Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1915 — LETTERS FROM OUR READERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Lg L. Met ’Detain Writes of H unting Trip. Parr, Ind., Xov. 29, 1915. Before l begin the story of our hunting trip I most first say a few words in praise of our friend/ and guide.. Owen Hurley, formerly of this county, at whose place we made our headquarters and was always made to feel as welcome as if we wer e seated at our own fireside; 1 believe I can safely say that there is not an Indian in northern Minnesota who knows the woods and lakes any better than Owen, and I am sure that Emmet Pullins will bear me out in the statement that he can show you as much of it in one day as you care to look at. Our camp was about seven miles out from the nearest settlement, where once there had been a large logging camp. The country around us was dotted with lakes, marsh and tamarack swamps in the low lands, and with jack pines and brush of different kinds in the higher lands. These lakes are mostly fresh water lakes and are filled with fish, such as pike, bass, pickerel, perch arid suckers. The pickerel are very numerous and are looked upon with about as much contempt as are the carp and, the so-called dog-fish in j this state. Many fish houses were I on the lakes when we left, and every-' one 1 visted seemed to be getting their share of line pickerel. Per-• haps [ had better explain this way of fishing for fear some of my read-j ers may not understand how this is • done. • -; | A small house is built, the largest 1 of which is about 7x5 feet, perfectly | tight, so as to keep out all sunlight, I a hole is left in the floor about two j feet square. A hole of about the] same, size is then chopped through 1 the ice and the house is carefully fitted over if. The fisherman then comfortably seats himself inside, where he usually has a stove, and begins coaxing up the fish with a • decoy minnow attached to a string! in*one hand and a spear in the other, j and, believe me, they are tine looking specimens to one not accustomed ! to such sport. Partridges are also plentiful and make great sport for the hunters. I managed to keep the table well supplied most of the time, as I was the only fellow in camp who carried a shotgun, although Emmet and his son, Albert, who are both crack shots with a rifle, would pick one’s head off occasionally, just to see if their guns were in good trim for a buck. Deer were there in plenty, but always on the opposite side of the hill from me. However, it was not always the case with Emmet and Hurley, for they brought down a fine young doe at two hundred yards, hitting it three but of four shots. We saw plenty of bear signs, also plenty of wolf and lynx tracks in the tamarack swamps, and the boys had great hopes of my bringing one. of these animals into camp alive, which they felt sure I would do if I happened to run on to one. We were a little late for duck shooting, but the empty shells gave evidence of Some great sport in that line —The Gamp Cook, L. I. MeCURTAIN.