The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-12-23


one toss Of the hand he could throw il
over the branch of tree, and monkey
wise climb to a better view and not be
scented by the deer. Then if he neither
preferred the rotating disk nor the
! portable ladder, why not a rubber in
tiated pillow with an electric warmer
wherein he could lay his weary head
with his alert ear covered by an ear
mutf and sound detector? As he lay
prone on the ground in the comfort of
manufactured heat, he should be
equipped with a panel of mirrors that
would reflect and magnify any object
that comes into the field of vision.
This would. Of course, necessitate the
possession and experienced use Of one
! Of these intricate gun-sights, and
would require some knowledge Of cal
culus Experts in sports equipment
should appoint commission to visit
/ the Hall Of Mirrors and study the
! principle Of reflection Along with a
deer-hunting application Of this prin-
ciple, if mixed with the enchanting
magic Of a Greek goddess, who was
said to be capable of attracting any
/ object by use of the milror-the deer
hunter could become so skillful, even
! in the fourth dimension, that a deer
running on Shaggy Mountain. would
/ suddenly stop when the mirror flashed
into his vision, change his course and
come right to the crossing Of the
hunter on Backbone Mountain.
/ Years ago when large party of
hunters were marooned in a snow biz
card in the Stony River country,
ran across an old-timer who used some
! homespun gadgets. Around his neck
was a cloth collar filled with salt and
leathern string on which was at
/ tached COW bell. He told me that deer
will sniff the salt. Hearing the COW bell
/ they are led to believe that the cow is
near the salt and that it is safe to APP
/ proach the place of the scents origin.
never learned if the ruse was success
full. Anyhow he had the general idea
/ that one needs some gadget to out
smart the deer.
If these devices are too complicated
CT impractical, why not suggest to
/ sporting goods houses that they make
hunting suit equipped with electric
/ warming pads One then could stand
! snuggIy in sub-Zero weather, provided
one did not fatigue in standing. In that
case, why not a sleeping bag? Perhaps
| a gadget could be worked up to such
J fine point that the hunter could go to
sleep without the least anxiety Of miss
| ing the deer. All he would need beside
the sleeping bag is a sound detector
! that would register the sound of the
stays feet within a thousand yards
radius. When the detector registered
the sound an alarm clock, being at
! tachod to the detector would arouse
the hunter and by the time the deer
/ came within range Of his rifle he would
he ready to shoot.
The old-fashioned way of keeping
warm is an occasional swig of whiskey
One is often uncertain as to whether
the deer hunter is as anxious to kill a
deer as he is to have valid" excuse
for imbibing freely Of the bottle. Per
haps it is one Of our more or less &C
-epted customs. Anyway it affords
many hunters pleasure to assemble
around the table in their forest cabin
and take hefty drink before trudging
thru the early morning dark to their
favorite crossing. Yet he has not pro-
,Eided for drowsiness that comes as an
ofter-etfect Of the whiskey- he
keeps on drinking; then he can't shoot
straight, and is a serious menace to
other hunters. While he is somnolent
on drunken, Mr.. Buck dashas thru,
leaving the hunter with only a sly
wink and the uproarous harsh jibes Of
the haunting blue jay perched above
him. Deer hunting and whiskey are
not good blends. While Bacchus revels,
Apollo runs.
My third trend Of thought has to do
with past experiences Of the chase.
These are both amusing and profitable.
| find myself while standing on a
crossing reviewing former situations.
Every sound of the drivers haloo, the
sharp report Of the rife and the move
ment of the hunters thru the adjacent
fields and woods bring to mind host
Of recollections. A thousand and one
different situations become vivid.
wonder if when the moment of oppor-
tunity comes my way, that l to-
gether with my old friends, in spite
of every equipment and precaution,
will miss the coveted prize.
Several years ago a party Of six
went to Bruceton Mills. In this party
was chap from Cumberland. We
looked with admiration and envy on
his outfit. He looked as though he
were dressed for a sports fashion
parade. He wore the finest and smart
est of hunting clothes, and carried a
rifle which he augured could knock out
the eye Of a crow perched on a dead
chestnut half mile away. The morn.
; ing Of the first day as we took our re-
spective stands, happened to be with.
in siNht of him He Mas standino in ar