Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-02-23
E. n. KING
RECALLS DAYS
OF MANY deer
Sumpter Resident Also Remembers
When Carrier Pigeons Were
Caught in Large Numbers

Since Mr.. Steinke moved onto the
Teel farm in Sumpter the early Feb
j ruary thaw melted the snow from the
south slope of the hill, uncovering
the grass which made welcome feast
for the deer that came from the
brush and snow of the north slope,
as they do on such occasions, some
times in large numbers at time. A
few years ago, Charles Watkins saw
20 on his winter wheat at one time.
Many years ago Ralph Elmendorf
| counted 40 deer in a drove.
Now comes the recent report that
Mr.. Steinke saw % in one drove and
40 at another time which was certain
ly remarkable and also indicates that
they are well protected.
Although the rascals do lot of
damage to shocked corn that hap
pens to be left in the field over win
i ter, and also to orchards, we would
dislike having them exterminated as
was the passenger pigeons that were
numerous in the early pioneer days.
Offer Reward for Nest
Now the Audubon society has of
fered over one thousands dollars for
a nest of those splendid game birds,
hoping to get them propagated again.
The theory was advanced that the
passenger pigeons were lost in a
great storm on the water while on
! their annual flight from South Ameri-
ca. Then others say they were exter-
minated with nets. However. it was
wonderful sight to see millions of
them every spring when they were
going north.
Pigeons Numerous
| have never heard how far west
their migratory range extended but
people from "York State" claimed the
pigeons were just as numerous there.
They, too, were a great pest when
they dropped down on a field of newly
sowed grain. Sometimes a long line
of them would pass over field and
take every kernel of grain that was
=
manufactured to cover the ;grainl
deep out of sight consequently good
share was exposed AS they passed
over field rapidly, those in the rear
kept flying over the column to the
front, in order to get better picking.
It was then that the old muzzel-load-
ing shot gun did it's best work. At one
time my brother shot twelve with
single barreled shot gun and on a
similar occasion Albert Jameson shot
gun At another time J. B. Fowler
and e. Vanderhoef simultaneously
shot into flock that was passing
over and one pigeon dropped to the
ground and was claimed by each
party. Finally Fowler got the bird
and Vanderhoef got black eye. Dur
ing those early days my uncle Hosea
and his son-in-law bought the farm
now owned by Walter WEIGH and lost
it by foreclosure. Afterward Uncle
and Aunt moved into part of my
fathers house, where Roy Hoover
now lives. Although quite young, Il
remember seeing Incle Hosea max
ing rope.
A Pige~n Net
Two posts about four feet high
were attached to skids that were
placed about rodf apart. The upright
posts were provided with wooden
discs and hooks upon which flax-tow
was fastened A crank turned the
and also twisted them into a rope.
When completed the rope was used
for the backbone of a large net or
seine with which to catch pigeons
and fish. The big net was set up on
edge in buck wheat stubble Props
about feet long were set at an angle
to be readily tripped at the time a
good many birds we're eating the
bait. A long rope was jerked from a
distant bough house where uncle was
secreted, thus throwing the net down
and outward covering those under
meath.
l do not know where he sold the
pigeons but remember well of seeing
three rail pens just as full of the
blue beauties as they could hold. |
The males had beautiful pigeon !
blue" breast and throat and it was |
music to hear their shrill voice "ate, |
ate, ate" Those luscious pigeon pies |
everybody enjoyed then can never be
forgotten nor the frightful, thunder
Gus noise they made with their wings |
when scared from their roost at night |
E. D. KING
Prairie du Sac, Wis.
P. S. Those rail pens were about /
Is inches high and foot square each
inside and must have contaiade sew
eral hundred birds.