The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1917-11-23
COON FUR IS PRIME;
HUNTERS STIRRING

The legal season for hunting rae
coon opened Thursday, Nov. Is, and
ends Feb. /. The fur is considered
prime. Hunters hereabouts who own
trained dogs were all out the first
night.
If you were reared in the country,
or lived there at any portion of your
life, or if you had country cousins to
visit, then you have experienced the
fun OF coon hunting, writes r. L. Dem
ton, in the Chardon Republican.
In cold climates the coon generally
hibernates, seeking his hole in the
dead limb of some high tree when the
weather gets cold. He is usually fat
then, for, like the bear, he eats heart
lily before seeking his winters quar-
ters. So late in the fall, when the air
is crisp and cold, is the time to hunt
him.
A half dozen boys and men, with as
many dogs or more, will start out
through the woods and fields. The dogs
scatter and run over the ground
eagerly nosing for the trail. A real
coon dog will not bother with the trail
of possum, and so if some dog not
expert in coon hunting strikes a trail
and Immediately let's out a sharp yelp
Of delight, the veteran is put on the
trail, and if he decides it is coon,
then the hunt is on.
But oftentimes the real enemy Of
the coon and possum hunter appears
to break up the hunt-the skunk.
Many and many party has gone out
to hunt when the dogs would run into
prowling polecat, and no matter
how many times dog has run into
the same species of animal before, he
is bound to attack it. Then "giod
night" to the hunt, for after the en-
counter with the skunk the dogs are
unable to take up any trail.
But once on the trail Of some pre-
datory coon, the dogs set up baying
and are off, with the hunters in close
pursuit. Very often the trail is found
on the bank of some stream, for
Br'er Coon is something of a fisher
man.
|, Off through the woods. sometimes
through dense underbrush, the trail
will lead. And as soon as the coon
hears the sound Of pursuit he begins
zigzigging about, in an effort to con-
fuse his pursuers. But he is not as
sly as the fox, nor is he an adept at
confusing the dogs.
Perhaps he will make for creek or
river and swim across, for he can
swim as we'll as any dog. Then the
dogs will plunge in and swim over,
and once on the other side, will begin
running up and down the bank hunt
ing for the trail .,
i Meantime the hunters must make
their way across as best they can. II
they are familiar with the locality
| they generally know where some
canoe is hidden along the banks, and
they cross in this. But Br'er Coon had
gained by his aquatic feat, for he can
60 on while the dogs lose valuable
time. But suddenly sharp yelp and
the trail is found.
Off through the woods the dogs
r dash. Probably to high tree, maybe
an oak, a poplar or sycamore, and
! here at it's foot they take their stand,
heads up and baying loudly and
Z fiercely.
Now how to get the coon?
Sometimes huge fire is built, and
then every one tries to catch glimpse
E o fthe animal somewhere high up in
l the tree.
Maybe he can't be seen from the
ground, and someone volunteers to
climb the tree. He locates him and
then comes down, and the coon is shot
out. More often the hunter "shines"
z the coon from the ground, which is
done by placing lantern on your
J head and looking up into the tree,
where the coon's eyes, glistening like
two balls of fire, are plainly seen.
Occasionally wounded coon springs
down to the ground, where the dogs
are, and then comes the climax to the
hunt.
For Br'er Coon is fighter and he is
as fierce as bear. 1t often takes moro
than one dog to dispose of him, too.
Perhaps he will make his escape from
the dogs after tearing the jaws and
hides of some with his sharp teeth
and claws, and then off he'll go
, through the woods, probably making
| toward the stream again. If he
| ICdCHCS ~ DClOlC tlAC uOSo SdCSl iLlnA
he gains a new respite, but if he was
p wounded in the first encounter, and
cannot move swiftly, then the dogs
will catch him again, and it will be q
fight to the bitter DEATH.
A good-sized swamp coon can make
it uncomfortable for a half dozen
dogs, and seldom it is that any Of
. them come out of an encounter un-
SCARED.
Many persons will not eat coon, but
a young one, baked, makes delicious
dish, far, far better than the highly
esteemed possum.
. And, incidentally, the coon is much
e cleaner animal than the possum in its
f habits. If you've never eaten one, try
r it some day, and you'll say young
q coon meat is far superior to the flesh
of the possum. s.
: A No. coon dog is worth from $50
: to $100 nowadays, and the market is
: always steady. ...
n ~ 49, w~ n