laws, county laws, and some states have even
township laws.

I will also speak of writing to trappers for information as to the
quantity of the fur bearing animals and game in their locality as
another way to get posted.

Now, while I hope that the average trapper is as truthful as mankind
generally, I am aware that a trapper will sometimes exaggerate as to
the amount of game in his locality. If the person whom you make the
inquiry of, is not particularly interested in trapping, or knows but
little about trapping and wild life, he is liable to think there is
much more game in his county than there really is. And on the other
hand, if the party makes a business of trapping, he is quite liable
to think that game is less plentiful than it really is. It is a good
plan to write to two or more parties in the same neighborhood, on
this matter, if you can, and then draw your own conclusion as to the
scarcity or plentifulness of the game in that section. But the better
way is to go and prospect the country and acquaint yourself with the
locality, for you remember the old adage, "If you would have your
business done, go and attend to it yourself; if not, send some one."

* * *

I have read with interest the discussion of the many different makes
of guns, the different calibers for large game hunting, etc., and as
I am not well up on "gunology," I have listened and wondered why
there was so much agitation on the gun question. I believe that
nearly all of the modern guns that are manufactured today are
good--at least sufficiently good shooters for all practical purposes.
Shotguns can be bought at $3.00 or $4.00 that do good work. Perhaps
there is not a man in the country who has carried a gun as many days
as the writer, but what has done more target shooting than I have.

Back in the 70's when men hunted deer in this section for the money
that was in it, I often did not take my rifle down to shoot from one
season's hunting to the next, unless by chance something in the way
of game came into fields near the house. I was always in love with my
gun and if I did not like it I would get rid of it at the first
opportunity. I am still of the opinion that a gun is similar to a
man's wife, you must love them in order to get the best results.

I always wanted as good a gun as there was on the market. By this I
do not mean the highest priced, nor the highest power gun, but the
gun that would do the business. A man by the name of Orland