Butte record., 1854-04-08
4 Noose cszse n rza:ne.

1 Moose Chase II Maine
Where moose are plentiful, the inli-
ans hunt them by pounding. This is
done simply BY enclosing i large tract OF
woods, with a funnel-shaped entrance
leading into the enclosure. The wide
mouth Of the entrance embraces a path
which the deer habi ually take upon this
they are driven b. the Indians deployed
in vide curve, when they ntered the
funnel, and after it the pound Itself
Here there are nooses set, in which ma-
ny are shared, while Others are shot
down by tie huateFs who follow They
are easily captured in summer, when
they resort to the lakes and rivers Il
wade and swim. The biting Of gnats
and musqoitoes render them less fearful
OF the approach Of man. The Indians
then attack them in their canoes, and
either shoot or spear them while padding
alongside They are much less danger
Gus 10 assail IN this way than the elk Or
even the comIaon deer, as the latter,
when brought in contact with the trail
birch-canoe, often kick up in such a
manner as to upset 1t, or break hole
through the side On the contrary the
/ moose Is frequently caught Is the ant
/ lers while swimming, and carried along
side without either difficulty or danger
/ Although in such situations these
huge creatures are easily captured, it Is
far otherwise as a general rule Indeed,
few animals are more shy than the moase.
Its sight Is acute; so, too, with its sense OF
smell but that organ in which 1t chiefly
eonides IS the ear. 1t can hear the
slightest noise TO a great distance; and
the hunters foot among the dead leaves,
or upon the frozen snow-crest, often be-
trays HIN long before he can creep with
in range. They are, however, frequent
ly kilel by the solitary hunter stealing
upon them. To do this, It Is absolutely
necessary to keep TO the leeward Of them,
else the wind would carry to their qaick
ears even the cautious tread Of the Indi-
an hunter. There is one other method
of hunting the moose often practiced By
the Indians-this Is, trailing them with
reqaets, or snow-shoes, and running them
down. I have partaken Of this sport-ii
spert it may be callad-and VIII attempt
a brief account of ny first hunting ad-
venture Of this kind
In the winter of IS, I had occasion
10 visit q friend who lived in the north
ern part Of the State of Maine. Ny
friend was a backwood settler; dwelt
IN a comfortable log house ; raised corn,
cattle, and hogs; and for the rest,
amused himself occasionally with hunt
in the neiahbo ing woods. This he
could do without going far from home,
as the great forests Of pine, birch, and
maple-trees on all sid surrounding his
solitary clearing, ana his nearest neigh
Dor was about twenty miles off Liter
ally, my friend lived in the woods, and
the sports Of the chase were with him al
most a necessity at all events they were
an every day occupation.
Up to the time OF nay visit, I had new
er seen a moose, except in museums. |
had never been so far north upon the
American continent; and 1t must be re-
membered, that the geographical range
Of the moose is confined altogether to
the old countries. Il is only in the
extreme northern parts of the United
States that he appears at all Canada,
with the vast territories Of the Hudson 5
Bay Company, even to the shores Of the
Arctic Sea, Is the proper habitat Of this
animal. I was familiar with bears both
black and grizzly eonga-s | had killed
buffalo l had thrown; elk, fallow-deer,
IL Il Ii Z ,----..=- n.