The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-06
Moose Hunting.

The time is close at hand when the
moose will become extinct. Pursued at
all seasons of the year by rowing In
dams and hunter tramps, to say nothing
OF the common ruck of spOrtsmen, bulls,
cows with young, and half-grown calves
are killed indiscriminately at all seasons.
These creatures are the largest of the
deer family. measuring, when full
grown, five feet eight inches to six feet
in height, and weighing twelve hun
bred pounds or more. They have
coarse, erect name, while under the
throat bangles long tuft of hair. Ami
mails indigenous to these high latitudes
usually assume white fur during the
winter months; that on the moose. on
the contrary, becomes much darker in
color Their antlers are foliated and of
immense weight and size, averaging six
feet from tip to tip, and weighing up
ward of sixty pounds. These they shed
in January. By the month of June they
have again attained the normal size.
Their fore-legs are so disproportionate
in length as to seriously interfere with
their grazing; consequently, when feed
ing upon grass, they will, if possible
pasture upon a slope. Their hind-feet
are splayed, and furnished with long,
loose, horny points, which rattle as
| they shamble along. Notwithstanding
their awkwardness and great size, when
alarmed they travel with astonishing
speed, seemingly impossible in an ami
NAL crowned with such immense and
weighty autlers His head-gear, how
ever, gives him, when in flight, less
trouble than his legs. The head, carried
so high as to prevent him from seeing
the ground directly in his front. causes
him to trip and stumble over the fallen
| trunks and branches which may lie in
his path. The cow-moose Is somewhat
smaller than the male; her coat has a
more reddish tinge. Early in life she
gives birth to but one calf; as she ad-
vances in years the number is increased
TO two.
''Crusting' (or hunting with snow
shoes, driving" creeping" and
calling" are the various methods en-
ployed to hunt the moose. ''Crusting'
is the method employed when snow is
upon the ground. 1t is, moreover, the
most certain and deadly manner of kill
ing the animal. Its great weight and
the formation of its splayed hoofs rem
der it comparatively helpless when at
tackled and pursued on the crust of the
| .n i breaks through
| -..t. .,.-.-. 4, its legs. SO that its
4 he ti:u ri ~ trails of blood.
g.. il wien ta@en at a disadvantage
" ,ith ''trustin"" .oiiers. a vigorous man
on snow-shoes must put forth all his
powers of endurance in order to over
| take it, its enormous strength enabling
| it to founder for considerable distance
at great speed In consequence OF the
difficulty which the moose experience
| in travelling in the snow, they form dur
ing the winser season what are called
yards" Large numbers congregate
together in the depth of the forest. The
trampling of their feet soon beats down
the deep snow This forms rampant
all about them. As they move in cir
Gle in feeding, this bank is always about
them. The wolves hover on the edges,
ready to pick up any discontinued old
bull which may be expelled by his COM
panions. They know better than to en-
ter the portals; in a moment they
would be torn to pieces by the sharp
hoofs of the moose.
In the spring and summer the moose
frequent the edges of sedgy lakes and
J lagoons buried deep in the forest. In
the waters of these they submerge them