Bear Hunt on the Mongaup River
The pioneers of the region of the Shawangunk, who were, by turns, lumbermen, farmers, hunters and soldiers, as inclination led or occasion required, were a robust race of men, fearless and active, who thoroughly enjoyed forest life. Encounters with the fierce denizens of the forest were frequent, always exciting, and occasionally hazardous in the extreme. This territory abounded in wild game, and was a famous hunting-ground for both white and red men, even after the country adjacent had settled down to civilization. After the War of the Revolution it is said that "John Land, the Tory," trapped enough beaver in the town of Cochecton to pay for four hundred acres of land. David Overton used to tell of standing in his father's door in the town of Rockland, and shooting deer enough to supply the family. Once he counted thirty of these animals at one time in a pond near the house. Five or six of the larger ones seemed to be standing in a circle and pawing the water with their forefeet.
David Overton used to tell of standing in his father's door in the town of Rockland, and shooting deer enough to supply the family. Once he counted thirty of these animals at one time in a pond near the house. Five or six of the larger ones seemed to be standing in a circle and pawing the water with their forefeet. In the winter of 1819, three young men by the name of Burnham, Horton and Brown, residing in Forestburgh, engaged in a bear hunt. Burnham, while returning from his work in the woods, discovered fresh bear tracks in the snow, and engaged the others to go with him and capture the animal. Armed with rifle and axe, before daylight the next morning they were on the trail, which they followed for several hours until the track came to a flat on the Mongaup River. Here the snow was very much trampled, and they judged the bear's winter-quarters must be in the vicinity. The three commenced to search, when Burnham found a hole near the centre of the flat under some large rocks, with bear tracks leading to and from it. He called out to his companions that he had found the den, and presently all three were peering into it, but could see nothing.
Burnham, Horton and Brown, residing in Forestburgh, engaged in a bear hunt. Burnham, while returning from his work in the woods, discovered fresh bear tracks in the snow, and engaged the others to go with him and capture the animal. Armed with rifle and axe, before daylight the next morning they were on the trail, which they followed for several hours until the track came to a flat on the Mongaup River. Here the snow was very much trampled, and they judged the bear's winter-quarters must be in the vicinity. The three commenced to search, when Burnham found a hole near the centre of the flat under some large rocks, with bear tracks leading to and from it. He called out to his companions that he had found the den, and presently all three were peering into it, but could see nothing. They then cut a pole and thrust it into the opening, when they found the end of the pole came in contact with some soft substance. Burnham then split the end and twisted it vigorously against the substance, and was rewarded with some short, black hairs, which were held in the split. They had found the bear, and the animal was within reach of the pole. One of the men suggested they would better go home, but Burnham utterly refused to leave until he had killed the bear.
His next move was to make the stick very sharp, with which he punched the bear with all his might. Immediately there was an angry growl within, with a scrambling of feet and scratching of claws; the bear seized the sharpened end and pushed the pole outwardly, carrying Burnham with it. Burnham dropped the pole, stepped back, caught up his rifle, and aimed it just as the bear reached the entrance. As he showed his head at the hole, Burnham fired, and the bear fell back into his retreat.
At first they could not determine whether or not the bear was dead; a few vigorous punches with the pole satisfied them on that point. They then tried to get out their game with crooked sticks, but their efforts were fruitless. Then Burnham went head-first into the den, and taking hold of the bear's shaggy coat, his companions, by pulling on his legs, drew out both him and the bear.
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