OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - The Ohio Hunter [Chapter 8] ************************************************************************ 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 ************************************************************************** 88 THE OHIO HUNTER CHAPTER VIII. AN IMPUDENT DEER--A BIG CHASE AFTER SEVEN BEARS--CATCH A CUB--DECEIVED --HUNTERS --FIDELITY OF A DOG--ANOTHER BEAR CAP- TURED--THE HABITS OF BEARS. THERE is one rule that is almost universally observed by skillful hunter, that is, to pursue but one kind of game in a season. We always have a set of dogs trained to a particular kind of hunting, and then confine them entirely to that, if we would be successful. Thus, a coon-cog is not suitable for bears, nor a wolf-dog for deer; and we allow them to follow different kinds of game, they soon become efficacious for none. This was often the cause of' much perplexity, for not unfrequently when in pursuit of' one kind of game, another kind, equally as valuable, would come so provokingly near, that neither myself or dog knew how to pardon their impudence. On one occasion, when I had started on the track of a bear, being at this time engaged- exclusively in bear-bunting, I came close up to a deer that stood looking at, me with as much coolness as if his life was insured against all peril in bear-hunting season. I told him he had better be going, or my unlucky gun might shoot him. He A FOOLISH DEER 89 answered by nodding his head. Again I addressed him by saying, "I will stand guard over old killall until I reach the large log yonder, then I will no longer hold myself responsible for its conduct." Still more haughtily he curbed his neck. My dogs were now leaping and dancing with eagerness for the chase; but still I detained them, while I walked leisurely up to the designated spot. I again looked at the deer, whose invincible coolness was no longer tolerable. I made a charge, and the beautiful animal was soon weltering in his gore. I drew my game to a place of safety, and started in pursuit of the bear. I very soon came upon the tracks of four large bears, and three cubs, each cub weighing a bout one hundred pounds. I started them, and told the dogs to go, The old bear kept behind her cubs to guard them; when the dogs came a little too close, she would abandon the chase for a few minutes, and fight the dogs. One of the bears soon left the company and started in a different direction. Old Madge, which was my largest and best bear-dog, followed him. At last I heard Madge bark. I knew that he had the bear in close quarters, for he never would bark at anything but a bear, and only then when he had cornered or treed him; so 1 went as fast as possible to where the sound proceeded from, and found that Madge had treed one of the cubs. I brought him down with very little ceremony, and hung 90 THE OHIO HUNTER him up out of the reach of other animals, and rapidly pursued tile others. It was now about ten o'clock. As soon as we found the track, Madge pursued them, and I followed on a fast run, which could do all day. About two o'clock, I heard the dogs coming back. Before proceeding further, I will give you a description of my dogs. They were four in number Two of them were hounds, one half hound, and Madge half greyhound. Soon I saw the bear going past me. I shot at him as he went, but missed him. Soon after he passed me, up came Madge nearly tuckered out. the other dogs were together. I hallooed at them, and they increased their speed, Madge was about forty rods behind the bear, and the hounds about eighty. The bear took a circle of about eight miles. I succeeded in heading him, but could not get a shot at him. The chase had proved too much for Madge, for he was now about forty rods in rear of the hounds. They were within twenty rods of the bear. I told them to catch him, and they accordingly quickened their pace. They caught him but could not hold him. I urged on old Madge, who at length came up to the scene of contest. But the bear defied their vigilence and the chase was still pursued. I followed on till dark, and then with my knife and flint struck a fire, and lay down beside it, believing that. I had not traveled less than seventy miles that day. ANOTHER BEAR CHASE 91 No dogs came back that night. The next morning I took the track and followed it for some miles. At length I came to where they had had the bear up a tree. I saw by the appearance about the tree, that there had been hard fighting. The bear had made several attempts to go up the tree, but the dogs would pull her back; at last she had succeeded in ascending out of their reach, and the dogs had lain down at the foot of the tree to watch. But Madge, for the first time since our acquaintance, had abandoned the chase, and gone back to the camp to recuperate. The other dogs had followed the bear, but had probably stated some time in the night, and concluded that to follow them would be useless; so after reconnoitering round the scene for some minutes, I concluded to follow Madge's example. I went to the camp, and found Madge. We stayed there until the next day. Then I took him and scatted in pursuit of' my dogs. We had only gone a short distance, when Madge, without any orders, very unceremoniously left my side, and started at a rapid rate to the right. I knew this was the omen of a bear fight, and I accordingly followed as rapidly as possible, He was hardly out of sight when I heard the fight commence. I has- tened forward, and almost the first thing I saw, was a large bear that Madge was holding firmly by the hind leg. I walked up to them and leveled old killall at the right flank, causing the ball tTo 92 THE OHIO HUNTER pass forward toward the shoulder. Just before I fired upon him, a strange dog came up in front and offered fight; but Bruin caught him by the shoulder and crushed it by one ferocious grip. I afterward ran up to where the bear was still holding firmly to the dog, and taking my tomahawk from my belt, gave the bear a heavy blow across the back of the neck with its edge, which caused his head to