The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-12-09

LARGEST NUMBER
WAS SHOT IN EDEN
Thirty eight Brought Down in the La
noble County Town-Final Reports
to Commissioner Shows That Wind
ham Led All the Counties.

Lf KNOXVILLE. Dee. "a total of
lao bucks were killed during the hunt
ing season of, 1916, according to reports
received by Commissioner Titcomb.
This number, it is expected, will be
somewhat increased by belated reports,
but 1t Is not expected to exceed $50.
The number taken in each county is:
Addison, 81; Bennington, 1872; Gale
donna, 90; Chittenden, 40; Essex, l65;
Franklin, "a; Grand Isle, 0; Lamoille,
loj; Orange, 73; Orleans, 60; Rutland,
l33; Washington, 15S; Windham. PIP;
Windsor, 100. The greatest number
reported taken in any one town was
IS III Eden in Lamoille county.
The total number unlawfullv killed
of which reports have been received.
is an even 100. OF this number "A
wee does and % fawns and bucks
with horns less than three inches in
length. Such of these as are of value
have been rescued by wardens, sold
and the proceeds turned into the state
treasury.
The season closed with no fatality
due to one hunter shooting another,
which is in striking contrast to the
record of certain other states. notably
Mi 'higan, where some 20 deaths were
recorded. Two accidents resulting in
death have occurred in Vermont. The
fir Of these accidents resulted in the
death of Basil, 16, son of William r..
Piper Of Middlebury. In attempting
to step across n fallen tree. the bow
dis -harged his gun; an ounce bullet
pierced his lung. The second was that
of Mrs. Fred Taylor of Thetford. Mrs
Taylor accompanied her husband to
the orchard near their house. where he
shot deer. Later she shot at another
deer and, as she passed the rifle back
to her husband, it was accidentally dis
emerged, the bullet passing through her
leg below the knee; she died that night.
Raymond Williamson of Fairfax. acct
dentallv shot himself through one foot
while hunting November %. These
comprise the serious accidents so far
as known to the commissioner. who en-
deavors to keep complete record.
The total number of deer reported
killed during the season of 1915 was
900.
The success attending efforts made
to rcstock Vermont with deer have
been closely observed not only by the
national government, but by many
other states. What has been accom-
plished in this direction right here in
Vermont goes into history as the most
remarkable on record The Younger
generation. unless the fact is called
to attention, is likely to be unaware
that 40 years ago the woods of Yer
mont were not inhabited by deer. in
fact. it was believed there was not n
single wild deer in the state unless
perchance few stray ones in the
northwest corner of Vermont. where
they might be found after having
wandered in from New Hampshire or
Canada. The present herd is the result
Of the purchase of p deer by public
spirited men of Bennington and Rut-
land counties followed by the enact
ment of legislation designed to protect
the animals.
The number of deer lawfully killed
since the first open season in 1897 to
the close of the season this wear is
22,507. This figure, of course. does not
include the no small number killed bv
dogs, accidents, violators, and other
causes. Assuming that the 40 taken
tins year average $50 pounds each IN
weight, which is doubtless none toe
high, and placing the value of the
venison at 10 cents a pound. which is
low compared with other meats of
equal or less value and in comparison
with city prices (the writer was
quoted 60 cents pound in New York
not long since), and the value reaches
the handsome total of $22,l25. This
figure does not include the value of
the heads for purposes of mounting,
the skins, nor does it take into consid.
Grafton the health giving recreation
enjoyed by some 10000 hunters in