The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-30
MOOSE-HUNTING.

There are three modes oil hunting the
moose, termed "still-hunting," fire
hunting" and "oaIling." There WAS
another mode, which, l am happy to say,
legislation has in great measure su, :
pressed. i refer to the wholesale
slaughter OF the unfortunate animals
when the deep.lying shows of a pre-
tracted winter had imprisoned them in
their yards, and rendered them only a
too easy prey to the unprincipl,
butchers who shot them for the sake
OF their skins.
To be successful in still.hunting, or
creeping upon the moose, necessitates 8
the aid Of skilllul Indian guide; very
few, il any, white men ever attain the
marvellous precision with which an In.
dian, 10 whom the painless forest is an
open book which he reads as he runs,
will track to it's death an animal SO ex-
ceedingly sensitive to the approach OIL
maU.
This gift, or Instinct. seems born with
the lndIan, and is praoticed from his
early childhood. 1t is not uncommon to
ind little Indian boys in the forest seY-
eral miles from the wigwam armed with
bow and arrows, the latter having all
old knite-blade inserted in the heads.
One little fellow named Socotoma was a
very expert shot, and woe betlde mitch
| less, the grouse, and nsdtdguis, the haze
| il they happened in the way OF little Soc.
otoma when he was on The War-path
and although he could not thus be killed
even m0Oin, the bear, would be likely u
feel the ''stinging arrow" The fuel.
nodulated voice OF the Indian is espec.
tally adapted to initiate the different
calls and cries Of the denizens of tht
forest, and with trumpet of birch barb
he will initiate 10 the Lie the plalntiyt
low of the oow-moose, and the respon-
sive below OF The bull. Early morning
twilight or mOoul ght, are all favorable
to this manner OF hunting.
The Indian, having selected faY0ra
| BILE position for his purpose, generally
on tue margin of lake, heath or bog
where he can readily conceal himself
puts his birchen trumpet to his mouth
aud gives the call Of tue coW-moose, in /
manner SO startling and truthful thR
only the educated ear OF all Indian cOulC
detect the counterfeit. II the call is sue
cessfui, presently the responsive bull
moose is heard crashing through the
forest, uttering his bloOd-curdllng bel
low or roar, and rafting his horns
against the trees in challenge to al
rivals, as ne comes to the death whiol
| awaits him.
Should the imitation be poor, the bull
will either not respond az all, or aD
proach in stealthy manner aud retire
on discovery of the cheat. Moose.call
ing is seldom attempted by white men,
the gilt OF calling with success beinl
rare even among the Indians. Fire
hunting, or hunting by torohlight, Ii
practiced by exhibiting a bright light
formed by burning bunchss OF blrcE
bark, In places known to be frequcntet
| by moose. The brilliant light seems tt
tascinate the animal, and he will readily
approach within range Of the rifle.
Tine torch placed in the bow OF y canoe
is also used as lure on lake or river
but 10 attended with considerable dan.
ger, as u wounded or enraSed moose will
not unlrequently upset the canoe. The
mode OF hunting which generally pre-
walls Is that OF fstill-hunting, or creeping
upon the moose, wbicn 10 undoubtedly
| the most sp0rtsmanlike way, and affords
! tue greatest pleasure. Still-hunting eau
be practived in September aud all