abandon its upright position, and the teeth to unloosen their grasp, and the poor ,dog pursued at a very moderate speed the backward track. I concluded there probably was some hunter on the track, and so I halooed, but received no answer; after some time, I hallooed again. "Halloo; was answered back, and soon three inefficient-looking hunters, that I doubt ev er having killed a bear in all their lives, came up,: The first, salutation was, "You have got our bear." I replied that I had a bear which myself and dog had caught. They answered, "We been in pursuit of it ever since daylight, and our dog never would have surrendered until he killed him." I explained to them the gallant fight their dog had had with the bear, and the unconditional surrender. Well, they said they had the earliest claim upon the bear, and would take the hide and three-quarters of the meat, and give me the quarter for my trouble. So we commenced skinning the bear. I told them I would take DUPED BY HUNTERS 93 skin and they might have all the meat; but this did not meet their views, and I finding myself in the minority, was obliged to yield the disputed point. I then told them if they would give me five dollars, they might have it all. They finally gave me four dollars, which they said was all they had. Some time afterward I met one of the men, and we talked the matter over, when he told me they had not followed him at all, that the dog had just started him, and they had been going on attending to other business, until the dog returned badly wounded, when they agreed to follow his track and ascertain what had done it; that they were just about to abandon the pursuit when they heard me halloo. They then agreed if any hunter had killed a bear, they would tell him they had been following it all day, and make him give it up. They worked their scheme quite successfully, and left the dupe of their caprice fifty dollars out of pocket. Instead of hunting bear, I continued hunting dogs, and did not find the full complement until the third day, and then, by returning to my camp. They had, in the mean time, chased the bear by my home, which was forty miles distant; but soon after this, abandoned the chase, and two of the dogs returned to the camp, but one went to the house. He at first showed great delight at again seeing the family; but after finding that I was not there, he went out doors, gave two or 94 THE OHIO HUNTER three mournful howls, and then started at full speed for the camp. I was awakened in the night by this faithful animal licking my face. The fidelity of a dog to his master, is undoubtedly the most imperishable of the workings of instinct; -- cold or hunger, fatigue or abuse, none of these will ever lessen the attachments of a dog --but on the contrary, only seem to draw theI chords of affection stili closer. The contancy with which the irrational brute proves his affection, ought to put to put to blush the transient friendhsip of the superior race,The next day my dogs were entirely unfit for duty, so I left them iu the camp, while I went after the deer that was spoken of at the commencement of' this chapter. I thought to bring it in for food for myself and dogs. While on way, I found a coon-tree; this I cut and found in it two coons and two gallons of very excellent honey. I dug out a trough for my honey, and carried this also to the camp. There came a fresh snow that night, which made it just right for bear huuting; by this time my dogs were considerably recruited, and anxious for another chase. We very soon crossed a fresh bear track, as we were going toward the south. Madge turned to the left and started on his usual hunting pace, told the other dogs to follow, while I brought up the rear at no very moderate rate. This early in the morning, and the chase was pursed. A BOXING BEAR 95 with no abatement until noon, when I saw where the dogs had overtaken him, and the snow had been made red with the blood of their victim. But he had again evaded their attack, and the chase was renewed. I followed them on the same fast run I had kept up all day, and which I ever did when in pursuit of a bear, for I never knew what it was to tire in a bear chase until the conquest over my victim was complete. I soon came to a place where the bear had lain down in the fight, and the ice was badly scratched and marked with blood. This gave me good encourgement and I quickened my pace a little. Soon I heard the barking of my dogs as in a fight. I made now some rapid strides, which soon brought me in sight of the bear. He was surrounded by the dogs, so that he could not escape; but still he kept them at a distance, by boxing. I did not want that they should discover my approach, for that would make the bear much more ferocious, and the dogs more venturesome. I hoped to get a shot at him before he had time to seriously injure my dogs. He had by this time stationed himself upon a large log, and by diligent use of his paws, kept the dogs from injuring him. I had approached within eighty rods of the spot, and was endeavoring to take aim at his head, which he was keeping in active exercise. Finding it impossible to shoot while he was so constantly engaged with the dogs, I approached 90 THE OHIO HUNTER still nearer, but Madge saw me, and with one bold spring, brought tile bear to the ground, and with the help of the other dogs, a bloody fight quickly ensued. I now ran very close and fired, but did not give him a mortal wound. My next resort was the tomahawk; this I used pretty skillfully just back of the ears, and gave him deadly wound, which soon laid him cold and motionless at our feet. Neither the dogs nor myself were sorry when the sport was finished, for we discovered soon after, that we had gone to about the fullest extent of our strength. Before I became acquainted with bears, I frequently heard them spoken of as awkward and clumsy, slow on foot, and easily overtaken by , dogs; but my experience by no means verifies this statement. The bear is as quick and active as a cat, and their great size and immense strength make their movements count. I have measured their