Deer Hunting
Meshach Browning History Center
“Presently a tremendous buck appeared. I thought that to kill him would be to destroy a fine animal to no purpose, and I determined not to shoot him as I knew he was not fit for use.”
Meshach Browning, Forty-Four Years of the Life of a Hunter
Walk in Meshach’s moccasins
The Youghioghney River—or Yough— is the setting for many of Meshach’s rougher stories in the book. At the Yough, he is beat up by a gang of rivals, finds that rattlesnakes can’t easily be drowned and plunges into freezing waters to save his dog. You can experience some of the Yough—which the State of Maryland has designated as a Wild and Scenic River—by going to Friendsville and hiking on the Kendall Trail along the river.
Commentary
Although Browning killed thousands of deer, it was clear that he had a deep respect and appreciation for his natural surroundings and the animals he shared them with. His book abounds with stories and observations about the behavior of wildlife and good hunting techniques. One of the more memorable tales involved Browning wrestling for his life with a wounded buck in the Youghiogheny River.
To find out more
You can visit the Garrett County Historical Museum in Oakland to see the only known oil portrait of Browning, hunting artifacts and other exhibits from local history.
Visit the Garrett County Historical Museum to view artifacts from the county's pioneer days.
Hike the Kendall Trail in the Youghiogheny Wild River Natural Environmental Area