November 6, 1909
'POSSUM SEASON ON
"AN' WOODS AM FULL."
SPORT IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY
BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE.
Two Men From Across the River Re-
port Bagging Thirteen "Enour-
mous Specimens" and Give
Advice About Moon."
In all the flattering reports which F. D. Coburn has rendered this year in regard to Kansas crops, the 'possum has been entirely overlooked, and according to the most reliable information this juicy product of the Kansas forests is to be found in greater abundance this year than ever before.
In Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties the night hunters have gone 'possum mad and some lines of business in the area are at a standstill as a consequence of the overproduction.
Louis Haight, 628 Quindaro boulevard, and Frank Chandler, 2019 North Halleck avenue, Kansas City, Kas., came over to the Missouri side yesterday with the announcement that they had "bagged thirteen enormous 'possums since last Sunday." The largest specimen weighed seventeen pounds and the smallest of the lot tipped the scales at ten pounds.
MANY HUNTERS OUT.
Haight and Chandler have established a 'possum and coon camp on Indian creek, over the Leavenworth county line, and they report that the country is filling with 'possum hunters and that the sport was never better.
One of the season's new fads in Wyandotte county is the introduction of automobiles. In the old days the hunters went afoot or horseback, but last Sunday night there were fully a score of motor car parties searching the woods for 'possum and raccoon, according to Haight.
"It's too early for coons," said Haight. "That is, the ground is too dry and the dogs aren't able to track 'em yet. There is promise, however, that the coon crop will be as good as the 'possum."
Wyandotte county always has been a great field for the 'possum hunter, said Haight, who is skilled in this line, gives some timely advice:
DISREGARDS THE MOON.
The 'possum, for instance, walks in the night regardless of the conditions of the moon. A full moon never frightens the 'possum and he can be found on a bright night as well as on a dark night. A raccoon, he says, never shows his nose when the moon is shining, and therefore coon parties should be sure of the darkness before starting out.
There is a tax of $15 required from all non-resident hunters in Kansas, but according to Haight, and he is ably sounded in his opinion by Joseph Harlan, Wyandotte county's noted wolf and fox hunter, that the law doesn't apply to persons who hunt at night.
One of the gratifying features of 'possum hunting is that you do not need a gun. The dog smells out the 'pussum and trees him, the hunter shakes the tree and brings Mr. 'Possum to the ground and the dog nabs him. If the 'possum is a fighter, all the hunter has to do is to welt him over the head with a club.
Labels: animals, hunting, Leavenworth
