Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1914 — RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HUNT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HUNT

WHEN It happened to be my good fortune to be the' guest for a fortnight of Prince Golitzine, the Master of the Russian Imperial Hunt, I knew that I had an interesting time before me. Leaving the Warsaw station in St. Petersburg, a threerquartera of an hour’s run sufficed to cover the distance to Gatchina, some thirty odd miles, where are situated the imperial kennels. Gatchina, it may be mentioned, is a garrison town, adjoining which is the magnificent park in which are situated the prince’s hunting box, the kennels and a fine Bet of buildings housing the bunt staff. Without doubt the most interesting feature of the kennels is the magnificent pack of wolfhounds, more commonly known in England as Borzois, writes a correspondent of Country Life. It is doubtful if anywhere in the world so large and fine a collection exists, there being all told some sixty couple; In addition also are twenty couple of English foxhounds, not used in their normal capacity, but in connection with the hunting Of the wolf. Besides these are to be found eight couple of very handsome bearhounds, massive animals of a breed which is rapidly becoming extinct. Within a few hundred yards of the kennels are to be found the stables, in which are kept about one hundred horses used both for riding purposes and for the troika. Big Bison Preserves. One of the most interesting and unique features, however, in connection with the hunt is the bison preserves, one of the very few in existence and probably the finest, since the animals thrive so much in their natural surroundings that they breed freely, and thus maintain their numbers and high standard. The preserve contains over a hundred of these fine animals. What strikes the visitor to Russia in the hugeness of everything. The . statues, the streets and the spaces all are vast Then most other undertakings are carried out in a big way, and a pheasant shoot is no exception to this. It is nothing out of the ordinary for forty to fifty sleighs to be In commission to convey guns and beaters from point to point. It should be mentioned that the distances from one beat to another on the royal preserves are often very great. The average bag on a royal shoot may number anywhere between fifteen hundred and two thousand cocks, the hens are never shot. The Imperial pheasant shoot is most picturesque, the costumes and cries of the beaters making it particularly unique. The Wolf Hunt. The royal estate is well stocked with hares, mostly imported from Ireland. At the game time, they assume a white coat In the winter, as do their native brethren. Both foxes and lynx are to be occasionally found in these parts, and are much prized when bagged, but they are gradually becoming scarcer, and to hunt them with any certainty of sport means traveling into wilder and more rugged portions of the country. The same also may be said of the wolf, and to hunt him now means a considerable journey from the kennels. Some years ago these hunts, were carried out on a magnificent scale, special trains being chartered for the epnvenience of the huge army of guests,' beaters and keepers. Most of these big trips have, however, been dropped since the revolution in 1905. The method adopted to hunt the wolf }s Interesting, fhe' hunt takes place only in the winter months. After the place where the animal is lying up has been located by his tracks that part of the forest is “ringed” off and preparations made. The field remain mounted In the vicinity, ffiost of them holding three Borzoi hounds apiece in the slips. Foxhounds are now thrown ipto the foreßt to make him break covert, and then Is to be heard a medley of sounds and cries strange to the English ear. At last a rustle is heard, and as the Wolf breaks covers the three Borzois most conveniently placed are slipped on to him. After this follows an exciting rough and tumble gallop for the field. Should the quarry to be able to stay for two miles, he win probably have shaken off the Borvois by that time. In mopt Instances, however, they puli ' > >- • * * • /. .* \ 'I ■ i

him down, and although unable to hold him, can make some little impression on his tough skin. On the arrival of the first horseman he is dispatched or, as is more often done nowadays, he is tied up and muzzled. Then he is carted away and, after being on view for two or three days, is once more released. . Generally speaking, an old wolf can beat bdiihds on equal terms in most instances, so on Borne occasions slightly different tacticsare adopted, the field sitting in their troika sleighß in which the Borzois are concealed at various points around the forest. As soon as he breaks covert the troikas start off, chasing him over the snow perhaps for as many as twenty miles before showing signs of distress, then at the right moment hounds will be slipped on to him from the troika. By these methods, of course, the hound is given a great advantage. Prince Golitzine relates how on one occasion, after hunting an old warrior for thirty miles apparently half-dead and with bleeding mouth and drooping ears he took a new lease of life and managed to outdo three freshly-slipped hounds. This gives some idea'of the marvelous Staying power of the wolf. It may be mentioned that in Russia the fox and the lynx are both shot, first of all being ringed in the same manner as the wolf, and It is a curious sight to see the heaters in their grey overcoats lined with sheepskin and wearing snow-shoes if the snow lies deep. The guns take up their positions at about eighty yarda apart, each placed behind a white screen, matching the snow as nearly as possible. As soon as all is ready the shooting begins and the hunt is started. The gun that secures a fox or lynx on sueh a beat may consider himself lucky. Elk and bear are sometimes found in this district, though they are now becoming v#ry scarce. In connection with the hunt and in .an adjoining park are to be found wapiti, red and roe deer. The czar, as is well known, is a lover of all kinds of sport Duties of state, however, allow him comparatively few opportunities. Of one kind of sport he is particularly fond, and that is of shooting the capercailzie in the spring.

WOLF HOUNDS