| Show 17 MONO doing okay when it comes to multiplication I 1 the vaunted rapidly reproducing rabbit can take a backseat backshat back seat to that old slowpoke of the woods the opossum the missouri conservation commission can cite figures to prove that thi th possum can call give brer 1 rabbit a run tor for his money when it comes to producing young A mature cotton tall tail rabbit produces a yearly average of about 17 i young in four litters the laborsaving possum may produce just as many young in a year and does it in only two batches the possum may be slow about most things but the freakish little animal has the shortest gestation period of any north american mammal only 12 1214 days however the I 1 time is lengthened a little because the young spend six to eight weeks in the mothers pouch at birth young opossums sums are quite quit undeveloped developed and it would take of the tiny creatures to make an ounce they are so small that a litter of 16 would easily tit fit in a tablespoon the possum has many peculiarities not shared by fellow north american mammals the american freak has a pouch similar to a kangaroo a monkeylike monkey like prehensile tail a grasping thumb on the hind toot foot and more teeth than a dental laboratory window 50 although not possessing high grade fur possums bring trappers in missouri about one sixth of their income the hide worth much only 30 cents but it is used in jackets coats and trimming the possum will eat almost anything and conversely almost anything will eat a possum baked the omnivorous little mammal is a gourmets delight to some for this reason the possum which weighs from four to 12 pounds and attains a length of about two and one half feet beet seldom lives longer than eight years possum hunting has almost become a national sport the wl wily ay little rambler of the woods is found in almost every state any dog from the pedigreed to the cur can tree a possum and bring home the bacon or possum theres a reason the possum just very bright A out of the post past in the olden days only the nobility or personages of high rank were able to indulge in the sport of hunting certain species of game belonged exclusively to the crown large areas were set aside for the hunting pleasures of the king and those he chose as companions of the chase ownership of hunting bunting dogs was prohibited in areas bordering or close to these restricted lands unless the dogs were crippled the chase had its set rules rule and regulations formalities and ceremonies the taking of a wild boar or a stag was the occasion of celebration and feasting and the whole sport of hunting was encased in ritualistic in thi th s country hunting has always been an informal pastime for the most part the notable exception being the manner in which the fox Is hunted in some sections the colonel and judy ogradus OG boy friend are on a common level when they are attired in hunting garb and class distinctions ions are not recognized we too have a hunting nomenclature when it comes to game and guns and methods we have a covey or bevy of quail a brood of grouse a flight of woodcock a flock of ducks a wedge ot of geese and many other descriptive terms but in describing game the ancient du dug up a adjectives and nouns long since dropped from general use joseph sports and pastimes of the people of england including the rural and domestic recreations may game mummeries Mum Murn meries merles etc from the earliest period to the present time edition of 1801 contains some passages of nomenclature that should be of interest to the present day sportsman heres a sample it was necessary tor for every lover of the chase that he be acquainted acquaint eth with when went in companies a pride of lions a lepe of leopards a herd of harts a bevy of roes a sloth of bears a singular of 0 boars baars a gownder of wild swine a route of wolves a of foxes a cete of badgers a richess of martins a of ferrets a huke or down of hares a nest of rabbits a clowder of cats a shrewdness of apes and a tabour labour of moles henry P davis remington arms co A a actions the thing color contrary to many opinions may or may not be the deciding factor in a plugs effectiveness while it is true that at spawning season a red and white lure seems to be absolutely tops and later in the summer the more natural colors such as perch pike and shinier finish are the dope we feel that the plug caster should outfit himself with a good selection of colors the year round |
