI. and the last benefit comes in
winter when the nutritious ensllage
is fed to the hungry cows and convert
ed into milk or cream or high priced
dairy butter.
Tie Maine raccoon is compact and
active bundle Of sharp claws and teeth,
Of loose fur and diabolical cunning. In
a fair fight, With no favor shown to
either party, 4 raccoon will whip and
send bowling home in disgrace any
dog of it's weight that lives.
The season which the Maine farmers
formerly set apart for hunting raccoons
was during the full moon of October,
partly because the stacked corn in the
field held the sweetest and most nour-
ishing nubbin ears at that period, but
largely for the reason that all raccoons
become more ravenous at the approach
of biting cold weather, Just before the
time comes for them to den up inside
of some hollow tree.
For chasing the 'coons foxhounds are
by FAR the best dogs to employ because
their scent is very keen and their stay
ing power is such that they will remain
in the open for nights and days in sue
cession barking and biting at the roots
of a tree with a racco3n comfortably
slowed away among its topmost
branches.
In the cid days when hardwood tim
her was abundant it was the custom to
cEon down the tree in which the rae
coon was lodged and enjoy for fe%
moments the cruel sport of watching
by lantern light while the pack of dogs
tore their fighting and struggling vic
tim To shreds.
The increasing scarcity Of hardwood
timber combined with the growing
values of the coon flesh and fur has
caused q change Of tactics in conduct
ing econ hunts in Maine. However
large the company of hunters may he
the number OF dogs taken along IS linn
tied 10 two, or three at the most. In
stead of telling the tree an active boy
is sent aloft with a lantern to spy out
the hiding place of the animal. When
discovered the coon is often dislodged
by shooting rockets into its place or
hiding Often the daring coon leaps
20 or 80 feet to the ground and gets
away before the dogs can discover Its
tracks As a rule these dramatic es-
capes are no more than temporary re-
spites, for the coon invariably trees"
again further in the forest, when the
conflict must be renewed.
1t 5 not considered sportsmanlike for
a hunter to try and shoot the coon
when it is hiding in a tree top, though
the difficulty of aiming IN the uncer-
tain light no doubt affords the best
protection the coons could demand. Ii
is even a worse otlense against hunt
ing ethics to climb a tree by lantern
light and slay coon with close
range shot from revolver.
The most desirable specimens are
the large and weighty old raeoon which
are too old to take to the trees, but
turn and fight the dogs as they come
along in succession, the swiftiest dogs
getting killed or disabled first.
The average Maine raceoon when fat
and not aged weighs from 20 to 80
mounds. The coveted fighters which
are too old and fat to climb trees weigh
al times 40 and even So and go pounds
Though the outlay required in dog hesh
and human endurance is enormous, the
hunting party which captures one OF
these fighters has something to boast