In reading the old literature about what we call jacklighting, there are two activities by the name 'fire hunting', which can be confusing. One is what we have been discussing, shooting game by the light reflected by their eyes from burning wood or a candle. In the day, though, another method by the same name was totally different. A good description of that one is in _Dividing Line betwixt Virginia and North Carolina_, Wm. Byrd, 1729.
"In a Dearth of Provisions our Chaplin pronounc’d it lawful to make bold with the Sabbath, and send a Party out a-Hunting. They fired the dry eaves in a Ring of five Miles circumference, which, burning inwards, drove all the Game to the Centre, where they were easily killed”¦.This unmerciful Sport is called Fire Hunting, and is much practiced by the Indians and Frontier Inhabitants, who sometimes, in the Eagerness of their Diversion, are Punish’t for their cruelty, and are hurt by one another when they Shoot across at the deer which are in the middle”¦.Our Hunters massacred two Brace of Deer after this unfair way, of which they brought us one Brace whole, and only the Primings of the rest."
Another mention of that 'fire ring' type hunt is from the Journal of Mary Coburn Deweese, Nov. 8, 1788. She was waiting on her flatboat in the river near Fort Pitt for the water to rise enough to begin her trip down the Ohio to Kentucky.
"Had several gentlemen to dine on board the Ark expecting a fire hunt of some deer which keep about 200 yards from our boat, on a very high hill but a Shower of rain in the night disappointed them, rendering the Brush and leaves to wet for that purpose, they passed the day in Squirrel hunting, and fishing for Pike, this being the season for them, I saw one to day weighting 30 weight, the Beautifulist fish I ever saw."
Spence
"In a Dearth of Provisions our Chaplin pronounc’d it lawful to make bold with the Sabbath, and send a Party out a-Hunting. They fired the dry eaves in a Ring of five Miles circumference, which, burning inwards, drove all the Game to the Centre, where they were easily killed”¦.This unmerciful Sport is called Fire Hunting, and is much practiced by the Indians and Frontier Inhabitants, who sometimes, in the Eagerness of their Diversion, are Punish’t for their cruelty, and are hurt by one another when they Shoot across at the deer which are in the middle”¦.Our Hunters massacred two Brace of Deer after this unfair way, of which they brought us one Brace whole, and only the Primings of the rest."
Another mention of that 'fire ring' type hunt is from the Journal of Mary Coburn Deweese, Nov. 8, 1788. She was waiting on her flatboat in the river near Fort Pitt for the water to rise enough to begin her trip down the Ohio to Kentucky.
"Had several gentlemen to dine on board the Ark expecting a fire hunt of some deer which keep about 200 yards from our boat, on a very high hill but a Shower of rain in the night disappointed them, rendering the Brush and leaves to wet for that purpose, they passed the day in Squirrel hunting, and fishing for Pike, this being the season for them, I saw one to day weighting 30 weight, the Beautifulist fish I ever saw."
Spence
