| There are times when the hunters will | | | | Pointing my gun barrel ahead, I |
| face some danger, specially the danger | | | | cautiously peered into the cave. My |
| from the wild animal's attach such as | | | | heart came into my mouth for I detected |
| bear. What will be the best way for him | | | | movement in the dark recesses. I did not |
| to do? | | | | lose complete control, however, although |
| My companion looked at me, I looked at | | | | the gun barrel wobbled so that I could |
| him, and the same idea hit us at the | | | | not center the sights on the animal. I |
| same moment. What would have happened if | | | | don't like to shoot unless I am |
| we had hit that bear? Would we have | | | | reasonably certain of my target, and by |
| killed it or would we have wounded it? | | | | the time I had settled down enough to do |
| In either case it would have fallen and | | | | serious work with the gun, I had |
| landed in or near our canoe. A dead bear | | | | recovered composure enough to identify |
| would have broken the canoe in half, | | | | my game as a porcupine. What a letdown! |
| falling from a hundred feet. But suppose | | | | I never saw a bear or a deer that day, |
| the bear had been wounded? Think of the | | | | although I found a wild bee tree in a |
| situation. Two men and a wounded bear | | | | swampy area that I could use as a bait |
| struggling in the water within eight | | | | at some later date, to attract a bear to |
| feet of each other. What a scene for a | | | | me as I waited in a stand nearby. I |
| movie shot! | | | | never did. |
| The best of us will make mistakes of | | | | You probably don't know it, but I am a |
| judgment at the unexpected sight of | | | | reformed poacher. No, the wardens |
| game. Luckily we both missed the bear. | | | | didn't reform me. I woke up to the fact |
| It took us nearly an hour to find a | | | | that such actions are not fair to you |
| landing place and to climb to the spot | | | | boys, to the rest of the guides, or to |
| where the bear had been. We didn't go | | | | the people of Maine. I have even stooped |
| deer hunting that evening. | | | | so low as to sell deer to unsuccessful |
| Another time a small group of us went on | | | | hunters, but in some of these cases it |
| a combined deer and bear hunt near the | | | | was sympathy for them rather than money |
| town of Emden, down state, where bears | | | | that influenced me. I hate to see any |
| had been doing some damage. Now bear | | | | hunter who has hunted diligently for a |
| hunting is a great sport, but hunting | | | | week or so go back home without his |
| Maine bears is a tough proposition. I am | | | | deer. Again, I believe that any man who |
| not good enough to risk my guiding | | | | is willing to spend his money here |
| reputation by handling bear hunters. If | | | | hunting should have some concrete |
| you think our bears are no different | | | | return. I have no sympathy for the man |
| from other bears, just ask some of the | | | | who sits around camp all day, drinking |
| best bear hunters in the south what they | | | | and playing poker instead of getting out |
| think of our product. There are some | | | | into the woods and enjoying our great |
| pretty cagey animals in the Maine | | | | out-of-doors. I don't care whether he |
| woods-and they are not all wild. | | | | goes home empty-handed or not; he has |
| We split up and started to hunt, each in | | | | got just what he came for. But the case |
| his own individual manner. I was not too | | | | of the unsuccessful one who has hunted |
| experienced with- bear hunting, yet I | | | | diligently is different. |
| knew the chances of seeing a | | | | If a hunter see the threat from a wild |
| night-loving bear roaming around in the | | | | animal, it is better for him to keep |
| daytime were pretty slim. Traveling | | | | himself in a hiding place until the |
| through the woods, I checked signs of | | | | threat pass. It is better than if he has |
| both deer and bears. There were plenty | | | | to face the wild animal face to face |
| of both and the strong, unmistakable | | | | which can cause him into trouble. Deer |
| smell of bears was in the air. I poked | | | | hunt is a hobby which is exciting to the |
| around in the likely hiding places, | | | | people who can enjoy it and take the |
| finally coming to a large boulder where | | | | great fun of it, even he can get the |
| there was a good-sized cave under the | | | | deer or not for the day. |
| rock. | | | | |