OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - The Ohio Hunter [Chapter 5] ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sara Grimes McBeth saramcb@socket.net June 22, 2005 ************************************************************************** TAKING DEER BY STRATEGY. 61 CHAPTER V. A LUCKY NIGHT AT BIG CREEK--A SEVERE CON- TEST -- A WOLF CHASE --THE WOLF NOT DAN- CARRIED HOME ON THE SHOULDER. THERE was in that country a stream called Big Creek where the deer were in the habit of going to drink. Not far from the place an old man had built a house close to the bank. He had no fireplace in his house, but built a fire out of doors to do his cooking. It was warm weather and the deer came in the evening to drink. I one day asked the old gentleman why he did not kill the deer when they came so close. He replied they always came in the night, when he could not see to shoot. So I told him I would come some night and kill them for him. He told me to come, and the next night before dark I had everything ready for an evening hunt. I took my brother John along with me. Now the deer is a very timid animal and will start and look about at the slightest noise. So I planted a long pole in the ground, and fastened a little bell to the end of it and tied a string just below, so that by giving the string a slight pull the bell would ring. The fires were kindled and my brother stationed himself at the 62 THE OHIO HUNTER bell rope. We had it so arranged that a bright light could be kindled instantly when wanted. The deer came as usual, the bell was rung and the light made simultaneously. A deer looked up, as we expected, and I drew a direct aim at his head. The shot was successful and there was soon a great dashing and splashing amid the waves. Soon I heard another noise, the bell was rung the fire made, the gun discharged and another deer was killall. I ran into the water and we dragged it to shore. I looked about, it seemed to me there were deer on every side. I shot again and a third was killed. The deer then went away and it is said that from that time they forsook forever their old watering place. We went back to the house and by what , very much resembled our camp fires, roasted some of our venison; and after duly celebrating our brilliant success turned home. After this I procured an old United States musket, and after having received directions about loading it I went into the woods to watch for deer I put into my gun a handfu1 of' powder and thirteen smal1 rifle balls, and secreted myself behind a tree near the Creek. Soon after a deer came by and I shot. The deer fell, but not until some time after I did. I had lain there senseless know not how long, when my brother came and picked me up. On being told that I had killed the deer I soon recovered the use of my limbs and CONVICTING A DEER OF TRESPASS 63 went in search of it. She lay not many feet from where she was shot, her body pierced with ten balls. We continued hunting deer, being very successful all the season. That summer a new neighbor moved into the woods, and he kept such things as pork, flour, salt, and other things usually stored in barrels, in a broad porch at the back of the house. There was an old buck that was in the habit of coming every night to the porch and licking the salt, barrel. He had a small dog that would chase him a little way then he would chase the dog. The farmer being unaccustomed to having wild beasts come to his door at night was considerably annoyed by his nocturnal visitor. Some of his neighbors told him I was a great hunter, and he came several miles to see if I would not come and take care of the intruder. I promised him that I would do so on Saturday night. At the appointed time I went and took my faithful dog, whose name was Lead, along with me. When night came and the rest of the family retired, I laid down on the floor in front of the fire with Lead by my side. About two o'clock the trespasser came. I peered cautiously out through a small aperture close by the door, and saw two beautiful, full-sized deer. I took my aim at the largest which instantly fell dead. I then opened the door and let Lead loose upon the other. He ran a few rods and then turned around expecting to chase the dog awhile: but he 64 THE OHIO HUNTER found it was Lead, not Run Back, that was chasing him this time. A severe contest ensued. I soon heard him choking and snorting and went to the place where they were. Lead had him by the throat and had choked him almost to death. I took him by the hind legs and threw him upon his side holding him until the dog choked him to death. The man came and helped me drag him to the house where the other lay, and we hung them up under the porch and I went for help to carry them home, for they were a rich prize. Another day when there was a nice snow on the ground I started in pursuit of deer. I soon discovered a fresh track theft was marked with blood. I knew then that some one else was after him, so I would not let my dog follow him. In looking the way the deer had come from, I saw what I at first took to be a large dog, but afterward discovered to be a wolf. I set Lead on him, but the contest proved very unequal, and I loaded my gun and proceed- ed for his deliverance. When the wolf saw me approaching he left the dog and was soon far away in the woods. I came across another hunter with a large dog and we sent them both in pursuit. The two together mastered the wolf and held him until I came near to where they were, and shot him. I took his hide and scalp, which is all that is valuable about a wolf, and went home. A wolf is much larger than a dog and much more ferocious. Few dogs can withstand his at- NATURE OF THE WOLF. 65 tack. He has a large head, strong jaws and large teeth. They can run very swiftly, and also possess immense strength. They will catch deer and kill and eat them. They subsist principally upon flesh, killing small animals and some of considerable size. For all they are so ferocious and blood-thirsty in their nature, they nevertheless are sociable and peaceable with one another. They will help one another in time of battle, and never eat their morsel alone. Instinct seems more perfectly developed in the wolf than in any other forest animal. They understand each other's plans and purposes perfectly. Sometimes quite a number will congregate together and arrange a hunt for deer. After the consultation is finished the company will caper around the spot where the deer is known to be concealed and one only make direct mark for the unfortunate animal. If this one fails the others that are standing guard will catch him as he passes. Whenever the deer is caught they set up a great howl and all are quickly assembled to partake of the feast. The wolf is not so dangerous to the human species as he has often been represented. I have been well acquainted with them for over thirty years and I have never known them to run after a man unless he had a dog they wanted; while I have frequently known them to follow my dogs when they had been away from me until they 66 THE OHIO HUNTER. came where I was. Then they would turn and run much more rapidly in the other direction. Although after night they will come very close and howl and make a very great noise that would frighten some people terribly -- and if they had chanced to be in the same situation, would have told that the wolves came after them and made every possible effort to kill them, but were by magic or some other mysterious power kept from being injured by them, yet the truth is they would not have come so near as they really did, if they had fully known in what close proximity they were with the human species. It is said that all animals will fight in defense of their young. Now even this is not, true of the wolf when her young are molested by man. I have entered many dens of wolves and destroyed their young with the old one present. Sometimes they would come very dose to me and howl piteously, but never touch me. The way we find the wolf is by going into the woods in the evening and when all is quiet, setting up a howl like a wolf. Then one with her young will answer, and by this means we find the direction of the den. We then wait until morning and howl again; if the answer comes from the same direction we conclude of a certainty in regard to the locality of the den. We then follow in the direction indicated by the sound until we come upon the track, which is ascertained some- times by trails made by the young in the grass af- A BLOODY BATTLE. 67 ter they are large enough to go out and play; also by means of feathers, bones, skins, &c., which are scattered about their den, and sometimes by the blood of the game which the male wolf always brings home as food for the female and young. Their dens usually consist of hollow trees, or holes in the rocks. Sometimes they make wooden pens. When found in pens you can go in with all safety; for though they will growl and show their teeth they will never bite. When caught in a trap you can go up to them and tie them and take them home alive. One day as I was going home from a hunt I came upon a wolf trap; soon after I overtook a man with a wolf on his back. I asked him what he was going to do with the wolf, he said he had two dogs in the camp and he was going to take it to them and see if they would fight it. When we reached the camp one of the dogs beat a hasty retreat. The other presented himself for fight; but the latter giving no signs of an engagement, we took sharp sticks and struck at him until we made him mad, and then again set the dog upon him- A bloody battle ensued in which the wolf proved victorious, the dog being glad to retreat with the loss of one of his eyes.