Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-01-25
Moose.lluntlng.

There are three modes of hunting
the moose, termed still.hunting, fire.
hunting, and calling. There WAS an
other mode, which, am happy to say,
legislation has IN agreat measure sup
pressed refer to the Wholesale
Slaughter If tho unfortunate animals
when the dccp.lying SHOWS Of pro-
tractcd winter had imprisoned them IN
their yards, and rendered them only
atoo easy prey 20 the unprlnciplcd
butchers who slew them for the sake OF
their skins
To I've successful in stillhmting, or
the aid ot u skill(ul Indian guide; very
few, il any, white men ever attain tho
marvellous prCu iSiou with which IN In
dian, to whom the puthless forest is an
open book which he reads rs he runs,
will track To ITS death an animal soox-
cccdinglv sensitive 10 the approach of
man. This gi(t, or instinct, seems born
with the Indian, and is pvacticcd from
his early childhood, II is not uncom.
mon 10 find little Indian boys III the
forest several miles from the wigwam,
armed with u bow and arrows, the Int
trr haviu~ an old knife-hlado inserted
Socotoma was Very expert shot, and
woe hctidc mHel,itSS the grouse, and
0tatuqtaS, the hare, il they happened
IN the way Of little Soeotoma when hc
was ON the war-path; and ulthough lac
could not thus he killed, even moojn,
the bear, would be likely to feel the
" stinG,ug arrow,
The finely modulated Voice of the
Indian is especially adapted To- initiate
the different calls and cries Of the dcni-
lcus of the forest, and with Il trumpet
of birch bark, how'll initiate To the
lilc the plalntivc low of the cow moose,
and the responsive below Of the bull,
Early morning, twilight, or moonlight
arc all favorable 10 this manner Of
hunting. The Indian, having selected
il favorable position for his purpose,
generally on tho margin of II hike,
heath, OF hog, where ho cun readily
conceal himself, puts his hirehen trum-
pct to his mouth, and gives the call Of
the cow-moosc, III u manner So startling
and truthful that only the educated ear
of mn Indian could detect the counter
felt. II the call is successful presently
the responsive hullmoose is heard
crashing through the forest, uttering
his blood-curdling hollow or roar, and
Ntting his horns against the trees in
challenge To MI rivals, us he comes to
the death which awaits him. Should
the imitation be poor. the bull will
either not respond ut all, or approach
ia il stcnthy manner md retire on dis
covcry or the cheat Moosc-cniing is
seldom attempted by white mon, tho
gift Of calling with success being rare
oven among tic Indians
Firc-hunting, or hunting by torch
light, is practiccd BY exhibiting bright
light, formed by burning lunches Of
birch bark, in plNens known To be fro
qucntcd by the moose. The brllinnt
light seems to iascnato tho ANIMAL and
he will readily approach within range
of the rifle The torch placed in the
bow OF n canoe is also used as II lure on
n lake or river, but is attended with
considerable danger, ms II Wounded, or
enragcd moose, will not mfrcqucntly
upset the canoe.
The mode Of hunting which gcnor-
ally prevails is that Of atil-hunting, or
creeping upon the moose, which il IN
doubleday the stsportsnan-llkc way,
and affords the creates, pleasure Still
hunting can bc practised in September,
and all through the early winter months,
until the snow becomes 80 deep TINT il
would be Il SIN to modest the poor ami
mails C G, Ward. s. 7bnr for february.