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Exhibit: Outdoor Life: Hunting |
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From Camping and Woodcraft, volume 2, page 180:
Hunters' Maxims. - This is not an essay on hunting, but in
trying to give an idea of how marksmanship in the woods differs from marksmanship
on the range, it may help a beginner to understand just what is meant
if I state certain maxims of the still-hunters' craft:
- Hunt one kind of animal at a time, and think of it.
- Know its strong points and its weak ones.
- Know where to hunt it and where not to.
- Choose favorable ground.
- Consider the animal's daily habits.
- Know just what to look for.
- Maneuver according to a definite plan.
- Work against the wind, or across it.
- Move noiselessly and reconnoiter carefully.
- Try to see the game before it sees you.
- Keep cool.
- Never fire at anything until you are absolutely certain it is not
a human being.
- Never fire a shot that is not the best you can possibly do.
- After firing, reload instantly.
- If you wound an animal, don't follow immediately upon its track,
unless you are sure it is shot through the heart.
- Be patient over ill-luck, and keep on trying.
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Kephart maintained an avid appreciation for hunting and
associated skills of marksmanship.
In addition to including the topic
in many publications, Kephart's personal
album includes a multitude of photographs
from various hunting trips. The wide
range of hunting depicted includes
photographs of birds, snakes, bears,
and cutting three racoons out of a
tree. As always, the tools and equipment
for hunting held an equal passion
with the adventure. His expertise
on guns and marksmanship was incorporated
into several articles and a serialized
detective story "The Trail of
a Bullet." Kephart had hoped
to publish a book on the subject and
developed a bullet mold. His role
as an equipment designer also included
the Kephart Sheath Knife. This knife
could be used in a variety of utilitarian
roles in hunting and other outdoor
activities. |
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