leaps, which were eighteen feet, and these were made with the nimbleness of a deer. When pursued, they will run from five to fifteen miles without stopping. It has also been said that a bear can only climb a large tree; this, too, is a mistake. They will climb any tree that can sustain their weight. In the swamps, they will climb very small saplings, and break off the branches and pile the brush, and form for themselves a bed; and if not disturbed, they will remain in their nests all winter unless there is a NATURE OF THE FEMALE BEAR 97 great deal of mast, then they will not lay up at all through the winter. The female bear makes her nest in January and February, and remains with her young until April. During this time, she never leaves her nest for food. The bear never eats when in a state of quiet; but will remain in his nest from fall till spring without tasting food. When lying in their nests with their young, you can go as close to them as you please, without being molested, unless you disturb their young. Then you had better be prepared to defend your life. In this they are not like the wolf. That animal will not fight, even in defense of its young. But the bear lies very quiet while you walk all around her nest, but the moment you lay hand upon her cubs, she is ready for fight; and a person undertaking this dangerous a musement, better be well protected with dogs and double barreled revolvers. When a bear has no young, it is perfectly safe to enter the cave or hole in the rock where they are concealed. In this condition they seem dormant, and will not fight -- onlv the most powerful influences can rouse them--but when once aroused, they are energetic and ferocious. From what has already been written, much of' the true nature of the bear is undoubtedly correctly understood. But there remain some few characteristics to be explained. Among other attributes 7 98 THE OHIO HUNTER of his nature, is a passionate fondness for sweet. He will roam the forests over in search of honey. He is much more skillful than man in following the bees to their secret haunts, and woe to the luckless Bee family that comes within his observation! To accomplish their destruction, he will climb the loftiest trees, enter their hollow trunks, and extract there from the precious store which is their only hope of sustenance through the long and perilous winter. He cares nothing for the stings of the despairing defenders. His impene- trable skin. for which he is principally hunted, and which in eommon times most frequently is the price of his life, here becomes his safeguard and defense; and he pays no more attention to their merciless inflictions, than the ironclad does to the Minie balls. The following extraordinary process of catching a bear without the use of firearms, is related of the Russian peasants, who are but poorly supplied with these more destructive weapons. "In a forest known to contain bears, the hunters examine all the hollow trees, till they discover a. wild-bee hive. A branch of the tree is then chosen, directly above the hole; if there is no such branch, a stout peg is driven into the trunk. To this peg, a strong cord is fastened, and to the end of the cord, a heavy stone or cannon ball is suspended at about half a foot from the ground, The bear, in his researches, comes upon the treas- NOVEL OF BEAR CATCHING 99 ures of honey. The pendulous barrier obstructs and incommodes him a good deal. He is an irritable brute, in such cases, one of the most irritable as well as one of the most stupid in the forest. He begins by shoving the stone or weight aside; but it presses against his head, and he gives it a slight knock to free himself from the inconvenience. It recoils a moment, and he receives a smart tap upon the ear. His temper is roused, and he again pushes off the hard and heavy mass, but more violently; he gets rather a severe blow on the side of' the skull in its return. He becomes furious, and with a powerful jerk, sends the rock swinging away. The pendulum is not the first to tire of the game, as it is a game on which the blows are felt on one side exclusively. The bear alone suffers, and the point is, he suffers as much by the strokes he gives as those he receives. He takes double punishment. His very retaliations are all against himself, and for every furious push which makes his skull ache, he receives an immediate equivalent, which makes it ache again. "At last his rage is unbounded, He hugs the block,- he strikes it,- he bites it,-- but whenever he would thrust his head into the hive, back on his ear falls the obstruction, against which neither his terrible hug, nor the blows of his paw are of any avail. The brute is maddened. He faces his strange and pertinacious tormentor, and makes 100 THE OHIO HUNTER it once more rebound from his skull. But back it swings like a curse, which returns upon the head from whence it started. The bear falls exhausted under these reiterated blows, one more violent than another; and if he be not dead, the hunters, who have watched the singular contest from their hiding place, soon dispatch him." Another characteristic of the bear, is his remarkable tenacity of life. He will stand the wounds of many a rifle shot, and fight valiantly his assiailants, until his brain is dislocated or the natural action of the heart obstructed. They are heavily built, slow of motion, until pursued, then, when fairly started in the chase, their movements are rapid and prodigious. There are three species of bears. The, American, or black bear; the grizzly, and the white bear. The latter is confined exclusively to the arctic or polar regions. The grizzly is found in the immense fbrests of the West, but in several particulars, is unlike the black bear, one distinguishing difference is, it never climbs, but meets its enemy fairly upon the ground. The height of the black bear is from five to seven feet,, and its length from six to nine, and they weigh from two hundred and fifty to seven hundred pounds. They are hunted principally for their skins and oil, though their meat also is con- sidered by many, very excellent.