The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-11-16
OLD DEMECK THE
PHANTOM DEER
Animal Has Unexplain-
able Protection
u. G. KimbalI, Registered Guide
From Bakers Siding Contributes
to Big Woods Page

For the past twelve years a large
deer has roamed about the head of
Bakers. Pond located at the foot of
MoXie Mountain in Somerset County
defying hunters with all kinds of guns
and guides with all their experience
and cunning learned by years in the
big woods and up to this fall it has
never been known that he has even
been wounded. He has taken the
pleasure of walking out in plain sight
of from one to a party of four or
more all good sports at any distance
with guns from the Lugar pistol to
the 35 Automatic Winchester and give
them the chance that every hunter has
been dreaming of for months. Some
thing that has no explanation seems
to protect Old Demick for the amount
of lead sent in his general direction
would have certainly helped to win
the late war and would have put ar
much fear in the Hun as the cold
steel did. The immediate vicinity
where he shows himself to the anna
ture and professional alike resembles
the old battle field of Gettysburg with
high powered rifle of today many of
the smaller trees are moved down.
But after the charge, upon another
ridge will appear the huge form of Old
DemiCk. who seems To take his time
and walk away TO appear again TO an
other party al some distant point with
in radius of six miles more or less
II is a well known fact that when the
evening shades have fallen and the
hunters and guides after eating their
supper. with pipe smoke plentiful, all
sit by the fire plans are layed for
the next days hunting providing the
weather conditions are favorable. and
the greatest sinner who has forgot
ten the teachings of the dear old mo-
Their in boyhood days will offer an ex-
cuse for prayer that ii will snow,
so that the dry leaves will be covered
and make quieter hunting so game
can he tracked The story which
is told in every camp located near
MoXie Mountain whose center is Old
Demick brings a new thrill to the
expectations of each hunter for the
next morning.
| remember of party that I had
guinea who neve hunteo deer ir in
fact. any game before. who arrived
about the goth of October and as luck
would have it, about two inches of
snow fell that night which gives all
kinds of hopes TO a guide as well as
the hunter. Early the next morning
a woman in the party said that she
was going to be the first one in the
party to get deer so with a warm
breakfast from one of the best cooks
in the hunting region, and lots of
courage and warm clothes we started
The plans were that the hunters would
be placed on the ridges and the guides
would drive from the swamps, this
being a popular method as deer will
make for the ridges and
those who are located along the top
or near the top have IA better view Of
the game aud an open shot
Well, the drive began and the lady
of the party was sitting on rock
about nalf way up "A beech ridge. A
spike horn buck came out of the
swamp and flew up the ridge. The
men folks being above her became |
excited and yelled shoot him, shoot
him. not Offering to do that little |
thing themselves. Just as the deer
came to small clump of frs she |